It is the first thing opposing defenses think about when preparing to play Westfield’s boys lacrosse team. Yet all that extra planning hasn’t helped anyone find a way to slow down senior midfielder Evan Royster.
A three-time All-Examiner footballplayer headed to Penn State to play that sport, Royster was encouraged to finish out his high school lacrosse career by, among others, Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno. Royster is doing so with a flourish.
Westfield is 6-1 after last Saturday’s 12-7 win at Potomac School and beat perennial Northern Region power Robinson, 9-8, on March 31. Royster already has 27 goals and five assists.
“We wanted to stop Royster. That was the game plan,” said Oakton coach Tony Gray, whose three-time defending region champions held off the Bulldogs, 12-11, on April 4. “But even with that in mind I think he still scored five goals against us. He’s an amazing player.”
Westfield, the Concorde District runner-up to Oakton two of the last three years, is 2-1 in the district with four games remaining before the postseason. Senior midfielder Sean O’Sullivan returned from a severely sprained ankle in the game against Oakton and should be at full at full strength when the Bulldogs play Lake Braddock (1-4) on Tuesday.
