La Salle High's super senior class out to capture PIAA boys lacrosse title
They know all about the expectations.
It's something La Salle High's lacrosse team faces every season.
They also know all about not meeting them.
And, for the current group of seniors, eight of whom — yes, eight — that will be playing Division One lacrosse a year from now, they all know this is their last chance.
"With the program that's been built here, winning the (PIAA) state title is always what's expected," said senior Stevie Davis, a faceoff specialist who is headed to the University of Pennsylvania.
"But our class hasn't done that. Our first two years we had (PIAA Class 3A tournament) first-round exits and last year we lost in the (PIAA) semifinals. We haven't gotten it done and this season is our last chance."
Pressure to win a PIAA title
So, yes, there's pressure on this current group of Explorers to still be playing and winning come June.
"The pressure is internal," said senior defender Andrew Van Stone, who will play his college lacrosse at Harvard.
"We all want to win (a PIAA title) for each other. We've been playing lacrosse together a long time and want to finish the right way.
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"There are so many really good lacrosse players on this team — the seniors that we have, but also the younger guys. We have the talent to do it and that's where our focus is."
La Salle High features eight Division One seniors
In addition to Davis and Van Stone, the six other senior D-I commits are defender Matt Wills (Pennsylvania), the reigning Courier Times/Intelligencer Player of the Year, midfielder Paul Van Bastelaar (Pennsylvania), goalie Matt Nelson (St. John's), defender Karson Seth (Hampton), defender Logan Missett (Cornell) and midfielder Jack Koch (Villanova).
"This has been such a great group," head coach Rob Forster said. "Most of them are three- or four-year starters and to have that kind of continuity for so long is something you don't see that often.
"And they're not afraid to talk about their goals. They want another Philadelphia Catholic League title (which would be La Salle High's eighth straight) and they want that state title."
La Salle High near top of the rankings
The Explorers have won three PIAA titles since the PIAA recognized boys' and girls' lacrosse as an officially sanctioned sport in 2009 (winning in 2009, 2013 and 2019) and this year's team is off to a 6-0 start through April 10.
La Salle is also ranked fourth in the latest www.phillylacrosse.com Philadelphia-area rankings behind only Haverford School, Malvern Prep and Salesianum of Delaware.
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Haverford School and Malvern Prep, both of the Inter-Academic League, are not part of the PIAA.
Right behind the Explorers is three-time defending PIAA champ Radnor, the team that eliminated La Salle in the PIAA semifinals a year ago.
"There are a lot of really good teams out there and we have to be ready to go, and play our best, in every game," Wills said.
"That's why we work so hard in practice because we know what's coming and we have to be ready."
Nelson found a home at La Salle High
While seven of the super seniors were familiar with La Salle growing up, Nelson, the goalie, had never heard of the school.
"I went to Emmaus my first year and then was looking for a place to go when I was a sophomore," Nelson said. "I looked around and learned about La Salle and how great a school it was academically and I'm so glad I ended up here.
"And I've made so many friends and the lacrosse memories are something that I'll never forget."
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La Salle High seniors will miss football
Davis and Wills were also football standouts for the Explorers — Davis at running back and Wills at linebacker — but both opted for lacrosse in college.
"The Penn lacrosse coach asked me if I wanted to play football, too, at the school," said Davis, a Doylestown resident.
"I thought about it, but trying to play two sports and handle the academics would have been very difficult. I'll miss playing football and I'll miss La Salle. I would have gone to CB West for high school, but when I had the chance to come here I knew it was the right place for me."
Drew Markol covers local sports for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: La Salle High's lacrosse team has ultimate goal in mind — a PIAA title
