Taming the Titans

Taming the Titans
Bachman nets 6 as Butler lacrosse rolls, 16-3



		Butler's Tanner Kotch (10) tries getting off a shot past Shaler's Mark Ainsworth (65) during the Golden Tornado's 16-3 boys lacrosse victory Wednesday night at Art Bernardi Stadium. DAVE PRELOSKY/BUTLER EAGLE

BUTLER TWP — Cody Bachman knows the importance of a good start.
He also knows how to keep things going.
The senior registered six goals, including a natural hat trick in a 48-second span in the first period, to power the Butler boys lacrosse team to a 16-3 victory over Shaler Wednesday at Art Bernardi Stadium.
“We always say the first goal is the biggest,” Bachman said. “When Shaler scored first, it kind of shocked us, but we came back.
“My teammates know where I'm at and we look for the open man,” Bachman added.
The Titans did score first, on an unassisted goal by Kyle Ferrari just 1:07 into the game, but the Tornado scored the next 13 goals to pull away.
Tanner Kotch scored the equalizer just six seconds after Ferrari's goal — off an assist from Clay Bachman — then Bachman's hat trick opened up a 4-1 lead with 6:52 left in the first period.
Bachman's first two goals came just eight seconds apart, the second off an assist by Justin Steiner, then added his second unassisted goal of the night 40 seconds later.
“Cody's a senior and a good leader,” Butler coach Brandon Hoskinson said. “He played on our championship team two years ago. He brings game experience. He knows what to expect, the same as (Kotch) and (J.J. Raab).”
Cory Hilliard scored off a Raab helper to give the Tornado (2-2) a 5-1 lead after one quarter, then added six more in the second quarter to take an 11-1 halftime lead.
Bachman added a pair of unassisted goals while Kotch, Chandler Harvey, Hilliard and Steiner also netted goals.
Sebastian Moran and Kotch opened the third quarter with goals to make it a 12-goal game to start the mercy clock, but the Titans answered with goals by Zach Weidner and Jim McKee to return the clock to game time.
Goals by Kotch, Hilliard and Clay Bachman in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring. Hilliard's goal had bumped the lead back to 12 with about 9:15 to play and put the mercy clock back into effect.
With the win, Cody Bachman believes things will start to fall into place for Butler heading forward.
“We definitely had a tougher schedule at the beginning of the season,” Bachman said. “Now, we get a break and can get strong.
“We have high expectations. I think last year, we were in a building year. This is our year to shine,” Bachman added.”
“I think we had a really good off-season,” Hoskinson said. “I expected us to rebound pretty well. We've done well in practice and that's where you get good results.”
Notes: Raab, Moran, Kotch and Harvey added assists in the second and third periods ... Josh Jablonski made six saves for Butler while Shaler's Brad Gillespie had five ... Butler returns to action Tuesday at North Hills ... The Tornado junior varsity team also won 13-4 over the Titans as Clay Bachman had six goals and Jamison Smith added four goals.