Sports
Parkway Fusion Lacrosse Regrouping For Run At State Tourney
Team comprised of Parkway North and Parkway Central lost to John Burroughs Tuesday.
The Fusion Lacrosse team, a combination of talent from and , faces a key matchup with Ft. Zumwalt Thursday. The squad, formed because the individual schools couldn't field their own rosters this year, is hoping to gain momentum heading into state play, coming off a loss Tuesday against John Burroughs.
A team that could make an argument for being near undefeated with a break here or there in a pair of overtime games now finds itself 5-4 on the season after an 8-5 defeat Tuesday.
Many of the Fusion players have had lacrosse sticks in their hands since seventh grade, with this year's senior class having played a total of 5 years at the Varsity level thanks to quirks of the Missouri State High School Activities Association. One might say they were a bit cocky before their game with Burroughs. Smack-talk was heard.
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By contrast, this is the first year for the Burroughs team. Some on the team have played before and for some it's year one. Coach Troy Hood's last two positions were at Lindenwood and Washington University. He took both to national championship tournaments. Now at Burroughs, he's not disappointed. The Bombers are undefeated at home, on the turf, so far.
"We're exceeding expectations for a first-year team," Hood said. "As they get better, our expectations get better. And they have to keep making that, and I think it reflects on the expectations they have in the classroom here at Burroughs."
Parkway went ahead in the first quarter 2-0. The second quarter belonged to Burroughs, though, especially freshman attacker Matt Gilman, who worked from behind and in front of the goal, finding the net for four of the Bombers' eight goals in the 12-minute quarter.
Parkway shut down Burroughs the entire second half, but only found the net three more times.
"The second quarter we were on cruise control," Fusion co-coach Daniel O'Brien said. "You can't do that. This is too fast of a game to let a quarter slip away. We won three out of four quarters, but that's not enough."
O'Brien said his team wasn't mentally prepared. "(Fusion) was expecting an easy win," he said, "and Burroughs came out and played a very technical lacrosse game. A lot of passing and catching. Logistally they played very well. Our minds weren't in the game."