Coming off of two massive wins over Carmel and Hamilton Southeastern, FHC’s boys varsity lacrosse team was facing down another top-tier program in Detroit Country Day. Both squads possess extremely high aspirations for the year in Division II. 

But, no matter what the YellowJackets attempted on either end of the field, the Rangers had an answer. It was a brilliant showing by FHC in almost all facets, as it cruised to an 18-10 victory. 

This was another fantastic opportunity for an early-season look at a contender. These will undoubtedly benefit FHC once it moves further into the season.

“Playing these games early on really helps us see what our strengths and weaknesses are,” head coach Andy Shira said. “This is the tough part of the schedule.”

Senior John Tomsheck and junior Jonah McConnell got the team’s blood pumping quickly after an early Country Day goal. The lethal tandem at attack put up four goals in the span of three minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

“We might not have some of the most talented or flashy guys in the state,” John said postgame. “But, we know our personnel so well and everyone just feeds off of one another.”

DCD was simply unable to contain John Tomsheck. The senior D-I commit tallied four goals in the first quarter and a whopping seven on the day. Even with the talent in the program year after year, it’s not often that Ranger fans can witness such a flawless performance. 

Reflective of this past weekend, the defense was on its game. John Foster, Jack McNamara, Luke VanGorp, and Sam Sneider all played heavy-impact roles in the middle and on the back lines. And, of course, junior goalie Crandall Quinn amassed his fair share of saves and pretty passes. 

Outside of a brief stint in the second quarter and the final few minutes, DCD’s offense struggled to outperform FHC’s defense. Junior Jake Koning put one in just before halftime to take a 12-4 lead.

In the second half, the Rangers just kept playing their game. More guys joined the scoring party, as McNamara and Sneider both found the net. On top of seven from Tomsheck and a hat-trick from Jonah McConnell, FHC had no trouble walking away with an 8-point win. 

“There’s definitely a different feel to this season in the locker room,” Tomsheck said. “Everyone is staying very hungry and humble, despite coming off of three big wins.”

If the Rangers can continue the ball movement and defensive effort, they will be difficult to beat on any given night. FHC returns from Spring Break on Tuesday, April 12, with a matchup at home against GR Catholic Central at 7:00 pm. 

“We have to compete with ourselves to make sure we’re improving every day,” coach Shira said. “It’s been our mindset every day in practice, too.”