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Sports

Men's Lacrosse: CCBC Essex Makes Statement in Win over Harford CC

The No. 2 Knights score early, often en route to a 24-4 win over the 10th-ranked Fighting Owls.

When the CCBC Essex hosted MD JUCO and Harford Community College on Wednesday it was expected to be a hotly contested game.

Essex entered the game ranked second while Harford was 10th in the latest NJCAA national poll. Instead, the host-Knights made a statement in its effort to get back to the national title game, winning 24-4.

Dixon Green scored five goals and Luke Phipps had four goals and two assists to lead Essex, which plays at No. 3 Nassau Community College on Saturday in Long Island, NY.

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“We were playing without several key players,” Harford coach Hugh Donovan said. “And we are in the beginning stages of building a program similar to what they have here.”

Essex jumped out to a quick lead, outscoring Harford 6-1 in the first quarter. The Owls seemed to get their offense going in the second quarter with two quick scores, but still could not stop Essex. The half ended with the Knights leading 13-3.

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Essex coach Shawn Burke emptied his bench in the second half but even his second team continued the onslaught against Harford.

Midfielder Brandon Kendrick who was the 2010 All-Region Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year has had to change his game due to opposing teams defensive game plan.

“Last year I was more of a scorer,” said Kendrick who had two goals and two assists. “Now other teams are double teaming me more and I look to dodge and dish.”

The change shows in Kendrick's stats, as he leads the nation in assists with 17. The sophomore midfielder, who played his high school ball at Mount Saint Joseph, credits Burke with recruiting him to the program. Kendrick will play at Division III power Salisbury next year where he will study nursing

“Coach Burke saw me play against Boys Latin in high school and thought I could play here,” Kendrick said. “It gave me a chance to show what I can do at a higher level both on the field and in the classroom."

Burke has had luck recruiting players from the MIAA, arguably the toughest high school lacrosse league in the nation. Nine of his players come from the conference.

“It makes a lot of financial sense for local guys to come here,” Burke said “It also gives them a chance to be re-recruited by major Division I schools and show that they can hack it in the classroom as well.”

Both Burke and Kendrick agree that this team is something special and look to return to the national championship game, a game they lost last season to Onondaga Community College in New York.

“Last season we never faced any adversity,” Burke said. “During the season we never trailed by more than one goal. We lead early in the championship game, but Onondaga came back and took a lead. We just didn't know how to handle it.

"This season we faced some tougher competition in the Naval Academy Prep school, who had us down a couple of goals but we fought back for the win.”

Kendrick added" “We are winning a national championship, no doubt.”

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