Physical ability is not a question mark with this year’s Christ School varsity lacrosse team.
It should come as no surprise that the Greenies are stacked once again. After all, they have set the standard for NCISAA Division I lacrosse with state championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019. And last spring’s team may have been the best yet – Christ School was 4-0 and had outscored four quality opponents, 60-12, when COVID-19 cancelled the rest of the 2020 season.
The past is just that, coach Benjie Colberg believes. And while talent can take the Greenies a long way this season, the coach is eager to see how the team responds to adversity in the form of injuries or a loss.
Christ School's first game is Tuesday at 7 p.m. at public school Hough High in Cornelius, N.C.
“I know we have a talented team, but do we have a tough team? A disciplined team? A selfless team?,” Coach Colberg said.
“The athleticism and talent is there. These guys love lacrosse and they love competing. If we can be mentally tough and play for each other, those are the things that will make or break this season.”
Lehigh recruit Sean Dow ’21 won 90 percent of his face-offs as a junior, and as of this writing, is one of six Greenies who have already made their plans for college lacrosse. The others are goalie Sam Brie ’21 (St. Bonaventure), attacker Mikey Peralta ’21 (St. John Fisher), midfielder Keese Zugehoer ’21 (Lindenwood), midfielder Noah Beaulieu '21 (Queens University of Charlotte), and long-stick midfielder Nick Crowley ’22 (Princeton).
Nate Kelley ’22 (14 goals, six assists) is the team’s top returning scorer.
In all, Christ School has a half-dozen returning starters and plenty of players who understand the system and are ready for a larger role, Coach Colberg said.
Promising newcomer Christian Hudson ‘23 is expected to get a lot of playing time in the midfield. And two juniors, Emmett Paradine ’22 and Sam Bassett ’22 are healthy again after sitting out the 2020 season with injuries. Sam scored more than 60 goals his freshman year.
Coach Colberg said that Coker Ford ’21 has stepped up his leadership so far in the preseason.
Christ School will play opponents from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia this spring. Additionally, a March 31 matchup against IMG Academy (Fla.) is one of the more notable home games on the schedule.
“With the weather we’ve had lately, we haven’t gotten in as much practice as we’re used to,” Coach Colberg said. “We’re excited about these guys and ready to see them compete, and see what we have to work on.”