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Campanella Busts Out With 5 Goals To Spark Hun Boys' Lax to 1st Win
By Bill Alden
Joe Campanella and the Hun School boys' lacrosse team certainly didn't start this spring with a bang.
With senior attacker Campanella struggling to regain the sparkling form he showed last season, Hun took its lumps as it fell to formidable foes Peddie, Lawrenceville, and Hill to start its 2004 campaign at 0-3.
Last Saturday, Campanella was his old self, busting out for five goals and an assist as Hun topped WW/P-S 12-8 to get that elusive first win.
A smiling Campanella didn't hide his joy at finally tasting victory this season. "We definitely had a rough start," said Campanella. ³We had some tough breaks, 0-3 is not a good way to be. We came out with a win today. It may not have been the best win we've ever had but it was good to have it under our belts."
Campanella acknowledged that the Raiders were determined to set the Pirates back on their heels early in Saturday's contest.
"We had to take control of the game, that was extremely important," said Campanella, who scored his hat trick in the first half as the Raiders built a 6-2 bulge by the half. "The first quarter was very good. Everyone was hungry. We really wanted that win. We got it so that's a good thing."
Campanella may have been among the hungriest Raiders as the team took the field last Saturday. "I've had a slow start compared to last year," acknowledged Campanella, who had 54 points on 39 goals and 15 assists in 2003 as Hun went 12-5. "It was very good for me to play like I did today."
Hun head coach Eric Kemp basked in the glow of the sunshine and the triumph. "It's always tough going 0-3," said Kemp. "I think we did a good job trying to fight through it. It was important for us to start well today, we talked about that. It was good for us to establish our confidence and our game plan."
Kemp was particularly pleased with how his attackers established their form around the cage. In addition to the five points produced by Campanella, Hun got five goals from sophomore star Matt Loy and a goal and six assists from gifted senior Alex Green.
"They played well today," asserted Kemp, referring to his lead attack trio. "Matt shot the ball very well, I was really impressed with him. Alex is just all the intangibles. He has tremendous stick skills and he comes up with the key groundballs."
Kemp had special words of praise for Campanella. ³I thought Joe executed very well,² said Kemp, who also got a goal and two assists last Saturday from versatile senior midfielder Mike Long.
"He was struggling a little bit. I thought he did a tremendous job last year in his own development. Some guys need that foundation to get back to that level. Joe won games for us last year. I look for him to keep getting better and better."
Campanella, for his part, believes he and his partners on Hun's top attacking unit will keep improving as the spring goes on.
"I love playing with those guys, I think we have three strong attackmen," asserted Campanella, who will look to help keep Hun on the right track as it plays at Princeton Day School on April 22 and at Princeton High on April 26.
"Matt is an amazing shooter. Alex has amazing vision. I look to finish my shots and make passes, I try to lead as much as I can."
Based on the leadership that Campanella exhibited last Saturday, it looks like Hun could be ending its season with a bang.
