Trussville boys advance to state lacrosse semifinals

From The Trussville Tribune Staff Reports

TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville boys lacrosse team blasted Birmingham Magic 19-6 to advance to the Alabama Lacrosse Championships semifinals round.

(submitted photo)

Trussville was scheduled to face UMS-Wright on Tuesday night in Montgomery for a berth in the Boys High School Division 2 final at Birmingham-Southern College. That championship game, which will be between the Huskies-UMS-Wright winner and the winner of Auburn-Huntsville winner, will be played Saturday.

UMS-Wright has handed Trussville its only loss this season.

Trussville (10-1) has maintained its No. 1 ranking through the final month of the season. The Huskies dominated the league offensively, scoring 166 goals in the season – almost 30 more than any other team.  Carter McAlpin, Alex Tran, Ben Wedlun, Daniel Rhodes, Trevor McBride and Mitchell Peterson all scored multiple goals to make the Huskies the most potent offense in the state.

After a quick learning curve, the Huskie defense has stepped up as well. It allowed only 59 goals all season, third best in the state. JB Curlee, Dustin McNaughton, Will Altman, Campbell Holley, Tristan Kirk and Skylar DeFrank all work together like a machine to keep opponents out of the goal.

“Our boys have worked so hard starting last June in offseason to get to this point,” coach Kris Knisley said. “We are one win away from playing in the state championship. After losing to UMS-Wright by one goal at the end of the game, our guys have waited on a chance to play them again and beat them. These guys have come together to form a special bond.  Win or lose, we are so very proud of where these guys have taken our program.”

Meanwhile, the Trussville girls team ended its season with a 3-8 record, but the young team lost three matches by one point each and two others by four points apiece, which bodes well going forward.

Trussville plays under the banner of the Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Association because it is not yet a sport sanctioned by the Alabama High School Athletic Association despite its growing popularity, especially in the state’s metropolitan areas.