The Eagles boys lacrosse team is coming off their greatest season in program history and ready to make a run towards another title this Spring.
The team last year went 14-0 in the regular season and won the PSAL 2A City Title, headlined by 2025 USA Lacrosse All-Americans Ansoumane Soumaoro and Xsavion Garcia. Things are now different. The Eagles now face new challenges due to a head coaching change and the graduation of pivotal seniors.
This means we are in for a new Eagles team.
“I can see a banner at the end of the tunnel, but it’s if everyone buys in, right? I need the team to dial in on academics, attendance, consistency coming to practice, and wanting it. You have to have the heart, you have have the grit,” said Head Coach D’Amore
The Eagles welcome Ronnie Gunter, the Eagles’ new Offensive Coordinator who they hope will energize an offense that currently has a lot of holes.
“[Coach Ronnie] has a lot of, like, energy, open-minded too, you know, a lot of ideas to bring to the program. He’s already been working from September to now with the guys. So, like, he’s built relationships. He’s been consistent, you know, reliable. And I think that he’s gonna help us move forward in a positive direction,” said Coach D’Amore.
When looking at this team going into the 2026 Spring Season, there’s a completely new outlook. Players who didn’t see as much playing time last year will see more this year, and sophomores and juniors from last year will step up under the senior leadership.
¨I feel like I’m gonna have a bigger role because I’m gonna be scoring, moving the ball around, and being a bigger factor on the team that will produce goals and help the team win overall,” said Ousmane Barry (Class of 2028).
With the loss of seniors, Ousmane will now be a starting attackman for the upcoming season. As for his mindset for this season, he’s ready to carry out the winning mentality the Eagles have become so accustomed to.
¨My mentality for this season is just to go out, play, go undefeated, and have the same thing from last year, go win a chip, a division, and have another great season to be remembered by. Last season, the coach we were with for years left, meaning, in addition to this upcoming season, we have to adapt to a new coach,” said Ousmane.
For Coach Ronnie, his goal this year is to learn to utilize the guys he has and learn everything about them so he can have the best team on and off the field.
“I would like to run my team very clean and efficiently. I think we’ve got a bunch of good guys on here that are able to do that. And I expect to win back-to-back championships,” said Coach Ronnie.
For Defensive Coordinator Chuck Leitner, there is a big emphasis on what the standard is for his team at the end of this season.
“Well, winning championships is fun. Right? And it’s hard to do regardless of what level you’re playing at. Because it’s hard for a team to come together and have that goal be the most important. So anytime you achieve that, it’s a great thing” said Coach Leitner.
Heading into this 2026 Spring Season, things will be much different for the Eagles especially now that they are the team with the biggest target on their back. Will we see them soar and end up back at the top?
“I don’t see any pressure, you know. I know we’re going to win most of the time. But even if we don’t, I mean, it’s always going to be a learning course, or a learning opportunity for all of us. I think we’re a solid team with a lot of returners who I think can come back. We just have to lock in as a team,” said Coach Ronnie.
