AS NEEDED: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Chris Aslanian heads upfield last Monday in Hun’s 14-13 win over the IMG Academy (Fla.) in overtime. Postgraduate Aslanian tallied four goals and three assists in the victory to help the Raiders improve to 3-0. Hun plays at Blair in April 1 before hosting PDS on April 7. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Chris Aslanian and the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team didn’t show any opening day jitters as they started their season by hosting Don Bosco last Wednesday.

With post graduate Aslanian chipping in a goal and an assist, Hun jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first quarter.

“I think it is just a total team effort, just coming out there, we wanted to have a fast start,” said Aslanian.

“We have a lot of talent on our offense. Our coach really harps on playing team offense, working together, using each other and playing unselfish.”

Hun kept it together the rest of the afternoon, cruising to a 16-5 win over the Ironmen. Aslanian ended up with three goals and four assists, repeatedly connecting with fellow post-grads Chris Donovan and Brendan Rooney.

“We are also boarders at the school; we live here and we have been playing together for a while,” said Aslanian.

“We definitely have a chemistry. I think our whole offense is really great. We really understand the whole idea behind it, just working together as a team. Everyone does their own part.”

In reflecting on his big debut, Aslanian spread the credit around. “I think any guy can do that, I was in the right spot at the right time,” said Aslanian, who had another big day last Monday, scoring four goals as Hun edged IMG Academy (Fla.) 14-13 in overtime to improve to 3-0.

“We have a lot of talent around here and I just happened to be the beneficiary of all the hard work.”

Aslanian, a former standout at Westfield High who has committed to attend Hobart College and play for its men’s lax program, is finding Hun to be a good spot for him.

“It has been a great experience, the guys have been awesome,” asserted Aslanian. “It has been a really smooth transition. The coaching staff is amazing, I love it here.”

Earning the respect of the guys, Aslanian was voted by the players to be one of the team captains this spring.

“I was truly honored to have my teammates vote for me; I think it has been great so far,” said Aslanian.

“I have only been here a year. We have a lot of captains who have been here for a while and they kind of run the show and I just try to do my little part.”

Hun head coach MV Whitlow likes how Aslanian is getting it done. “Chris is a really dynamic player, he is always looking for his teammates,” said Whitlow. “He is very talented, he can shoot the ball really well but he also has great vision.”

The Raiders’ dynamic performance against Don Bosco was heartening to Whitlow. “We wanted to start fast and I think we did start fast,” said Whitlow.

“We wanted to play uptempo and I thought we did play uptempo. We want to push our opportunities and share the ball and when that happens a lot of guys are going to get good looks and today they went in.”

Junior midfielder Alex Semler’s good work on face-offs helped get Hun rolling.

“We were happy because we were winning face-offs, Alex Semler is pretty tough at the X,” said Whitlow.

“He has really been working hard. He is a team guy and he wants to get the ball for us. When we have the ball that much, we are going to have success as long as the guys share the ball, trust each other, and play unselfishly.”

Hun played well at the defensive end of the field, stifling the Ironmen. “Tucker Stevenson anchors things back there on the defense; having Jon Levine behind him in goal really helps,” said Whitlow.

“Robert Kuhn is a great defensive midfielder. Chris Fake and the addition of Kyle Horihan are big back there.”

With its talent and work ethic, Hun appears poised to have a big spring.

“I think the players having worked so hard, really trust the coaching staff,” said Whitlow, whose team plays at Blair on April 1 before hosting PDS on April 7.

“The flip side of that is that the coaches really trust the players to make plays on the field and we empower them to do that, to be free thinkers and creators. They trust each other, that is the most important thing.”

In Aslanian’s view, maintaining that trust could result in the Raiders becoming a true powerhouse.

“I think if we just stay the course and keep working together and playing unselfishly and really work on that, we can do a lot of big things,” said Aslanian.