Hot Streak Has Severn Boys Lacrosse Poised For Playoffs

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There are two records of significance to Severn School boys lacrosse Joe Christie concerning his team.

For one, Christie loves the Admirals’ sizzling 8-0 start, which included blowouts over Collegiate School of Richmond, Catholic High School of Virginia Beach and Crofton High School.

It’s Severn’s best start since 2012.

“We have huge expectations for this team,” Christie said. “We are deeper than we have ever been. We have a big senior class with 21 and some other players that have been on the varsity since they were freshman. They’re super focused on this season.”

The other record that encourages Christie: Severn’s 3-3 mark in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference.

It’s considered one of the best leagues in the country, if not the best.

USA Lacrosse Magazine ranks five teams from the conference in its national boys lacrosse poll, including McDonogh, Loyola Blakefield, Boys’ Latin, Calvert Hall and St. Mary’s.

A winning record in the league would mean a lot to Christie, a seventh-year coach, and his players. It would probably be enough to get the Admirals into the playoffs.

“Depending on who you talk to, it’s either number one or two in the country,” said Christie, whose team is 12-4 overall. “If you look at the Division I college commitments coming out of these programs, it’s pretty ridiculous.”

One league game looks large for the Severn players. The Admirals host heated rival St. Mary’s on May 7 at 4:00pm.

Christie has a 4-2 record versus the Saints during his coaching tenure, including a one-goal loss last year and an overtime win in 2021.

“This is a game I have been dreaming about since I came to Severn in the sixth grade,” Severn senior attacker Trey Dring recalled. “There’s a possibility the St. Mary’s game could decide if we go to play in the playoffs or not. It’s been building to a climax over the past few years.”

Severn had success against another rival, visiting Severna Park, and beat the defending Class 4A state champions, 8-5, in early April. Admirals’ senior Jacob Todd, who is headed to Princeton to play lacrosse, totaled a goal and three assists and teammate William Perez made 15 saves.

Perez, who will play at the Naval Academy next season, is one of Severn’s best players. He is a three-year starter.

“He is so good at stopping the ball and has really good vision,” Christie said. “He is probably the best goalie I’ve had here in seven years.”

Perez gets plenty of support when he’s on the field. As of late April, Severn was averaging 13 goals a game with leading scorer Dring (45 goals, five assists) and Todd (34 goals) spearheading the offense.

Christie is especially impressed with Dring. He had 28 goals and 10 assists last year.

“His offseason and transformation physically from junior to senior year was a testament to his work ethic,” the coach said of Dring, who is committed to Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. “He came back bigger and faster.”

The scorers are getting fed by a midfield that includes seniors Chase Hallam, Nick Sotiropoulos (Hobart) and Andrew Beard (Penn State) and sophomore Tanner Huber.

The Admirals hope the high scoring keeps up – especially with Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield on the schedule ahead of St. Mary’s.

“We have a chemistry that has really been unmatched and coach Christie has mentioned that to us,” Dring said. “It seems to be a case where all eyes are on us. I think we have extra pressure. Everybody has been talking about how this is Severn’s year to possibly take it all.”

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