Boys lacrosse continues winning streak

By Cristina Brown
This year varsity boy's lacrosse has improved, especially in comparison to last year.
The team hasn't had many games so far, but all have been victories. They have remained undefeated, with a 6-0 record. Their first game was against Lake Braddock on March 15, ending in a 14-2 victory. Previous games were against Oakton, Woodson and Westfield. So far this season, the team has been undefeated, and shows progress from last year and the year before. The team has definitely pulled together since the incident on the field against Lake Braddock last year with Coach Dave Baggetta.
There was more to it then just ten Robinson students being suspended for participation in the Lacrosse fight against Lake Braddock last year. One of Lake Braddock's players hit a Robinson goalies stick, causing the goalie to get angry and tackle the player. This riled up both teams, causing one big fight between the two teams on the field. Coach Baggetta, unable to control his team, ended up having to have a talk with Principal Dan Meier and Director of Student Activities Mike McGurk.
Prior to last year's season, Coach Tom Tufts had led the team in three unofficial Virginia titles before he had retired. Dave Baggetta became the boy's varsity lacrosse coach in 2006, after having spent four years as Herndon High School's lacrosse coach. Following the incident, it was ironic to discover that Beggetta's colleagues from Herndon had nominated him "Northern Region Coach of the Year."
Senior and veteran lacrosse player Cameren Cook claimed, "Coach Baggetta wasn't a very good coach and had no control over the team during practices or games."
According to Cook this year has changed drastically, since the team is more collaborative with each othe. Mike McGurk, the Athletics Director, and principal Dan Meier are "probably more reliant (on) and comfortable" with the team and Coach Fitzgerald this year. "Coach Fitzgerald though, has helped with the team and its program, since he knows how to coach and is more understanding of the team." He is more "interactive with the team and less demanding."
Junior Mike Rauch, who has been a lacrosse goalie since the fifth grade, feels that the team has "a lot of potential" and that "the best thing to do is keep [their] heads high one game at a time and maybe the team could be as great as last year, with winning states." Last year was a good year for the team and so far, this year's team seems to be headed in the right direction.
"Ever since the fight two years ago, [the team] has been trying to regain the respect and reputation that [they] deserve," Rauch explained. Rauch plans on playing his senior year.
Many of the players have self-confidence this year as players and in the coaches to help them on their way to victory. One confident player is senior David Laiti, who is also a captain. He has only one thing to say about his team and "nothing else." He simply nods and smiles when he finishes saying, "We are the modern day warriors of Robinson!"
Two of the other captains are Ryan Kleman and Matt Kugler; both seniors have been "working really hard this year." Kleman notices that there are a lot of seniors on the team this year, and feels that they can make it to states again this year because of the team "bonding and helping each other get through close games." Their teamwork and "work ethic" is what has helped the team get through their "one goal wins this year."
Kugler was "proud of the team's 16-5 defeat against Herndon." He felt the team still has a long way to go, but feels the team will definitely be able to win states this year. There are still two more private schools to face, but if the team continues to go down the road they are going, they will be "that much closer to states."

By Stephanie Axelrod |  May 18, 2007; 8:56 AM ET
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