By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 5/15/14
Co-Captain Connor Prochnow said the Rockhurst (MO) lacrosse team decided immediately after the 2013 season that it would dedicate itself to winning the 2014 Lacrosse Association of Kansas City title.
“Absolutely,” Prochnow said. “About 4 hours after we lost that game (to Shawnee Mission East) us juniors set up a Facebook page and invited every returning member of the team and started making plans for this season.
“It was personal for us, losing in the semifinals. This year we had full expectations of winning the league championship.”
The Hawklets made good on their promise to themselves last Friday when they defeated Pembroke Hill (MO) to win the third LAKC championship.
The LAKC is comprised of eight teams from Kansas and three from the Kansas City (MO) area. It serves as an unofficial Kansas state championship.
Rockhurst (14-3) trailed Pembroke (11-6) after one period, 3-2, and led just 5-4 at halftime before breaking open the game with a 5-1 run in the third period.
“For us, especially on offense, we are not a very fast-starting team; we haven’t been all year,” said Prochnow, a two-way middie who had one goal. “In the first quarter there lot of slow possessions and we were reading the defense and seeing how they would play us.
“We found they weren’t sliding very early and with the coaches’ help we made adjustments that helped us to open the floodgates.
Joe Faerber – named the Offenisve MVP after scoring 14 goals in the playoffs – had three goals in the title game. Wheaton Jackoboice added two goals and an assist and Jack Hilliard scored twice.
Rockhurst’s defense was led by goalie Andrew Dakan, who had 19 saves, and defenseman Robbie Healy and Andrew Mohajir (both with two takeaways, two groundballs). Also for the Hawklets, Jack Maple had a goal and two assists, and Liam Hodes had a goal and an assist and
Prochnow said his team relied on senior leadership, great coaching and strong team camaraderie and balance.
“There were a lot of seniors back,” said Prochnow. “I look at other teams and felt our coaching staff was just incredible. We had six different coaches and for each to implement his own game plan and to have one cohesive unit on the field takes an incredible mind and execution on their part.
“Our team game allowed us to be undefeated. We didn’t pin our hopes on one guy to dodge or one defenseman to lock down.”
How will Prochnow remember the season?
“I’m going to remember this as the best group of guys ever,” he said “That more than anything – the games obviously matter – but we as a team had so much fun it makes you appreciate and value what it means to be on a team.”