Didato, Generals lax team look to help those in need this weekend, as well as get a win
brian questel
April 19, 2011
264
042511 WHS boys lax
Promo: Boys lacrosse team plays for much bigger purpose this weekend in Hawken tournament
Didato, Generals lax team look to help those in need this weekend, as well as get a win
By Brian Questel
Wooster High coach Curtis Didato doesnt like what he sees when he glances at the Generals 2-4 record right now. When the Generals travel to Hawken High School this weekend, he and his team will be reminded that ultimately that record means little in lifes big picture.
Wooster will play Saturday (April 23) in a one-game tournament that will serve a greater purpose when the Generals play Medina. Wooster played University School April19 on the road, looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
University School was in the Division II state championship game last year and they are one of the toughest teams in Division II, said Didato.
From there Wooster travelled to Hawken School to play Medina.
Its a charity for Fisher House, which supports our military families, said Didato. Weve done this the past three years. We only play one game, but games are going on all day. University School, Hawken Valley (Pa.) and Solon are all going to be there. There are going to be either six or eight teams there playing for the Fisher House Charities.
They have raised quite a bit of money over the years. Theyre are going to bring in a couple of Army officers to share a couple words, and there are charities and raffle tickets (with most) going to Fisher House.
My first year coaching we were involved in the tournament. We played University School and we went into overtime. The guy who organizes it is a club coach for a number of my guys during the summer. Hes taken this on and others are helping out. Its just something (good) to do.
While the tournament will be doing something to help boost the regions military families, Didato is also hoping this week can help turn the Generals fortunes around.
In three of our four losses, those were all games that our coaches and guys know we easily could have won, said Didato. Against Rocky River in our first game, we had some first-game jitters and it was a super cold night. We know we can beat them and chances are we will see again. Were itching to play again.
Against Turpin from Cincinnati, we lost by a coupe of goals and we know we could have won. The only game we felt we lost was to Hoover and we took a butt kicking from them. Then we went down to Columbus and played Dublin Coffman and we played tough, losing 16-11. Watching the film, there were a couple things here and there. We were down 9-2 at half and the guys rallied, popping in nine goals in the second half -- it was just not quite enough. I was proud of the way we played and battled back.
Were definitely a second-half team. We take a quarter and a half to get going, and in the second half were ready to go. We need to figure out how to get going earlier.
The Generals have been able to score, but have lost out in offensive showdowns.
We have scored, said Didato. Goal scoring is coming more naturally. Bryce Pasquariello and Greg Gantz have racked up goals. They have done a good job and they know what do get other guys to score.
Weve done a good job seeing when to attack. Were working on our patience and where looks come from. The offense is doing a much better job and playing as a team. Its not one guy dodging and scoring. Everyone is getting involved.
That extends into the midfield where, despite its age, the Generals have played well transitioning into the attack.
Our middies are one senior, two juniors and two sophomore who played a little last year, Didato added. Theyre a little familiar, but were asking them to do more. Its trial by fire. And Ive been very pleased with our midfield defense. Its significantly better.
Brent Meininger is our biggest threat out of the middle and were doing a good job of transitioning. Were a little thin, though. Bryan Kennedy is going to miss a game because of an injury and were bringing a freshman up. We have to stay healthy.
Defensively Wooster has a younger group, noted Didato.
They are doing well, he said. Our starting defense has only one senior but were asking them to do more and they have done really well. Were developing as a group. Our one-on-one defense is very good across the board. An area where we continue to work on is help defense. Its an area we keep developing over the season. Ken Driscoll, our defensive coach, is doing a good job. Were working on where our sticks should be and focusing more on individual fundamentals. He does a real good job getting guys on the same page and how to use their bodies in any situation that arises.
While Didato would like to see a better record, he sees the effort and attitude improving.
Absolutely in the attitude, he said. The guys are doing a better job focusing. Friday when we were down seven goals (to Coffman) we didnt care. We were going to go hard the next 24 minutes. If we could put 24 minutes together, this team would be dangerous.
