Chargers Look For First Lacrosse State Title
If you were to ask any player on the Chantilly boys' lacrosse team who was the most responsible for their outstanding record, you'd probably get a one word response from all of them, "Everyone."
For senior midfielder and attack Kevin O'Neill, in his third year on the varsity squad, the team's success has been defined by their "cohesiveness," not by any one player's superior, individual ability. "We are all one team, not a group of individual players," O'Neill said. " Most of us have been playing together since before middle school, so naturally we all come together really well. With 16 seniors, we have 16 upper-class leaders for the younger players to look to for help and support, and inspiration every time we step on the field."
Senior Ian Mills, who has started all four years he's been on the team, plays defense, midfielder and attack. O'Neill said he is a phenomenal asset to the team.
"Ian leads through his hard play and determination," O'Neill said. "As our main face-off [midfielder], he gets a lot of our possessions by winning nearly all of the face-offs he takes. He is extremely strong at face-offs."
While O'Neill and Mills have combined for 37 goals and 21 assists this season at press time, junior goalie Derek Kegerreis was also a big part of the team's success, by allowing less than three-and-a-half goals per game and shutting out two teams. "Derek is a silent, but strong leader," O'Neill said. "As our only goalie, he is really what holds our team together, by leading the defense with communication and teamwork and also by making crucial saves when we need them the most. He is consistently powerful in the goal, being quick with his saves, and also making great outlet passes on the clears."
Even with all the success the team has achieved this season, O'Neill said the team needed to learn to ignore the criticism from other teams in the Concorde District. "We have been able to stay focused on our game and our game only," O'Neill said.
O'Neill stated that one of his biggest strengths as a leader is his ability to guide and assist the other players to become better. "When I have something important to say, I'll bring everyone in for a little huddle when I feel that we need to do something different or pick up the intensity or focus more," O'Neill said. "During games I have been pretty good at getting everyone hyped up before we go out, and making sure that the intensity and desire stays with us throughout the game." Mills described O'Neill as a "vocal" leader and said he is great at producing scoring opportunities for himself, but can also set up his teammates with chances to score as well. "[O'Neill] is also an excellent feeder," Mills said.
Coach Kevin Broderick said the team relies on leadership from not only O'Neill, Mills and Kegerreis, but also from the rest of their 16 seniors. "[O'Neill and Mills] don't do it all by themselves," Broderick said. "They're certainly vocal. They're not just good players; they're also team-oriented." Broderick holds the whole team responsible for their play and said that has enabled them to play better together and not as "superstar" individuals. "That's why we're successful," Broderick said. "We play as a team, not individuals."
Mills said that Kegerreis and O'Neill play with 100 percent effort every time they are on the field, whether it be in practice or in games. "Other players feed off of that," Mills stated. O'Neill attributed Mills' and Kegerreis' commitment to the game as the reason they are two of the team's strongest leaders. "Derek and Ian both lead on and off the field through hustle and dedication," O'Neill claimed. "Younger players look up to both of them, and other seniors look to them as role models as well."
On April 24, the team had their 9-0 record put to the test when they faced an opponent that they had lost to 15 straight times, the Oakton Cougars. The Chargers won 9-3, but not without a fight from the Cougars. "We were all confident in one another," Kegerreis said. "We were successful moving the ball around on offense. Not letting the nerves or pressure get to us." Kegerreis thought that the team snapping its losing streak against the Cougars, as well as beating the two-time defending State Champion Robinson Rams 13-10 in March (in a comeback effort) and defeating the State Runner-up Westfield Bulldogs 13-2 on April 17th, were the biggest struggles of the team's regular season. "We're in arguably the best district," Kegerreis said. "So beating the reigning state champs and state runner-up and snapping our 15 game losing streak against Oakton were our biggest obstacles."
Kegerreis said Mills and O'Neill help keep the team focused during practice and prepare for their games with as much concentration as possible. He also said they make the team "play to its potential."
Broderick believed that, not only Kegerreis, O'Neill and Mills, but every player on the team has improved this season. "Everyone's gotten better," Broderick said.
O'Neill credited Kegerreis and Mills with helping bring the team to the level of success it has achieved. "Derek and Ian have been instrumental in our reaching this success to this point in the season," O'Neill said.
Although the team has seen some key players go down to injuries during the season, Broderick said everyone on the team is healthy and prepared for the first round of the State tournament on June 3rd. "We have everybody healthy for the first time [this season]," Broderick said. Broderick thought the team made the injuries work in some ways to their advantage, instead of using them as an excuse for a lousy season, which gave younger players more game experience. "We had to rotate some people," Broderick said.
O'Neill said that as everyone on the squad improves their individual skills, the team gets better. "Our focus every week is on our upcoming game," O'Neill stated. "Not looking past any team we face. Everyone works on their own game in practice, and we all work on the team aspect as well. As each player grows individually, we grow as a team. Over the course of these past 11 games, we have improved in basic fundamentals, which are essential. Also, we try to work on our teamwork, bonding us into a strong family."
