By Erin O’Neil, Sports Editor

From the looks of this year’s Pioneers, it’ll take a whole lot more than just another team to stop them.

Coming off of last season, in which ’Stoga lost a heartbreaking state championship to La Salle, we all wondered whether this year’s team could continue the success. And we weren’t disappointed.

With the exception of two close losses to Haverford and Springfield early in the season, the boys have strung win after win together, heading into District I playoffs with a record of 17-2.

“Learning to play with high expectations is an added challenge,” head coach Brian Samson said. “These guys know that everybody wants to beat them, and they know that they need to put forth their best effort each contest. There will be some good competition come playoffs.”

Seeded third in the district, the Pioneers swept their first playoff game with a 13-5 win over Downingtown East at home on May 20. They then continued on to easily defeat Lower Merion with a 12-7 victory two days later in the district quarterfinals at Henderson.

“The offense has been really starting to pick it up,” senior captain Casey Ikeda said. “I think that the team will really come together well and rise to the challenges.”

Without losing momentum, ’Stoga barreled ahead through districts, rolling over Abington in a 13-5 victory. In the district finals, the Pioneers seized their chance for revenge over rival Springfield, smashing their opponents and emerging victorious with a score of 8-4. The victory over Springfield, seeded second in the district, squashed all other competition for the title.

“It felt really good to beat Springfield,” senior Peter Bowers said. “It felt really good to get revenge on them. We came out with a lot of intensity and they couldn’t keep up with us.”

With a District I title locked up, the boys charged full steam ahead into state playoffs, facing Hatsboro Horsham in the first round of the tournament.

“Our team has played some stifling defense which has given our offense plenty of possession,” junior Andrew Visich said. “The level of competition has definitely increased, but we have responded by continuing to play our upbeat style of transition lacrosse.”

After an easy 17-2 victory, they rolled on second-round opponent Emmaus on June 5, closing the game 15-5.

“I don’t think many teams are used to our high caliber defense pressing far out,” junior Ben Karr said. “It will be interesting to see how they deal with that much pressure.”

The team remembers every practice, every game. They also remember how it feels to lose a state championship. The memory has fueled a tremendous season, focused on reclaiming something they fell short of last year.

Their next game, scheduled for June 8, will most likely be a mere speed bump on the way to a state championship.

“The goal is June 12th,” Karr said. “We’re focused on winning this year. We want to be back in Hershey, and nothing less.”

Erin O’Neil can be reached at eoneil@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 20 of The Spoke’s June 7, 2010 issue.

By Kurt Rohrbeck
Reporter Emeritus 

From the start of the season, it has been obvious to anyone who has seen the Conestoga boys’ lacrosse team play that they are more than just a good team.

From the start of the season, this team has come out with a mission: to beat everyone and everything in its path, and beat them handily. And with the exception of a single overtime loss to St. Joseph’s Prep, they have stuck to their plan almost perfectly.

And from the start of the season, the question was not whether or not the team would contend for a spot in the postseason. It was about how far into the postseason they would contend, and whether or not anyone would be able to stop them on their way to PIAA State Championships.

So what is the limit for this team? We’re still not sure yet. And we may never find out with the way these boys are playing.

For starters, the Pioneers finished the regular season with an astonishing 17-1 record, with only the aforementioned loss to St. Joe’s Prep preventing them from per fect ion. They were dominant, winning their games by an average of more than six goals per game. In a very talented Central League, the Pioneers went untouched, cleaning up with an 11-0 record in-conference and an undisputed Central League championship. Could anyone new give the Pioneers a challenge?

The answer: a resounding no. The Pioneers breezed to the District 1 Championship taking its games by scores of 14-1, 10-4, 15-2, and 7-4 in the championship game.

The Pioneers’ performance in the regular season and beyond has solidified their reputation as the best team in Southeastern Pennsylvania. While Conestoga has always had a respectable lacrosse program, no one can remember a team in recent memory that has been quite this good, winning so many games in a single season.

And with the team’s new levels of success have come new levels of publicity. The Philadelphia Inquirer has been calling the boys lacrosse team the top team out of all Southeastern Pennsylvania sports teams for most of the\ spring. The Pioneers have been ranked as the number one team in the state by both laxpower.com and insidelacrosse.com, and are ranked third and thirteenth in the entire country by the same two sites, respectively.

Still , the Pioneers know that rankings don’t win championships, and they are keeping one very clear goal in mind: bring home a PIAA Class AAAA state championship. And with the level of talent on this team, there’s absolutely no question that this is not only possible, but completely realistic. It would take a fluke loss or a miraculous and admirable effort from the opposition to bring them the offensive front. Meanwhile, on defense, senior Mike Bronzino has helped keep the opposing team away from the net, where junior goalie Pete Zonino has stepped up with with stellar goalie tandem.

So the talent and the leadership are in place. A deadly formula, for sure—a formula for success. Can anyone stop this team? It’s not likely. This is a team that has been on a mission from the start of the season, and anyone who wants to stand in the Pioneers’ way of a state championship better be prepared for anything and everything they can handle—and so much more beyond that.

Kurt Rohrbeck can be reached at krohrbeck@stoganews.com

Henry Rome/The SPOKE

Henry Rome/The SPOKE

By Erin O’Neil
Staff Reporter

Twelve seniors lighter, the boys lacrosse team is looking forward to a fresh new season. With more than enough skilled upperclassmen to take the places of last year’s graduates and stacked with more talent than the 12-man lineup can hold, the team is ready to return to excellence.

“I think the 2009 season will have the best leaders of all the senior classes, and [a lot of players] that will dedicate their time to the team,” junior Ryan Lord said. “That is what is needed to succeed.”

Lord, senior Paul Mita and junior Austin Rogusky shape up the attack, replacing Brendan Burke and Matt Dougherty, while seniors Mike Bronzino and Phil Cuddeback and junior Casey Ikeda lead the defense.

Bronzino, who is playing lacrosse at Cornell next year, has already been appointed team captain.

“[Bronzino] is one of the biggest leaders I know,” Lord said. “He’s also an amazing lacrosse player. He will keep the team together.”

To coach Brian Samson, chemistry and strong leadership play vital roles in the team’s future success.

“Coming together as a team and making sure that everyone is willing to sacrifice their individual goals for the team’s goals is really important,” Samson said. “[If the guys] aren’t on the same page, it really breaks down, so making sure that players really know the plays and what they’re supposed to do [comes first].”

If anything, this altruistic attitude applies best to the team’s two starting goalies: senior Nick Shea and junior Pete Zonino, stepping up to replace last year’s goalie, Pete Fox.

“Both our goalies have strengths and a lot of talent and they both work really hard.” Samson said. “They’ll be competing with one another but also supporting each other. We’re privileged to have two experienced goalies.”

As far as a game plan for the season, the simpler the better.

“We don’t really talk about specific goals. We talk more about being prepared to play and win every game,” Samson said. “Our philosophy is it’s only a loss if we don’t learn from it and get better. Obviously our ultimate goal would be to keep playing and finish the season with a win.”

After a tough round of close, sometimes one-goal losses last season, this year’s team is eager to tip the score their way.

“I know our guys are motivated this year,” Samson said. “[Last season] didn’t leave a great taste in their mouth, so they want some revenge.”

Erin O’Neil can be reached at eoneil@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on p. 20 of the March 27, 2009 issue of The Spoke.