Boys' Lacrosse Comes Up Just Short in Upset Bid

The West Deptford High School boys' lacrosse team went toe-to-toe with West Essex Tuesday afternoon, but came up one goal short in a 7-6 loss in the second round of the NJSIAA Group I playoffs.

The Eagles were heavy underdogs as a No. 12 seed traveling two hours north to face a No. 5 seed. However, the team was competitive throughout, trailing 5-3 at the half and staying within a goal for much of the final quarter.

Michael Reardon had three goals, while Nick Baud had two and Eric Gendron one.

“Whenever you can go up north and play a No. 5 seed and give them all they can handle, I think you can walk away proud that you represented South Jersey pretty well,” said West Deptford head coach Mike Yarusso.

Yarusso said that his players bought into the game plan from the opening face-off and never wavered in their belief that they could pull off the upset.

“The game plan was spot-on, and they executed it well,” he said. “I think aside from the few plays that you would always want back in any game, they came out and did what we asked them to do.”

The long ride home from West Essex certainly wasn’t a joyous one, but the players were able to have the satisfaction of knowing they put forth a valiant effort.

“You step in after losing and just tell them how proud you are of them,” said Yarusso. “They left it all on the field. It was a hot day, and we didn’t have a lot of depth, and they had players running on and off field. It was tough, but they gave it everything they had.”

While the playoffs are over for West Deptford, there is still plenty to play for in the standings. If the Eagles win out their final three contests–Camden Catholic Thursday, Haddonfield Friday and Bishop Eustace next Wednesday–they will earn at least a share of the Colonial Conference division title.

If the team can accomplish that, it will have checked off every goal it set for itself this season.

“Our goal in the beginning of the season was to have a home playoff game, get a win in state playoffs and show well in the playoffs, and we have done that," Yarusso said. “Our starting goal was also to win the division and we are three games away from doing that.

"We will take this loss and use it to allow the boys to recognize how good they are. I think sometimes doubt creeps in, and when you go up (to West Essex) and have the effort we did today, I think they now have a reference of how good they are.

"You don’t luck into a 7-6 game with West Essex."