by Megan Kinner, sports editor
It has been 4 years since the River Hill boys’ lacrosse team played in the State Championship and fell to Kent Island, so they are hungry to get back and finish it this time.
The team comes into this season knowing what they will need to do to get back to that State Championship game. The team looks to perfect their strengths, and improve their weaknesses.
Coach Gonsouland looks to senior Brendan McKenna to lead the team, saying that “one of our best players is Brendan Mckenna.” Brenden is coming off two impressive sports seasons, as both River Hill’s football and basketball team were County Champions this year, and Brenden wants to build on that success. With 35 goals with 16 assists, Brenden made 1st team all-county, along with Junior Max Friedman who had 30 goals and 10 assists last season.
This year, senior Shane DeLore believes that “the team’s biggest strength this year is our athleticism.” Neal, another senior, added on to that saying “our chemistry is our biggest strength. Everyone on the team hangs out, and is always willing to help each other out.”
Senior Dasharn Hebron mentioned that “the team’s biggest weakness is [our] inexperience.” Coach Gonsouland agrees that their defense will need to make the most improvements. He said, “the biggest factor that will determine our success will be how well we play defense and limit our opponent’s opportunities.”
Coach Gonsouland confidently says that “our offense will be very strong” but he thinks that their defense will need a couple of games to get in the swing of things. It is important to note that their first few games, will not be easy ones. Gonsouland recognizes that saying “we will have a tough early stretch against Howard and Mt. Hebron to begin the season.” McKenna agrees with his coach, saying that their “toughest opponent will probably be Mt. Hebron” but he believes that they will be ready for them. However, their opponents will not get easier as the season goes on.
According to Gonsouland
“all of our games will be tough this season.”
The Hawks will have to play without a key face-off player, Derek Isaac, who Coach Gonsouland says “will be very tough to replace,” so someone will have to step up. But still, the Hawks are returning 9 impactful players, including midfielders Brett Shaw, Josh Weingrad, and Shane Delore, defensemen Brett Schwab, Dasharn Hebron, Lance Mercy, Christian Bond, and Jack Sheppard, and junior goalie Kevin Hickey.