BIG BEN: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Ben Schenkman looks to clear the ball in recent action. Senior defenseman and tri-captain Schenkman’s fine play on the back line has helped Hun produce a 2-1 start. In upcoming action, Hun hosts Pennington on April 12 and Voorhees on April 14 before playing at Princeton Day School on April 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Change has been the theme this spring for the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team.

Don Green has taken the helm of the program as its new head coach and is guiding a squad that is working in a number of new faces.

“We are young experience-wise and age-wise and there might be bumps along the way,” said Green, the replacement for Tom Kelso, who led the Raiders to a 9-8 record last spring “There is a lot of room for growth; they have a real willingness to learn.”

The Raiders have already shown growth this spring, bouncing back from an opening day 14-2 loss to Chestnut Hill (Pa.) to beat Blair 14-7 on March 31 and then top Academy of New Church (ANC) (Pa.) 12-3 last Thursday.

“We had a good effort at both ends of the field against ANC; the guys are learning how to put together a complete game,” said Green, who was the head coach of the Montgomery High boys’ lax team the last two years.

“The win over Blair gave us confidence that we can win. The guys are starting to play together.”

The team’s senior captains, Mark Burke, Iain Alexandridis and Ben Schenkman, have played a key role in holding the team together.

“They are providing good leadership; they are really supportive of the young guys,” said Green, referring to his trio of senior captains. “You know that the young guys are going to make mistakes and they are there for them.”

Attackman Alexandridis and midfielder Burke have been sharing the playmaker role for the Raiders.

“Iain and Mark handle the ball; they run the offense,” said Green, who got four goals from Burke in the victory over ANC with Alexandridis chipping in four assists. “The younger guys are in catch and shoot mode.”

One of the team’s top young guns is freshman attacker Brendan Black, who had five goals in the win over Blair and then added one in the win over ANC.

“Black is a smaller guy,” said Green. “He’s good off the ball; he knows when to cut and when to go to the net.”

Junior Zach Bicho has been helped to control the ball in the midfield. “Bicho has been really good the last two games,” said Green, noting that freshman Jameson Demarco has also been producing in the midfield.

“He has been dominating face-offs and getting us possession. He has been putting up some points as well.”

On defense, senior star Schenkman is emerging as a dominant force. “Ben just plays hard all the time; he has a great motor,” asserted Green. “He gives us leadership by example; he motivates the other kids to play hard.”

Green points to Cameron Dudeck and Greg Flood as other defensemen who have been influenced by Schenkman.

“Cam Dudeck is a sophomore; he is a future star,” added Green. “Greg Flood, a junior defender, is also very good.”

At goalie, sophomore Matthew Bruno has the potential to be another future star. “Bruno has great promise as a sophomore,” said Green, who is using senior Alex Gunstensen as backup goalie. “His quickness is the main thing; he really gets to the ball.”

Green believes that his players have quickly adapted to his approach. “It has worked out really well; the guys are very optimistic,” said Green, who started the spring as the assistant coach to Steve Bristol before the two swapped positions.

“It is a great group of people; there is a great chemistry. The older guys have gone far beyond what I have seen before in terms of helping the younger guys.”

If the team continues its sharp learning curve, Hun could do some great things this spring.

“By the end of the year, I want to have everybody thinking for themselves and making their own decisions out there,” said Green, whose team hosts Pennington on April 12 and Voorhees on April 14 before playing at Princeton Day School on April 17.

“We have to learn to be more hard-nosed and continue with the good chemistry. I would like to be silent on the sideline because they know exactly what they need to do.”