The DeMatha Stags lacrosse team started their season on Monday, February 19 with their first tryout of the season. They had around 30-40 kids show up to Heurich field which is the field they practice and play at.
Coach Matt Miller, a rookie head coach and DeMatha alum who played from 2005 to 2008 on the lacrosse team, was hired as head coach in the winter of the preseason taking over from former coach Dave Mitchell. Coach Miller also played Division I lacrosse for Drexel. This will be his first head coaching job.
Coach Mitchell stepped down from the head coach position because of some personal issues with his hip and is focusing on making sure his health is good before he goes back into such a big role as a coach. He has not confirmed yet if he will still be on the sidelines for the DeMatha lacrosse team but he still shows up to practices to help out when he can.
Coach Miller’s goal for the season is to bring home another championship but the only way that is possible is if “everybody buys in.” In practice he tells his players “the only way we are going to be successful this year is if everybody buys in, we have great players on the offense and defense but it doesn’t matter unless everyone does their job and trusts each other.”
Coach Phil Lipka, who doubles as DeMatha’s assistant athletic director, made a teaching point for the first couple practices to keep stacking up “brick by brick” so by the end of the season the team will be sturdy just like a wall of bricks. Coach Lipka is the defensive coordinator, and is joined on Miller’s staff by coaches Micheal Fazio ’11 (offensive assistant) and Aaron Wood (face-off coach)
Some transfers who came into the program were Cole Witt, a junior goalie from Archbishop Spalding, Bobby Komins, a junior attack from Archbishop Spalding, and Eli Surprin, a sophomore midfielder from St. Vincent Pallotti. Some freshmen who come in expecting to make an impact are Ethan Minckler, Mikey Principi and Deacon Streit.
In addition, the team boasts several college commits. Mattew Beachley (attack), Will Taylor (defense), and Landon McKelvy (defense) are all junior but already committed to Penn State, St. Joseph’s, and Boston University, respectively. In addition, seniors Andrew Ross (midfield), James Westbrooks (defense), Jadon Myers (midfield), and Dylan Adams (defense) are committed to Randolph-Macon, High Point, Hampton, and McDaniel, resepctively.
Some impact players to look out for on the offensive side include Beachley, who led the team in goals last season, and Terry Dorsey, who is a three-sport athlete running track as well as being a super talented football player with multiple Division I offers. Bobby Komins, a recent transfer who is a shifty left-handed attackman with a sniper of a shot, also expects to make a quick impact.
On the defensive side, Westbrooks led the team in ground balls last season and is joined by defensive anchor McKelvy and Will Taylor, who represented the USA lacrosse team in the summer. These three committed long poles lead the team’s defense and will be a huge part of the team’s success.
Some interesting stories for the season include the ongoing goalie battle the recent addition of Cole Witt to an already established goalie room with junior Aiden Adams, sophomore Matthew Terech, and incoming freshman goalie Mike Principi. It will be interesting to see how Coach Miller decides to play these guys and see how the rotation might fluctuate throughout the season.
Additionally, sophomore Dylan Kivett looks like he will be the starting face-off guy for the team, which will be intriguing to watch out for this whole season because he has minimal varsity experience and exposure but sure has the talent and ability to thrive in his role.
So far the only announced captains of the season are senior Andrew Ross and junior Matthew Beachley, though a couple more are expected to be named once tryouts are completed.
