Staples Boys Lacrosse Looking To Take The Next Step

When the wins started piling up for the Staples boys lacrosse team last spring, coach Paul McNulty would hear the comments from other students at the school as his players got on the bus to go to away games.

"Students would yell at the bus, 'You guys better stay undefeated,'" McNulty said. "It was great. At least they weren't saying, 'You better win a game.'"

There is no question that expectations for Staples lacrosse are soaring through the roof, which is what happens when you are coming off the greatest season in school history.

The Wreckers were 16-0 in the regular season last year, then almost dethroned defending three-time state champion Fairfield Prep in the semifinals of the CIAC Class L state tournament (the Jesuits lost to Cheshire, 9-8, in the finals).

Of course, the Wreckers realize they won't be able to sneak up on anyone this season, something they may have done to some extent last year, at least early.

"This year, a lot of teams know who we are, so we're not going to come under the radar anymore," senior defender Matt Yeager said. "Last season was great, but we have to take this season as something different - work hard to be better and exceed what we did last year."

The Wreckers did suffer some key graduation losses, including three players who went on to Division I schools - all-American defender Jack Ambrose (Yale), All-State midfielder Kyle Mendelsen (Manhattan) and Keith Gelman (Colorado). Austin Waiter, last season's all-FCIAC second-team goaltender, is at Merrimack and  high-scoring attackman Nate Greenberg (37 goals) is at Union College.

Staples is younger this year with more sophomores. Still, the Wreckers return a solid nucleus, led by the senior trio of midfielder Kip Orban, Yeager and attackman Charlie Ross.

Orban (43) and Ross (37) ranked one-two on the team in goals last season while sharing the scoring lead with 57 points apiece. Yeager topped the squad in groundballs with 98.

"I feel that although we lost a lot of players, a lot of the guys who were younger are stepping up and filling their spots," said Orban, a first-team Class L All-State pick a year ago who is headed to Princeton in the fall.

"We have a great, strong goaltender, we've got really good defensive leadership and our offense is going to gell, so it looks pretty good."

Taking over in goal is senior J.B. Breig, who received some playing time last season while backing up Waiter.

"He has a lot of talent," Yeager said. "He can get the job done."

Other key contributors will be senior midfielders Nick Maki and Greg Lewis, junior middie Jake Frimet and senior defender Kosta Papadopoulos.

Certainly, the Wreckers want to continue what they started last season.

"I talk about that it's this group's turn to keep that tradition going," McNulty said. "Last year started something new at Staples, a good team, a team being a contender. Well, it's your turn to keep that going."

According to Yeager, the Wreckers may have less overall talent but greater depth throughout the lineup.

"I think that's going to be an advantage for us because last year we got tired a lot late in games," he said. "We have a lot of good offensive players that you can't really prepare for. The team that beats us is going to be a team where every player can match up with everybody (on the Wreckers)."

The overall numbers in the Staples' program certainly have improved - 75, compared to 60 when McNulty took over at his alma mater in 2009.

Orban talked about how the goal last season was to put the program on the map. The Wreckers certainly accomplished that, and the next step is to get to the state and FCIAC finals.

The only real disappointment last season was a loss to St. Joseph in the FCIAC quarterfinals. The 9-8 defeat to Fairfield Prep in the Class L semifinals was painful but not totally unexpected.

"We came up just a little short against Prep," Orban said. "That was upsetting, but hopefully we can push up through the championship and win a title for coach McNulty and this program."

The Wreckers open their season April 7 at Norwalk. Due to the FCIAC's scheduling rotation, they do not play six-time state champion Darien or New Canaan (although the Wreckers do have a scrimmage against the Blue Wave on Saturday).

Staples does play McMahon (May 3 in Norwalk), which, according to McNulty, could be a team to watch in the FCIAC.

"They are like us last year," he said. "They have everybody back."

The Wreckers' non-conference games are against New York's St. John the Baptist and Horace Greeley, defending Class S champion Weston and Newtown. The home opener is April 9 against Fairfield Ludlowe.