LAX NEWS: Longhorns off to impressive start

Lambert, the defending Class A-AAAA champion, was in North Carolina over the weekend and came back to Forsyth County with two wins. The Longhorns (8-0) beat Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.) 17-3 Friday before taking down Apex (N.C.) Saturday 10-7. Prior to the trip to the Tar Heel state, Josh Sagel’s team had defeated in-state teams Fellowship Christian (18-0), Northview (16-3), Chattahoochee (10-5), Wesleyan (18-5), Milton (10-4) and Gainesville (21-1). The Longhorns have not lost since 2011 when Northview beat them 11-5 on Feb. 25. Lambert, however, will receive a serious test Tuesday night as the Longhorns travel to east Cobb to face defending Class AAAAA champion Walton.

Class AAAAA power Milton has started its season 4-1. The lone Eagles’ loss came in blowout fashion to Class A-AAAA power Lambert on March 5. Milton, however, rebounded to defeat North Forsyth 15-5 on March 6. Coach Tom Dell’s squad opened the season with convincing wins over Pope (13-1) and West Forsyth (14-6).

Walton has gotten off to a slow start. After finishing 2011 with an 18-3 record and a state championship, Matthew Miller’s squad has started off 1-4 in 2012. Walton began the season with a Feb. 20 loss to Region 2-AAAAA foe Etowah when the Eagles took a 12-11 overtime victory. Four days later, Trinity (Ky.) beat the Raiders 13-3 while Westminster took down Walton 11-4 on Feb. 25. Walton’s lone win of the season came on March 2 over east Cobb-rival Wheeler in a 15-4 blowout. On Friday, however, Alpharetta put Walton back in the loss column with a 12-7 win.

Undefeated Lassiter (5-0, 2-0) edged upstart Etowah 8-7 Saturday to improve to 2-0 in Region 2-AAAAA play. The Eagles (4-1, 1-1) led 6-4 at halftime, but Trojans goalkeeper Ryan Smith stonewalled them in the second half. Smith had 11 saves in the game. Connor Smith scored four of the Eagles’ six goals while Jack Fitzharris and David Olson each tallied three scores.

Class AAAAA power Centennial has started the 2012 season 4-0 with wins over Woodstock (18-2), Pace Academy (19-10), Brookwood (23-3) and North Forsyth (16-2).