Cyclone field lacrosse dreaming big
Durieal Bell is the heart and soul of the E.L. Crossley Cyclones boys field lacrosse team.
“Durieal has been an integral part of our team, he is a 12B and this is his fifth and final year with us,” Crossley coach Chelsea Weir said.
The 18-year-old scored four goals and added an assist Thursday to lead the Cyclones to a 9-4 victory over the Greater Fort Erie Gryphons in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association action at Sir Winston Churchill. The game was supposed to be played at E.L. Crossley but the school’s new turf field wasn’t quite ready.
Scoring is only one part of what Bell provides for E.L. Crossley.
“He’s an amazing player and an excellent leader, he gets all the players excited to play and he is really flexible, too,” Weir sad. “We have moved him around into different roles and positions and he always steps up to the plate.”
Bell, who plays all sports for Crossley, has thoroughly enjoyed his high school lacrosse career.
“I just like the guys and they are a fun group to play with,” he said.
He takes his leadership role seriously.
“I try to be as much of a leader as I can,” he said. “I try to keep them motivated and if they don’t know what to do I tell them where to go and how to play.”
Bell played defence his first four years at Crossley, but is enjoying the opportunity to be a goal scorer.
“I wanted to move up and try and get some goals for the team,” he said. “Getting goals will help the team get as far as it can.”
Thursday’s game was a preview of the Zone 3 AA NRHSAA final because GFESS and Crossley are the only AA teams in the zone.
“It gives them a good idea of what to expect and I thought we played excellent today,” Weir said. “We have been getting them to roll the cage more, communicate, pass the ball around and they have been listening,” she said. “And our goalie Ben (Bonisteel) played an excellent game today.”
Bell was keeping a sharp eye on the tendencies of the Gryphons for future reference.
“I was trying to see how people play defence on me and how they play defence on other people,” he said. “I am trying to get other guys open and get them to get goals too.”
Bell, who played travel lacrosse until breaking his hand three years ago, has high expectations for the Cyclones.
“I am hoping to go to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of Secondary Association championships) and hopefully try and win that too,” he said. “I don’t want to jinx it, but I think we have a pretty good chance if we keep playing like this.”
STATS PACK
Cyclones 9 Gryphons 4
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s Player of the Game: E.L. Crossley’s Durieal Bell with four goals and an assist.
For the E.L. Crossley Cyclones: Noah Woulthuis, two goals and two assists; Joey Natale, goal and an assist; Carter Nichols and Billy Tarbett, goals.
For the Greater Fort Erie Gryphons: Joel Coopman, David Stewart, Preston Ebersol and Damian John.
