When a team wins the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference seven straight years there is little sympathy once inevitable hard times hit.
But if these qualify as hard times, DeMatha’s lacrosse team is in good shape.
The Stags’ bright future was on display again against Robinson at Riverdale Park on Tuesday evening as sophomore attacks Mike Smail and Ryan Kotowski combined for seven goals in a 9-6 victory.
But it was the steady play of veteran goalie Gavin Buckley that allowed DeMatha (4-4) to even its record. The St. John’s (N.Y.)-bound senior finished with 16 saves, including several critical point-blank stops late in the fourth quarter that helped the Stags stay in front.
“We have a young team this year so we knew it would take some time with the type of schedule we play,” Buckley said. “But at the same time we want to be playing our best once the playoffs start. It’s not too late to do that.”
Senior midfielders Jimmy Ring and Kevin Skerpon also scored for DeMatha.
Junior attack Matt Kugler tallied two goals and an assist for the Rams (2-4), who played without two starters. Senior midfielder Lucas Caparelli, headed to Wake Forest on a scholarship, quit the team on Monday for personal reasons, according to head coach Justin Fitzgerald. And junior defenseman A.J. Hermandorfer broke his kneecap playing pickup basketball during spring break last week. He will miss the rest of the season.
