Atoms Look to Put Past Behind Them

When Annandale fell to West Springfield in the 2009 Patriot District final, no one could really complain. The Atoms had lost over a dozen seniors from 2008’s championship team and if anything, the rebuilding process was taking no time at all. Another runner-up finish to Woodson in 2010 was a little more frustrating. On Friday, a team that features 13 seniors (three of the program’s top four all-time leading scorers) and a sizable chip on their collective shoulder will take the field knowing that another loss is simply unacceptable.

The Atoms finished the regular season with a record of 9-2, including a fourth straight 6-1 mark in the Patriot District. All but one of their wins came by eight or more goals, and one defeat came 13-9 at the hands of Bullis, which finished second in the powerhouse IAC. A 13-9 loss at home to Woodson remains the only real blemish on Annandale’s schedule, and atonement on Friday would make up for so much more than just one game.

Nate Miller was one of two freshmen on that 2008 team. Not surprisingly, this year Miller became the sixth Atom ever to register 100 career goals, only to be joined by Nick Lalande and Stephen Craig later in the season. With all that talent, the phrase now or never almost seems like an understatement.

“It just shows all the hard work you’ve put in. You’re being a leader out there, so it means a lot of young guys are looking up to you and working their heart out on the field for you,” Miller said of what it would mean to win districts as a senior compared to as a freshman.

Bob Stevens just missed out on 2008’s success. The goalie-turned-defenseman didn’t join varsity until his sophomore year, and believes a win on Friday would say more about the team’s character than just it’s talent.

“To finally get it done would be nice,” he said. “For the past two years when we lost, it would show what kind of person you are and how you come back from a difficult situation.”

Miller and Stevens estimate that most of the core of seniors have played together for eight years, dating back to their years with . While “chemistry” is a term used all across the sports landscape, it rarely proves to be more important than in lacrosse, dubbed “the fastest game on two feet.”

“We have a lot of chemistry going back to youth lacrosse,” Miller said. “We definitely believe in each other, and this is definitely the time. It’s the time to do it, it’s a big stage, and we’ve just got to go out there and do it.”

The stage gets even bigger considering the match up. The Cavaliers boast the region’s best scoring defense at 5.1 goals allowed per game, but the Atoms aren’t far behind at 5.8. Annandale also ranks as the best when it comes to scoring margin at plus-8.7. All that pressure is motivating the Atoms more than worrying them.

A win on Friday would exorcise two years worth of demons, but Annandale, with its rich lacrosse history, is determined to go even further and cement their legacy.

“We’ve got to play our best to beat the best, and they’re the number one seed," Stevens said in a matter-of-fact tone. “If we don’t, things might not go our way, but if we do, we’ve got a good shot at taking the [regional and state] title.”