High School Lacrosse: Eastern's Defense Dominates Divisional Match-up Saturday, April 14, 2007 By George Brookings SJSports Special Correspondent With a new season of boys' lacrosse underway, based on personal opinions one team has to be selected as the best in our area. And with that much attention now on that team, opposing squads will either use that ranking of a team as a motivating factor to see how well they can compete them as well as other teams or just intimidated. But don't be fooled, the reason for the Vikings from Eastern High School is successful is because of their defense. By limiting your opponent’s scoring chances will only keep your offense in the game no matter what the score maybe. In an Olympic Conference American Division game played at Eastern, the Minutemen from Washington Township scored the first goal just seconds into the game. The Vikings would respond by scoring six unanswered goals during the first half and then dominated the second half to pick up the 15-5 victory extending their winning streak to four games. The Minutemen’s early success started off by winning the face off and with just twenty-three seconds into the game, Tony Verchio scored his first of three goals and Washington Township had the lead. Winning their first face off of the game, Eastern’s offense went into motion and a minute and a half later Mike Feldberg tied the score. The theme for the Vikings was to win the opening battle after a score and go on the attack. Scott Higgins would deposit the second goal for the Vikings seventeen seconds later and Eastern would lead by a 4-1 margin heading into the second quarter. Trailing by five goals before the half, Township would respond with two goals to close their deficit to 6-3. Eastern started out the second half by scoring the first four goals of the third quarter and the Vikings opened up a 10-3 advantage. When this game was completed, Scott Higgins and Steve Adelman were both successful at finding the open lanes and scored four goals apiece. Kevin Friel would record the hat trick also for the Vikings. Tony Verchio scored all three of his goals during the first half of the game. Photos by Art Redd