Mac and Cheese has been satisfying appetites for generations. Eastview's limited-edition lacrosse version -- Ryan McNamara and Jake Heppner -- is just getting warmed up.
"I'm Mac, he's Cheese; we just kind of got that during my freshman year, and it stuck," said McNamara, the junior attackman who is committed to play Division I lacrosse at Marquette. "We just know where each other are on the field. We find each other. We can always trust each other to have the ball on their sticks, to find other people or finish it ourselves."
The two offensive dynamos are a handful of games into their third season together with the Lightning, and they are making it count. After only two games, McNamara tallied 11 goals and six assists. For Heppner, 10 goals and four assists. They have grown up together playing hockey and eventually lacrosse, which became a year-round sport for both.
The high-powered duo spearheads an intimidating offense with speed, smarts and raw scoring ability. It's no surprise that Eastview sits among the top three teams in the state rankings.
"It helps to have the best player in the state on your team," coach Tim Roche said of McNamara. "And then arguably the second-best player in Jake."
Both talents were on display in the season opener against Minnetonka. The Lightning trailed by four goals at one time in the fourth quarter. They cut the lead to two with less than two minutes left before McNamara scored a goal and Heppner tied it with 30 seconds left. Eastview won in overtime, with McNamara assisting on Erik Gage's game-winner.
It was only one game, but it set the tone for Eastview, which hopes to accomplish big things this season.
"That's exactly what we needed," Heppner said. "Definitely got our name up there."
