How did the team perform last season?
CRAWFORD: Last season we made it to the MIAA finals but lost to Calvert Hall. We had a very experienced group of guys with a large senior class. I think there were about 20 seniors in all. Since we had all that experience, we were in a situation where we could expect to handle just about any competition. The thing we had to guard against in a situation like that was complacency and overconfidence.
How is this year’s team shaping up?
CRAWFORD: We lost a lot of seniors last year and we have a very small senior class coming back, but the group coming back is very cohesive. They tend to play very well together and seem to enjoy playing with each other as well. We’re looking forward to having them step up and lead the team. So far they’ve been doing a good job of that. They don’t have as much game experience as last year’s senior class, but a lot of them have been on varsity for a few years now so they know how things work.
How do the guys stay in shape during the offseason?
CRAWFORD: Here, we really like to encourage our kids to play multiple sports if they’re interested in doing so. We never want to limit them to just one sport. The guys that don’t play other sports are usually involved in some kind of strength and conditioning program either on campus or off. We have strength and conditioning programs that Greg Baker runs for kids who want to stay in shape. We also have voluntary practices during late fall and winter for kids who want to come out and play about twice a week. That’s worked out well. Most kids are playing club lacrosse during summer and fall as well to stay sharp.
Who are some key players returning this year?
CRAWFORD: Our captains this year are Devin McNamara ’13, Mike Freiji ’13, Kevin O’Toole ’13 and Bennett Bradley ‘13. McNamara is a returning First Team All-Metro player. He started for us as a sophomore. Last year he was our leading scorer as a junior. He’s going to play Division I Lacrosse at Villanova next year, so he’s obviously a real key to the team’s success. O’Toole (Hopkins) and Bradley (Army) are two midfielders who we’re going to need to shine this year as well. Both are faceoff specialists and Bradley is a defensive midfield specialist as well.
How do the renovations to Hargaden Field help the team?
CRAWFORD: Now that we actually have an artificial field, we can get a lot more work done. That was a big obstacle for us in the past and having the turf now allows us to get up to speed quicker than before when we had to worry about weather being a factor.
How has the team looked during the preseason and how do you keep the team motivated during this time?
CRAWFORD: We’ve scrimmaged against Good Counsel and Bullis School so far. We have one more preseason game tonight against Landon. In our first two scrimmages we tried mixing and matching different guys and it’s really been a learning experience for the whole team regarding what is and isn’t working. For a lot of guys these preseason games are a chance to show that they should be getting regular playing time once the season starts. Also, it’s a time for them to learn a great deal about their position because if they’re younger guys or have less experience it’s their chance to get out there in a competitive situation against somebody else and learn how to play that position under pressure.
We don’t usually have to worry about the kids being motivated when they’re practicing because it’s so competitive and there are so many good players that if you’re not getting the job done there will be somebody else who will.
Which matchups are you looking forward to most this season?
CRAWFORD: Our season opener against Penn Charter is always a big one since we’ve played them in our first game of the season for four or five years now. They’re very good and well coached so we’re looking forward to that because it’s really a chance for us to show where we are against other competitive teams. Another game I’m looking forward to is the March 23rd game against Garden City from Long Island at M&T Bank stadium. They were the #1 team in the county last year so that’s going to tell us a lot about where we are on a national level. And of course the league schedule is always tough and exciting so we’re really looking forward to figuring out early in the season what our strengths and weaknesses are before league play starts in early April.