After winning five consecutive conference championships, it didn’t take long for adversity to hit the Orange lacrosse team this season. The Panthers have played without its leading scorer, Brett Clark, for the past two weeks due to injury. He’s one of several top scorers from last year’s squad currently out of action. Despite playing a difficult schedule, Orange is off to a 4-3 start with wins over Enloe, Southern Alamance, Pinecrest and Walter Williams. On Monday night, senior midfielder Matthew Macneir had a hat trick as the Panthers defeated Enloe 8-4 at Auman Stadium in Hillsboorugh. Macneir, in his fourth year on varsity, played for the 3A/2A/1A State Championship for Orange as a sophomore. Senior Tucker Dillard created two turnovers and wound up with three ground balls as Orange triggered 15 successful clears. Senior Logan Horn had three ground balls in a strong defense effort against the Eagles. In the reclassification of lacrosse that happened last year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, Orange is in a 1A-through-6A classification in a league with longtime rivals Northwood, Seaforth, and Carrboro. On Tuesday night, the Panthers will host Riverside in Hillsborough. Next Friday, Orange will travel to Cedar Ridge for its conference opener at Red Wolves Stadium.
