Boys lax head coach believes team is poised for deeper playoff run

In light of that trend and HRV’s senior-heavy roster this season (11, to be precise), Matt Luchsinger, who returns for his third season as the Eagles’ head coach, expects even greater things from his athletes in 2017.

“I think this year, we’re going to go out and do our best and hopefully perform well enough to make it in to that state playoff bracket and I’d love to see us go two, three rounds in there, or further,” he said. “I feel like this year, out of all the years I’ve been coach, from head coach to assistant coach, this is the most talented group of kids we’ve ever had. To me, this is the year I’ve been looking forward to for a long time and I feel these kids can go a long ways.”

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HRV started out strong in 2016, going on a 7-0 run before injuries and off-field issues hit the team in the second half of the season, resulting in HRV limping into the playoffs with a 1-5 league record. Luchsinger is looking to avoid that situation for 2017.

“Team dynamic this year has been better than I’ve ever seen it. Everyone’s doing a really good job. They’re all on the same page,” he said. “I’ve brought in a few extra coaches this year, which has made a huge difference being able to split the groups up into more of an offense and defense, and being able to run more offensive drills, defensive drills, not having kids stand around.”

Those coaches are Mike FitzSimons (offense), Keith Mayo (defense), and Gary Paasch (strength and conditioning). On the field, the team will be captained by senior midfielder Bruce Ostler, senior defender Wyatt Mansfield, and junior goalie Justin Smith, who was the starting goalie for the junior varsity squad last season.

The Columbia League and the OHSLA playoff structure will be the same as it was in 2016. HRV will play 14 games this season, six of which will be against league opponents Lincoln, Oregon Episcopal School, Cleveland, Grant, Wilson, and Central Catholic. Luchsinger will, of course, be looking to defeat all of those teams, but especially Wilson and Central Catholic — teams that have traditionally proven to be a challenge for the Eagles in previous seasons.

“If we get wins on them, we’re doing something right,” he noted.

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HRV started off the season right with an 8-6 defeat of Hermiston (0-3) Friday evening on the road, pulling out a win in the final minutes. Luchsinger dubbed junior midfielder Jack McCaffrey as the “player of the game” for scoring the equalizer goal with 90 seconds remaining in the game, then assisting on the go-ahead goal with less than a minute left. He scored twice in the game, as did Ostler and junior attack Cale Brown. Senior attack Steven Crouch and junior midfielder Mason Collins found the back of the net as well. Luchsinger added that Smith “played great” in his start as HRV’s netminder.

The Eagles return from spring break April 3 for their first home game of the season, hosting Glencoe (4-1) at the high school at 7 p.m.