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PCHS boys’ lacrosse: Park City topples Riverton

Christopher Kamrani, The Park Record

If Andy Langendorf has instilled one thing in his first year as head coach of the Park City High School boys’ lacrosse team, it’s style.

It may be fast-paced, it may be different, and it may be almost the complete opposite of what the Miners have run in the past, but he continues to see success this year. However, after Friday’s 17-5 win over visiting Riverton at the Quinn’s Junction Complex, Langendorf said, in order to secure future wins, his squad must stay on its path and avoid playing into the hands of the style of opposing teams.

"Overall, (Friday was) not a really good test for us," he said. "Riverton did their best to stay with us through the entire game and I guess the No. 1 thing we walked away from there with is we have to continue to work on and stay focused on our sets and game plan, to not play the other team’s game. That being said, when we get down with the better teams, if we get into playing their game plan, we’re going to find ourselves in trouble."

In its 2-0 start this year, Park City has scored 35 goals, while allowing just six. In Friday’s win over Riverton, the Miners had 24 shots on goal and scored 17 times, which is 71 percent from the field.

"One of the things we said early in the year is that we’re going to be around the net at all times," Langendorf said. "And more than the number of goals we’re scoring, my focus has been on where we’re scoring those goals from. We’re scoring those goals from right in front of the net, unlike last year when we were trying thundering shots."

While the Miners pelted the Riverton goal, Langendorf said he was also impressed with his defensive efforts, most notably from senior captain Alec Roussos.

"He continues to be a dominant factor, both on the bench and on the field," he said. "Our seniors were the guys who took control of the game and led the younger guys to the win.

Although Park City has gotten off to a hot start offensively, Langendorf knows this week’s tests against Bingham and Jordan both on the road will present a very different look from the first two games.

"They’re going to try to take the speed out of our game," he said. "They’re going to get the ball, try to control, lull the speed of the game down, where our guys will get less touches. We saw that in Vegas with Judge (in the preseason). They slowed the game way down and it was tough for us to keep the flow going.

"That’s where the focus lies. You have to believe in your system when you do have the ball. (Opponents) ratchet the speed down, and we’ve got to ratchet it way up."

Park City faced Bingham Tuesday evening after this edition went to press and return to the Salt Lake Valley today to face Jordan.

"The level of competition goes way up now," Langendorf said. "We talked about it at practice the other night that we could very easily stand at 2-2 come Wednesday afternoon. Now we’re going to get a taste of some of the better programs.

"The players are really revved up to get after it."


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