Mt. Lebanon boys have bright future in lacrosse
Owen Chamberlin races down the field past the final defender and puts the ball in the net for a goal during Mt. Lebanon's 7-6 victory over Shady Side Academy. Chamberlin will be one of the underclassmen the Blue Devils will rely upon in 2015.
Sam White maneuvers his way around a defender on his way to scoring what turned out to be the game-winning goal in Mt. Lebanon's 7-6 victory against Shady Side Academy in the PIAA boys' lacrosse quarterfinals. White is one of Lebo's top scorers returning next season.
Despite a disappointing end to the 2014 boys’ lacrosse campaign, the future bodes bright for Mt. Lebanon. Hope and potential surround the 2015 season.
“I hope that the 2015 team can build off of the experience and momentum from 2014,” said Lebo head coach Mike Ermer. “That said, high school sports can be a fickle beast. As long as our newly minted seniors (the Class of 2015) can show strong character and leadership, the team has the potential to have an excellent year.”
Under Ermer, Lebo has experienced excellent years. Twice, the Blue Devils have won WPIAL championships. They have advanced to the PIAA semifinals three times, including this spring.
In 2014, the Blue Devils captured a section banner and reached the WPIAL finals. They avenged that district championship loss to Shady Side Academy and reached the PIAA Final Four. After a 15-10 loss to Penncrest, the Blue Devils finished 14-10 overall.
In the state semifinal game played at Cumberland Valley High School, Lebo fell behind, 9-4, but waged a valiant comeback in the second half. In the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils scored five unanswered goals to narrow the gap.
Brian Kelly and Brian Ward recorded hat tricks. Lou Lucerne punched in two goals while Sam White and Brendan White registered one score each.
“It was a good game,” said Ermer of the state semifinal. “We knew that we needed to limit (Penncrest’s) opportunities in transition. We did not do a good enough job of that.
“It was great to see the boys continue to battle and work,” added Ermer. “Their never-say-die attitude was encouraging.”
Encouraging, indeed, is Lebo’s future. The Blue Devils graduated eight seniors including: John Marshall, Mark Kokot, Tim Donoghue, Brendan White, Brian McMullen, Caleb Reynolds, Lucerne and Connor Brumfield.
McMullen and Donoghue will play lacrosse at John Carroll University. Lucerne is bound for Lynchburg College and Reynolds is slated to play at Union College.
The Class of 2014 was critical to Lebo’s success, explains Ermer, as the graduates guided the younger, inexperienced players from the fall through the winter workouts and into the season.
“This group showed great leadership,” Ermer said. “I hope that their example rubbed off on the underclassmen that will be returning. If the next crop can build on that kind of leadership, we will be in a good position.”
The Blue Devils are in great position to replicate success in part because they return key pieces of the puzzle.
Kelly led the team in scoring and assists. The rising senior racked up 62 points. The midfielder accumulated 27 goals while dishing up 35 assists.
Ward led Lebo in goals with 40. The rising junior followed Kelly in total scoring.
Dan Lee ranked No. 3 in scoring. The rising junior attack man finished with 31 goals. Sam White followed tied in fourth position with Lucerne.
“We’ve leaned on those guys for a few years now,” Ermer said. “So I expect great things from them next year.
“Having four of our top five scorers returning next year is nice on paper, but,” cautioned Ermer, “everyone stars at zero next year; zero wins, zero goals, zero assists.
“Good competitors enjoy the fact that they start at zero with each new spring. So we are looking forward to seeing what 2015 has in store.”
The end of the season, however, afforded Ermer and his team time to reflect. While wins over Upper St. Clair for the section title, the WPIAL rematch victory against Shady Side Academy, 7-6, in the PIAA semifinals provided thrills, it’s difficult to pinpoint a ‘specific’ highlight to the season, says Ermer.
He relished the maturation process of his young charges that also included Matt Lee, who will return to the nets, as well as defenders such as Charles Cappucci, Nick Tommasi, Preston Chamberlin and Owen Chamberlin, all of whom also will be back in 2015.
“It was great to see the team mature throughout the year,” Ermer said. “There were a lot of one-goal games where we ended up on the positive side of things. That points to great overall team character. I really hope that is a trend that carries over to 2015.”
The Blue Devils also look to other returning letter winners to continue that trend.
The rising seniors include: Michael Barr, Brennan Wells, Casey Repcheck, Connor McKain, Reid Kirkland, William Witte, Jacob Zoffer, Ean Cafaro and Thomas Gladden.
Among the rising juniors also are: Drew Dioguardi, Hugh McMahon, Zach Amato and Max Pingielski.
David Harvey, Connor Brumfield, Patrick McAnally, Matt Kelly, a goalie, Patrick Moeller, Owen Meyers and Cameron Haley were freshman on the varsity roster this past season.