Reflecting on Landon’s first six games this season, which left the Bears 3-3 without much consistency and confidence, assistant coach J.R. Bordley often repeated one word: “frustrating.”
It’s hard, he said, for the Bears to not feel some dissatisfaction with the .500 start after last year’s historic 21-0 run, which included an Interstate Athletic Conference title and featured four players who were Under Armour all-American selections.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever see that again,” Bordley said. “It’s a once in a . . . 30-or 40-year team with the pieces that we had and the senior leadership, so that’s not normal.”
But No. 10 Landon knows it’s still early enough to again contend for a conference championship. League play opens Friday night against rival No. 3 Bullis, a rematch of last year’s IAC tournament final.
“Last year was history, as we told the kids,” Bordley said. “It means nothing. The 25-year reunion for the 2017 team will be fun, but it’s all about 2018 right now.”
Before Landon turns its attention to the Bulldogs, however, the Bears have to complete a busy week. It started Saturday with an 11-5 win over Episcopal Academy (Pa.) and continues Tuesday against Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.).
Bordley hopes the stretch gives the Bears some momentum heading into the showdown on their home field in Bethesda, where the coach expects the atmosphere to be “a zoo” and for emotions to run high.
The stretch started well against Episcopal Academy as attacker Joey Epstein scored six goals and an assist. Epstein, last season’s Epoch/U.S. Lacrosse national player of the year, has 24 goals and 11 assists through seven games as a senior and will look to add to that production against Bullis.
Here are this week’s rankings.
1. Gonzaga (5-2) LW: 1
Jack Myers became the program’s all-time leader in points during a comeback win against national power Boys’ Latin.
2. St. John’s (7-1) LW: 2
The Cadets have earned two close Washington Catholic Athletic Conference wins over O’Connell and Paul VI.
3. Bullis (7-2) LW: 3
In four straight victories, the Bulldogs have a 13.75-point average margin of victory.
4. Churchill (1-0) LW: 5
The Bulldogs face Poolesville on Tuesday for their first game in almost two weeks.
5. Severna Park (2-1) LW: 4
The Falcons suffered their first loss in over two years when they fell to Severn, 17-9, on Thursday.
6. St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes (5-2) LW: 6
The Saints split games against Gilman and Cape Henry Collegiate in the past week.
7. Woodson (4-0) LW: 9
The Cavaliers continued their undefeated start by beating T.C. Williams and Chantilly by nine points apiece.
8. St. Mary’s-Annapolis (5-1) LW: 8
The Saints face off against nationally ranked McDonogh on Tuesday.
9. South River (1-0) LW: 10
The Seahawks opened the season with a 19-10 victory over Southern.
10. Landon (4-3) LW: 7
Before the Bears beat Episcopal Academy (Pa.), 11-5, on Saturday, assistant coach J.R. Bordley called it “a must-win” game.
Dropped out: none
Bubble: Robinson (4-0), Howard (3-0), Briar Woods (2-0), Riverside (1-1)