High Energy in Season Opener by Hunter Paige
Melbourne High School’s lacrosse team opened its season with its first scrimmage on February 3rd at Tom McIntyre Stadium, giving players an early opportunity to showcase their skills in live competition. The scrimmage showed strong performances across the field, with Carson Turner, a 10th-grade righty attack, standing out during the action. Coaches evaluated players on execution, communication, and effort as they began shaping the lineup for the season. Following the scrimmage, both players and coaches reflected on the team’s progress and areas still needing attention.
Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Josh Buzzard said the scrimmage provided valuable insight into where the team currently stood. “The energy was strong, and the guys were competitive and cooperative throughout the scrimmage,” Buzzard said. While pleased with the overall effort, the coach emphasized that improvement was still needed in areas such as face-offs, full-field transitions, and substitutions. “We want to continue working on game flow and creating realistic situations so new players can learn without fear of making mistakes,” he said, highlighting the focus heading into upcoming practices.
Turner shared his perspective on the scrimmage and what it revealed about the team’s chemistry. “I thought we played well overall, but we still need to work on passing the ball around more and knowing when and where to be on the field,” Turner said. The sophomore noted that his personal focus moving forward would be on improving his passing and shooting while keeping his eyes up as an attackman. “My main goal is to be a better feeder and help my teammates score, not just look for my own shot,” Turner said as the team continued preparations for the rest of the season.
Caption:
Scrimmage Insights: Melbourne High School's lacrosse team opens its season with a scrimmage on February 3rd at Tom McIntyre Stadium. The team showcased strong energy and teamwork, with Carson Turner, a 10th-grade righty attack, standing out. Assistant Coach Josh Buzzard highlighted the players’ competitive spirit, saying, “The energy was strong, and the guys were competitive and cooperative throughout the scrimmage.” While the team showed great effort, Buzzard pointed out areas to continue refining, particularly in face-offs, full-field transitions, and substitutions, as the team built momentum for the season ahead. Turner shared his focus moving forward, stating, “My main goal is to be a better feeder and help my teammates score, not just look for my own shot.”
Photos by: Hunter Paige