By Angela Marshall
Midfielder McDermott scored a career-high three goals in the first round. He and Conry, a long stick midfielder, are an integral part of the Johns Hopkins team. Johns Hopkins easily defeated Army, 14-2, and continues into the quarterfinals as the top-seeded team.
It was a good game, McDermott said. He felt the team was clicking on all cylinders.
This was McDermott's and Conry's third trip to the NCAA. Last year Johns Hopkins made it to the final four, and McDermott is hoping for a repeat this year, with better results. [McDermott] has become a mainstay on our second midfield, said head coach Dave Pietramala. Joe's athletic ability and strong work ethic have helped him to become an important part of the Johns Hopkins lacrosse program.
Pietramala also praised Conry, saying he anchors the team's man-down unit. Kevin's knowledge and understanding of our system and our opponents' extra-man offense has made him a critical part of our special-teams unit, Pietramala said.
Lucas plays a backup role for the University of Massachusetts men's team. UMass beat out Hofstra, 9-6, in the first round. Although he may not be a starter, Lucas has earned the praise of head coach Greg Cannella. He has improved more than anyone in the program, Cannella said. I think he has caught up to the speed he needs to play at this level.
Joe McDermott Sr., who coached his son and another of the NCAA players, Tim White, when they played on Rockville Centre's Police Athletic League back in elementary school, said it was a great joy to see the boys' hard work pay off. It's just very thrilling, he said.
White plays for Rutgers, which was picked off by Georgetown, 9-6, in the first round. White assisted on two goals. He's had another good year, said Rutgers head coach Jim Stagnitta, who called White the consummate player, talented at both ends of the field.
John Dauro, who earned all-county honors playing for the South Side High School team, plays for Ohio State, which lost to Maryland, 8-5.
Mark Ahern, a board member of the Rockville Centre Lacrosse Club, said all five of the NCAA players from the village were part of the club. He called them the first graduating class of the program, which began in 1993, and said that many of their classmates are also playing on Division I teams.
They are great role models, Ahern said. Most of the players come back on their college breaks to run lacrosse clinics for the club's current players.
McDermott said he still remembers how exciting it was when he got to meet college lacrosse players, so he works with the kids as much as possible.
In the May 17 quarterfinals, Johns Hopkins will face Towson University, and UMass will play Maryland.
