NO FAKING: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Christopher Fake, right, defends a foe in a game earlier this season. Last Monday, junior star and co-captain Fake helped key a stifling defensive effort and chipped in a goal as top-seeded Hun defeated fourth-seeded Peddie 18-0 in the state Prep A semifinals. Hun, now 8-4, will host second-seeded Lawrenceville in the Prep A title game on May 9. In addition, the Raiders will host the Hill School (Pa.) on May 4 and the Hill Academy (Canada) on May 6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

For the Hun School boys’ lacrosse team, hosting Peddie in the state Prep A semifinals last Monday served as an opportunity to get rolling as it looks for a big final push this spring. 

Having lost three straight games, including a 7-6 nailbiter to Brunswick School (Conn.) on April 30, the Raiders were able to go in cruise control mode against an overmatched Peddie, jumping out to a 6-0 first quarter lead on the way to an 18-0 triumph.

“We had a tough first part of the season and we have been looking for ourselves and last weekend versus Brunswick, we finally showed ourselves a little more and who we are,” said junior defender and co-captain Christopher Fake.

“We just wanted to build on that today and do the things we have been doing in practice.”

Fake was proud of the team’s stifling defensive effort as shutouts are rarely seen in lacrosse.

“That has been a major point of emphasis as we progress through the season to May,” said the University of Virginia-bound Fake. “We are just trying to make our defense as strong as possible so we can get through things.”

Fake has been through a lot with senior defender Kyle Horihan and senior goalie Jon Levine.

“We have been playing together for a while,” said Fake of the trio of defensive stalwarts.

“We have been really comfortable and we love playing with each other but it is really the d-middies and the guys who don’t get noticed who really make or break the defense.”

Showing his offensive skills, Fake earned some notice in second quarter against Peddie when he took off in the clear, sprinting down the field and firing the ball into the back of the net with his pole.

“It felt good,” said Fake with a grin reflecting on his tally. “Today was fun, being able to play loose.”

The Raiders, who got five goals from Griffin Moroney against Peddie with Luke Prybylski chipping in two goals and five assists, are hoping to have fun defending their Prep A title on May 9 when they host arch rival and nemesis Lawrenceville, a 14-1 winner over Blair Academy in the other semifinal.

“That means a lot, we always love playing Lawrenceville,” said Fake.

“We love that rivalry and being able to play them another time this season. We always look forward to it and try to bring our A-game.”

Later in May, the Raiders will take part in the Inter-Ac Challenge, which features some of the top programs on the east coast.

“We are trying to ramp it up for the Inter-Acs, that is a big goal for the season,” added Fake, who helped Hun advance to the 2015 Inter-Ac title game where it fell to top-ranked Haverford School (Pa.).

“Playing in the Inter-Ac championship last year was an experience like no other, it was awesome. To make it back there would be great.”

In Fake’s view, hitting some bumps in the road should make Hun tougher down the stretch.

“Those losses were much needed to learn that we can’t do it with one person,” said Fake. “We need to play together as a group.”