Higher expectations for Lancaster’s Bedell

LANCASTER - Cody Bedell enjoyed a fine junior season for the Lancaster High School boys lacrosse team. His 28 goals ranked third on the team and he was a big part of one of the top teams in Class A.

The reward for that? Higher expectations this year.

"He's done really well for us, so hopefully he can build on the good year he had last year," Lancaster coach Renson Mullen said. "We really need him at attack to have some success offensively for us."

So far, he's been up to the task in his senior season for the Redskins. Bedell has picked up where he left off from last season with a solid scoring pace. He has seven goals through five games and scored at least one time in each of Lancaster's first five contests.

"I'm a senior, so I'm looking to deliver this year for my team," he said. "I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing, keep cutting, keep going to the net and hopefully keep scoring."

Bedell is one of three captains on the team along with Tyler Godfrey and Zach Bruenning. Although the Redskins lost some key players off of last year's roster, they have a bunch back and the newcomers are coming on strong as well.

"We graduated a bunch of seniors and we have a lot of newbies, but we all got a lot better," Bedell said. "Working together and everything, it's going pretty well. Everyone’s going to the net and doing a good job."

Indeed, the scoring attack has been balanced for the Redskins. Through the first six games, nine different players had at least three goals on the season.

“We have a lot of weapons that can score for us,” Mullen said. “Hopefully we just keep it going and get on a roll.”

Lancaster was 11-5 last year and reached the sectional semifinals, before losing to eventual champion Clarence by a single goal. With a lot of those weapons back, the Redskins are hoping to match – or even beat that in 2012.

The Redskins got off to a slow start with games against powerhouses such as Orchard Park, Canisius and Section V’s Victor on the early part of the slate. But improvement was evident and the Redskins hope to be in the thick of things come season’s end.

“We should be able to do pretty far,” Bedell said. “We just have to keep working as a team and keep getting better.”