The Right Move
Donnie Biggs/News & Messenger
Matt Sutton has 39 goals this year for 8-0 Osbourn
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By Robert Daski
Published: April 16, 2008
The Osbourn attack is now positioned on the right side of the opposing goalie’s crease during of-fensive possessions, waiting for a pass.
Upon receiving a pass, all he must do is secure the ball and shoot.
The result is often a goal, proving Osbourn coach Todd Cooke’s decision to switch Sutton from midfield to attack is the right one.
“I’ve been trying to get coach Cooke to move me there for four years,” Sutton said. “It’s nice to change positions and change the environment I’m in.”
Life on the field is good for Sutton. He has 39 goals, 11 assists and 50 points. His production is a reason the Osbourn boys’ lacrosse team is 8-0, 2-0 in the Cedar Run District.
“The move has made me feel more comfortable on offense,” said Sutton, a senior who played midfield during his first three varsity years. “Now I can just concentrate and get better for the rest of the season.”
One year following a coaching change, Osbourn is in transition. Only this phase involves its players. Cooke has adjusted his lineup, trying Alex Maguire and Jamie Jewett at midfield and his son Kiel Cooke at attack and midfield.
Sutton has wanted a larger role in Osbourn’s offense since his freshman year. During off-season workouts, he was under the assumption that he would stay at midfield.
That is until Todd Cooke approached him about a position change.
“I’ve never pestered him about it, but he’s known I’ve wanted to [change positions],” Sutton said. “I wanted to give it a shot my senior year.”
Having Sutton up front gives the Eagles a scoring option beyond Kiel Cooke and attack Mason Smith, who try to generate scoring chances, but occasionally draw an extra defender.
“He reaps the benefits of those guys being able to create and he finishes,” Todd Cooke said.
But playing attack comes with added responsibilities.
“It’s more spacing and understanding where you need to be on the field in certain situations,” Todd Cooke said. “At midfield, you’re pushing the ball up and running down the field. You’ve got set plays. Being on the attack, he needs to understand where he’s supposed to be on a fast break. If the ball’s at X, where should he be in relation to the ball?”
Sutton must also continue his rapport with Smith and Kiel Cooke.
“We score goals if we’re all in sync together,” Sutton said. “We’ve all been playing with each other for a while. We know what each other’s going to do. It’s nice being able to play with them.”
It’s also nice being in a comfort zone.
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