(March 20, 2015) Seniors make up a majority of the Stephen Decatur boys’ lacrosse team this season.
“It’s a senior-led team. We have a lot of returning players that I’ve coached since they were little kids,” said Coach Scott Lathroum, who has been with the lacrosse program for 11 seasons. “We should be pretty strong this year. It’s just a good, solid team.”
Nineteen of the Seahawks on Lathroum’s 24-player roster are veterans. There are 15 seniors. Many of them were major contributors last season, leading the team to a 12-5 record. Decatur’s season ended with a 16-3 loss to Kent Island in the 3A-2A East Region Section I finals.
Returning on the attack are seniors Shane Moore, Jake Lathroum and Corey Gwin.
“I think we’re picking up right were we left off last season and we’re just going to get better and better from here on out,” Moore, a four-year varsity player, said.
“Most of the seniors have been together since we were younger, probably first, second grade. We have a lot of chemistry,” added Gwin, a member of the team since his freshman year.
Seniors Matt LeCompte, Evan Heim, Jackson Mumford and sophomore Steve Alther will play in the midfield.
“They know the plays and the sets we use so we can throw more at them now,” Lathroum said of the offense.
Worcester Prep alumni Stephen Pappas has been brought in as a defensive coordinator.
“He brings some new strategies, knowledge and techniques and the kids are buying into it and like it,” Lathroum said.
Seniors Craig Snyder and Conor May will take the field again in the defensive end. They will be joined by senior RJ Hayman (long pole) and defensive midfielders Dalton Warren, a senior, and junior Dryden Brous.
Senior TJ Scafone and Brous will take the face-offs for Decatur, and senior Will Hastings returns to the goal.
“We’ve all played together for a long time. We all have a lot of faith in each other and we kind of all play in sync,” Hastings said. “We don’t have a ton of depth, but as long as we communicate and use our guys the way they need to be used we’ll be able to get it done.”
Lathroum will rely on the seniors for leadership. Hastings and Gwin, who were both captains last season, and LeCompte and Hayman have all stepped up as leaders.
Four freshmen and a sophomore have joined the squad this season as well. If they work hard, Lathroum said they have the ability to contribute on the field.
The goal is for the Seahawks to improve every game this season, Lathroum said.
“We need to get the absolute most out of them if we want to win games,” he said. “I’ve known them all a long time and I want them to have the best season they can have, to play the best lacrosse we can play, to work hard and to have fun.”
BOYS’ LACROSSE:
March 23: Saints Peter & Paul,
4 p.m. (A)
March 26: Kent Island, 5:30 p.m. (H)
April 8: Easton, 5:30 p.m. (H)
April 10: North Caroline, 5:30 p.m. (A)
April 15: Kent County, 4 p.m. (A)
April 17: Queen Anne’s, 5:30 p.m. (H)
April 20: Cape Henlopen, 7 p.m. (A)
April 22: Cambridge, 6 p.m. (A)
April 24: Wicomico, 5:30 p.m. (H)
April 27: Worcester Prep, 5:30 p.m. (H)
April 29: Bennett, 4 p.m. (A)
May 1: Parkside, 5:30 p.m. (H)
