Kent Lacrosse Wrapped up Solid Regular Season this Weekend

After putting together its third winning season in a row, the Kent Roosevelt boys' lacrosse team secured a first-round home playoff game this weekend.

The Rough Riders, 9-4 on the season, are the fourth seed in the Division I Northeast Region bracket and will play their first postseason game on Saturday. Kent will face the winner of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights/Mentor game, which takes place Thursday.

Despite having just four seniors on his roster, coach John Idone said his team has managed to scratch out wins this season.

"When you have a younger team, it’s hard to win close games with sophomores and juniors as your primary players," he said. "I was really pleased we were able to pull out some pretty close games."

The Rough Riders won nine of their first 11 matches, a span that includes a six-game win streak that ended on the road at St. Edwards last Monday. Five of Kent’s victories to start the season were by two goals or fewer.

Idone credited the depth his team has on offense for the six-game streak.

"What worked well for us was our balance in scoring," Idone said. "When you’ve got six guys that can score, it presents problems defensively for a lot of teams because you don’t really know who to key on. Key on one, try to shut him off, and someone else can take advantage of it."

On offense, Kent is led by senior captain Nick Pensyl, who has scored a team-high 27 goals this season.

"He’s the quarterback of our offense," Idone said of the four-year starter, who also has 33 assists. "Things tend to go through him. He not only sets people up, but (he) also scores goals."

Backing Pensyl up is a pair of junior midfielders in Bobby Danner and Troy Haren, who have notched 19 goals apiece.

The lone freshman on the team, defender Matt Sommers, has contributed greatly and surprised Idone this year.

"He’s started every game and really has performed well," Idone said. "He’s so fast and so big that we put him on usually their quickest attack."

The team’s regular season ended on a down note with a 9-7 loss to St. Edwards and then a 20-9 drubbing at home by local rival Hudson, ranked No. 1 by the Northeast Ohio Scholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association. Kent’s last game of the season, a home tilt against Walsh Jesuit on Saturday, was rained out at halftime.

Still, with in-season wins over second-seeded Solon and third-seeded Canton Hoover, the Rough Riders have some confidence coming into the postseason.

"Anything can happen," Idone said Saturday before the tournament seeding was announced. "We should be able to maintain that No. 4 seed and get a home game in the playoffs. From that point then, anything can happen."

Several of the team's players also made the Northeast All-Region Teams. Those players are: First Team, Matt Sommers, FR, defense; Second Team, Troy Haren, JR, midfield; Nick Pensyl, SR, attack; Tyler Gallagher, JR, goalie; Honorable Mention, Nic Onusic, SR, defense; Bobby Danner, JR, midfield; Pat Valerius, JR, attack.