Jack Weaver ’15 | Staff Writer

Almost a year after falling to Haslett, 7-6, in the Regional Semifinals, the boys varsity lacrosse team is back at another pursuit for the state championship. Their first opponent is Clarkston, a powerhouse team that ranked fourth in the state last year.

“Clarkston is a very athletic team and very well coached,” captain Aidan Hubbell ‘15 said. “They finished fourth in the state, but we are going into the game expecting to compete every step of the way and hopefully come out on top. We have a very solid defensive group, that is capable of disrupting Clarkston’s rhythm and transition offense.”

With a brand new starting attack line and a lack of depth and experience the team has a long way to go if they want to compete for a state title. If they can find a way to create some chemistry, they have a chance of pulling off the upset, captain Mac Carroll ‘15 said.

“I feel like we could use a couple more practices to gel more as a team because Clarkston is a strong team,” Carroll said. “We have a lot of very strong players this year, and if we all come ready to play then we should be fine.”

Although the team lacks depth, they still have their fair share of stars and college prospects. Jared Brush, a commit of Division III Emerson, Carroll, a commit of Division I Manhattan College, captain Jerry Coyle ‘15, a commit of Division III Wittenberg University, and Hubbell, who is currently undecided, will all be able to provide experience for the younger cast of players.

After playing on the varsity team  last year, Michael Coyle ‘16 already knows the feeling of playing with the upperclassmen, and is ready to step up into a leadership role. Not only is he ready for more responsibility, but he’s also focused on easing the young guys into the team, Michael said.

“It feels great to have more of a lead role on the team,” Michael Coyle said. “Being able to help out upcoming sophomores makes it even better, because I was in their shoes last year and I know how it feels going up against the older kids. When you are eased up into it, it makes it much easier to handle.”

Along with the challenges of lack of depth, experience and general team issues, the team will also have to deal with the new challenge of moving up into the hostile Division I environment. In previous years, boys lacrosse has played in Division II, however they were moved up this year due to an increase in the student body.

By moving up to Division I, the team will have to face a far tougher schedule, filled with powerhouse programs such as Brother Rice and Detroit Country Day.

Since 2002, Brother Rice has won 12 straight state championships, and has only lost one in-state game during that span. Their 133 game win-streak was snapped last year by Country Day in an 8-7 OT win.

“It will be tough when it comes down to the playoffs, because both Brother Rice and Country Day are DI,” Carroll said. “If there were any team to be up for that challenge, it would be us. The senior class has been playing together since eighth grade and we have strong underclassmen.”

Despite this challenge, South is ready and looking forward to their game against Brother Rice later in the season, Carroll said.

The team will be heavy underdogs in tomorrow’s game against Clarkston, one of the state’s elite lacrosse programs, yet rankings and numbers mean little once teams are going at it on the field, Michael Coyle said.

“We try our hardest to not think about rankings,” Michael Coyle said. “When you look at it, anybody can beat anybody. What it boils down to is that the winner of the game is going to be the one who wins on the little things. Ground balls, hustle plays, and anything else that most people would see as key factors to the outcome of the game.”

The boys varsity lacrosse season opener will be at home against Clarkston at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.