Chartiers Valley boys lacrosse seeks return to playoffs

By: Nathan Smith
Thursday, April 4, 2019 | 6:11 PM

The Chartiers Valley boys lacrosse team entered the season with a mission.

After missing the playoffs last year, the Colts return motivated with a strong senior core and a group of maturing underclassmen.

The team got off to a strong start with a 2-1 overall record.

“This senior class came in as freshmen and won a section title,” Chartiers Valley coach Steve Stead said. “They want to win at least another section title. They want to get us back to the playoffs, and winning the section is a driving force of that.

“Our central goal is to bounce back from last year and show everyone that Chartiers Valley is still here and not a pushover.”

The team’s opening stretch of the season included a pair of Section 2-2A wins: 16-0 over Trinity and 9-2 over Sewickley Academy. The loss was a 15-6 setback to Canon-McMillan. But even the loss to the Class 3A Big Macs had some positives.

“We fell behind early but battled back,” Stead said. “We got behind but wouldn’t quit. They had a little more depth, and it showed late in the game. It was a good building block to see where we stand.”

Goalie Cam Kyle made 19 saves in the loss to Canon-McMillan, his second varsity start. While the sophomore is new to the role, he brings the intangibles to be successful.

“He is willing to learn and get better,” Stead said. “The kid is fearless. He doesn’t get down. Even if he does let in a bad goal, he can rebound.”

The rest of the field has a wealth of starting experience. Senior Olan Malcolm is a multiyear starter who anchors the defense. Junior Connor Stiles — in his third year at the varsity level — returns as the Colts’ long-stick midfielder.

“David Evangelista is a sophomore defense­man who saw playing time last year,” Stead said. “He excelled as a starter. He is very vocal and carries himself like a leader.”

The team has a pair of senior leaders in the midfield with Logan Scott and Trevor Stevenson. Both are team captains who bring a wealth of experience.

“Trevor missed a lot of last year to injury,” Stead said. “Having him back has been a lift for the team.”

Sophomore attackman Jake Troiani returns with a year of varsity experience under his belt.

The team has a large senior class on which to rely. The nine-player class includes Thomas Heckroth, Declan Koeberle, Benjamin Kyle, Christopher Moses, Connor Raasoanti and Joseph Schweikert.

Chartiers Valley will need to rely on experience to battle through a tough Section 2-2A. The WPIAL decreased the number of sections from three to two during the offseason. The Colts will have to contend with traditional rivals, but Quaker Valley, North Hills and Seton LaSalle have been added to the schedule.

“It’s tough,” Stead said. “Quaker Valley was a WPIAL champion a few years ago and returns a bunch of good players. Moon is a team we battle with every year. And South Fayette is our version of the Backyard Brawl.”

Tags: Chartiers Valley