Lacrosse: No. 3 Highlanders split games

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - The No. 3 state-ranked Woodlands Highlanders lacrosse team split a pair of games this weekend taking care of Plano West 16-6 on Saturday but were then dismantled by the top-ranked Coppell Cowboys 13-7 on Sunday with both games being played at the Alden Bridge Sports Complex.

The Woodlands (3-1) came out firing against Plano West building a 9-3 halftime lead and were never threatened as every Highlander saw action. Michigan-bound Sean McCanna had a big day tallying eight points on five goals and three assists.

Fairfield-bound Tyler Murphy made his presence known as he went four and three. Anthony Good contributed three goals. Cameron Babin and McCanna gathered five ground balls each as The Woodlands won the game on the ground with 32 total GB's.

Sunday was a complete reversal as The Woodlands came out flat and the 2011 THSLL (Texas High School Lacrosse League) state champion Cowboys came out ready to justify their No. 1 state ranking. Murphy got the Highlanders on the board first with a stick side lazer beam.

Shortly thereafter Coppell tied things up after a picture perfect fast break. Not to be outdone, Murphy drove to the cage late in the first stanza and found twine and The Woodlands was up 2-1 after one quarter of play.

The second quarter was a see-saw battle as Good scored twice in traffic on the crease and Adam Lowell drove down the right side scoring on a blast that found the top right corner of the goal.

Coppell scored four second-quarter goals and it was all knotted up at 5 at halftime.

The third quarter brought the best Coppell had to offer as they outscored The Woodlands by five goals.

Murphy led The Woodlands scoring with four goals and two assists and Good found the net twice.

The Woodlands head coach Keith Tintle elaborated on the two-game weekend.

"We came out ready to play against Plano West and played our game as our offense was clicking and our defense wasn't giving their shooters any good looks,” Tintle said. “We cruised on Saturday.

"Then on Sunday against Coppell we came out flat and Coppell came out all fired up. We were tied at the half not playing well then got down and did not play our brand of lacrosse. Give Coppell lots of credit because they took us out of our game and when we got down, we haven't had a lot of experience being down in the last two years. Hopefully, we learned something.”

The Woodlands plays South District foe Kinkaid on Wednesday at Alden Bridge Sports Complex. They will play Episcopal School of Dallas on Saturday at Gerald Ford Stadium and at Dallas Jesuit on Sunday.