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Dragons rise to the challenge
Notre Dame Academy boys' lacrosse coach Rob Horne decided his team needed a new challenge after the Dragons won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II championship in 2007.
Horne instituted that challenge by moving his program up to Division I, beginning in 2008.
Now in their second year of Division I play, Horne is still finding ways to challenge his team – even as they took a break from the rigors of the top division schedule to host Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) April 19 in Middleburg.
“We were looking for a dominant performance,” Horne said. “We talked before the game about establishing ourselves as an excellent team, as a championship caliber team.”
The Dragons delivered that dominant performance, scoring the game's first nine goals en route to a 17-3 victory over the Raiders on an overcast Sunday afternoon.
“We definitely respected them,” Horne said of Roosevelt, who entered Sunday's contest with a 7-1 record. “Even though we turned the ball over a bit too much for my liking, we jumped on them early and did not let them up.”
David Sterling lit up the Raiders for seven goals in the win, pushing his season total to 38. The junior attacker from Middleburg averages nearly a hat trick per game this spring after netting 23 goals as a sophomore in limited action.
“I felt good today,” a humble Sterling offered.
Senior Tyler Fisher netted five goals, while Alex Nieves, Kevin Sherman, Nick Fletcher and Ethan Wright also produced multiple-point games. Fletcher scooped up seven ground balls and Oliver Martin added six.
Sophomore goalie Matt Lower made an excellent save on Roosevelt's Riley Fink's point-blank shot in the first quarter to help hold the Raiders scoreless through the game's first 17 minutes.
Notre Dame improved to 8-5 on the season, including a 4-4 mark against Division I teams.
“I think the guys that played Division I lacrosse last year for us have matured a bit,” Horne said. “They recognize what type of effort it takes to win games at that level. I think we've gelled a bit more and found that good team chemistry.”
With three games against Division I foes left on their regular season schedule, the Dragons aim to finish strong to ensure one of the eight possible spots in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I tournament, which begins May 12.
“We want to get into the playoffs and see where that takes us,” Horne said. “I think we are a very dangerous team. When we are focused for four quarters, I think we are an incredibly dangerous team.”
Note: Defender Matt Miller highlights a group of four Dragon seniors committed to play lacrosse collegiately. Miller is headed to the University of Notre Dame -- the Irish are currently ranked third in the country. Alex Nieves (Salisbury), Ethan Wright (Virginia Wesleyan) and Robby Taylor (Shenandoah) will also play at the next level.
Below photos by Carl Lukat.
Notre Dame senior attacker Ethan Wright looks for an opening with a pair of Roosevelt defenders closing in.
Dragon sophomore Matt Lower makes a clean save in goal as Roosevelt's Riley Fink looks for a rebound opportunity April 19.
Dan Webster of Roosevelt is tightly checked by Dragon junior midfielder Kevin Sherman during Notre Dame's 17-3 win April 19 in Middleburg.
Notre Dame junior attacker David Sterling, right, impedes the progress of Roosevelt's Dan Webster. Sterling was also a force offensively April 19, netting seven goals.
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