The 2019 version of the NDCL boys lacrosse team was deemed an inexperienced group that fought through the growing pains of varsity lacrosse, ending the season with only two wins.
Game photos click here.
The 2019 version of the NDCL boys lacrosse team was deemed an inexperienced group that fought through the growing pains of varsity lacrosse, ending the season with only two wins.
But that once-inexperienced group of seven seniors and 11 juniors is now 3-1 to start the season, nearly two years from that distant memory of losing.
The Lions are led by the steady and calm Michael Suso, now in his 10th year with the Lions. He also served as the the school’s director of admissions.
NDCL recently picked up a gigantic win over Lake Catholic, 18-3. Those 18 goals were a season high. The team opened up an 8-2 lead at halftime, then outscored the Cougars 10-1 over the final 24 minutes.
The win also showed the Lions’ growth, as they lost to the Cougars in 2019, 15-4.
“No matter what the record is, it’s always a high-energy game,” Suso said. “It’s the catholic school rivalry in the area, always high energy among the boys. They all know each other from growing up, always bragging rights on the line. Doesn’t matter home or away, so much emotion gets tied up in.”
The seven seniors are led by a leader in goalie Nick Guarniere. He anchors and instructs an underclass-laden defense from the goal circle.
“We want to keep winning,” Guarniere said. “We’re all here to win, we all want to win. We’re working hard in practice. It’s been a team effort.”
Of the win over Lake Catholic, he added: “It was an all-around effort. People who don’t usually get involved in the game got involved in scoring. And the defense was very clutch today; they helped me out a lot. Everyone did their jobs.”
Suso said
“Nick does a tremendous job being level-headed,” his coach said. “It’s easy to let emotions take over in the moment. It can get you off your game. He really holds the team down as our foundation; he leads us in prayer before each game, that’s our start together. He is also a goalie in soccer as well, (and) he has grown into being a goalie in lacrosse.”
Seniors have a heavy presence in the midfield with captain Michael Nguyen, Anthony Ledbetter, Nathan Lah and Hank O’Neill. Brenden Boland is a long-stick midfielder, and Nick Johnson is a captain for the Lions, playing attack.
“All the credit goes to the boys,” Suso said. “That season two years ago, a lot of the starters on that team were freshman, now they’re juniors and seniors. Having a couple of years under your belt, even with the 2020 season being canceled because of COVID, it allowed a lot of time for individual development.
“The boys took it upon themselves to do a lot of work in the offseason. Really we couldn’t be more proud of them for all of the work they put in.”
Suso said consistency now will be key: “do the little things right, getting after the ground balls and making crisp passes, making sure we’re setting the tone on offense and defense.”
The Lions were led in scoring against Lake Catholic by a pair of juniors, Franky Laneve and Robby Smith. Smith finished the game with six goals, while Laneve added four.
“I felt good against this goalie,” Smith said. “It really helps when I have a great team around me, getting passes to me. And coming off the first few goals, I knew it was going to be a good night.”
Added Smith, “Losing last year hurt a lot, I can tell you. My whole team missed last year. But we all put in hard work during the offseason. I know I did — I went to showcases and put in work in my backyard.”
The win over the Cougars was NDCL’s third win on the season. They also bested Holy Name (12-6) and Chardon (9-8). Their only loss on the season so far came to undefeated Riverside (15-5).
When asked about the high scoring night for the Lions, Laneve said, “We played together as a team, we passed it around, we had open shots, we passed it and got open looks.”
Suso recognized the great junior crew on defense, as well, led by Connor Patterson, Mark Petzing, Max Cirino and David Kogovsek.
Sophomores John Paul Nowak and Simon Paulic and freshman Ryan Shemitz have contributed early this season, seeing their first career varsity action. Sophomore Tristan Trittschuh, the backup goalie for the Lions, also saw some minutes late in the game against Lake Catholic.
NDCL returns to action April 15 to play four games in the span of seven days starting April 15 at home against Brecksville, traveling to Cardinal Mooney on April 17, then returning home for a pair of home games against Willoughby South (April 19) and Cleveland Heights (April 22).
Suso is assisted by David Woodruff, Vince Forte and Henry Giegerich.
BILL FUGATE/NDCL
Junior Robby Smith scored six goals in a big win for NDCL against rival Lake Catholic, 18-3, at home.
