MORGANTOWN — Any time a team heads into a new season as the defending champion, there are expectations heaped on its shoulders.
In the case of the University High boys’ lacrosse team, that weight is bearing down as it gets ready to begin its title defense, but the Hawks are ready for the challenge.
With eight returning starters, including a roster full of former all-state and preseason all-Americans, UHS has its sights set on another championship in a program where that has become the norm.
“I expect the team to work as hard as possible to become the best version of themselves and win another (West Virginia Scholastic Lacrosse Association) championship,” third-year head coach Brian Houk said. “The only thing harder than getting to the top is staying there, so it’s up to the coaching staff and senior leadership to make sure we avoid complacency with last year’s success.”
With three first-team all-state selections from last year’s title team returning — midfielder Quinn Napolillo, goalie A.J. Adams and attacker Antonio Mascaro — the core returns at all three levels of the field.
Second-team midfielder Mathias Turner, as well as midfielder Sam Snider, defender Andrew Phillips, and attackers Gavin Yondura and Nate Gibson, are back as honorable mentions.
“Those attackmen and midfielders are all capable of producing a ton of goals and assists,” Houk said.
Yondura and Mascaro each netted three goals in the state championship game, against George Washington, while Napolillo added two.
Houk considers Napolillo the leader of the offense, proving it by his three-goal performance against Morgantown in a March 13 scrimmage.
Napolillo’s attitude is another reason Houk hopes the younger players are paying attention.
“It all starts at practice every day, where he is very respectful. His positivity is contagious, and he puts tremendous effort and attention to detail into doing the little things right,” Houk said. “He’s a great example to the younger players, and I couldn’t have asked for a better senior leader.”
Napolillo said that with the group of seniors the Hawks have back, it helps alleviate some of the pressure since most have played together since middle school. The bonds built help not only on the field, but they also know ways to pick each other up whenever someone needs it.
That kind of teamwork can help UHS repeat as champion, but Napolillo knows the Hawks are the hunted rather than the hunters.
“We know our team has a target on our backs as the team to beat,” he said. “Returning with eight starters and being defending state champions create a tremendous confidence within our team, but coach Houk reminds us that the score before every game is 0-0, meaning we can’t go into a game thinking it’s a cakewalk.”
While Napolillo and the Hawks remain focused on the task at hand, they know that this group has a chance to do something special.
“We are feeling very strong coming into the season with the amount of experienced players and the level of leadership and skill we possess,” he said. “Another state championship is never guaranteed, but you can bet that we will give it our best shot to defend our state title and repeat as state champions.”
UHS begins its title defense at 7 p.m. March 26, hosting Bridgeport.
