Chesapeake Boys Put On A Show In 13-0 Rout Of Meade

By Colin Murphy

On May 6, the Chesapeake High School boys lacrosse team celebrated senior night at their home field with a rain-shortened 13-0 romp over Meade, improving to 10-4 on the season while enjoying a final confidence-booster in anticipation of the upcoming playoffs. The win capped an emotional evening at Chesapeake, as both the girls and boys programs honored the departing seniors and their parents with pre-game ceremonies.

Facing what is shaping up to be an extremely competitive playoff field, the win encapsulated the team’s dedication over the course of this season, and for the seniors, over their entire lacrosse careers.

“We’ve worked together since our freshman year, and we’ve really put the pieces together,” said Andrew Beres of himself and the other seniors on the team. “In the off season, in workouts, indoor, fall ball; it’s starting to show. Our hard work is paying off.”

Team cohesion was on full display on this bittersweet night, much to the delight of a wistful crowd full of happy family members. Senior Justin Kestler opened the night’s scoring less than two minutes in with an unassisted goal. He was followed less than a minute later with an unassisted goal from fellow senior Adam Bellarin.

Settling into a fluid offense with crisp ball movement on their next several possessions, the Cougars used goals from Dylan Hudson and Bellarin, assisted by Beres and John Dewling, respectively, to gain a 4-0 advantage after six minutes of play. The one-two punch of Kestler and Bellarin notched another two goals in the following minutes, and senior Tim Caropreso assisted on a goal by Terrence Mulvey, staking the Cougars to a 7-0 lead to close the first quarter.

“Being an emotional night with senior night, they came out and hustled pretty good,” said Head Coach Rodney Beres after the game. Beres went on to describe how satisfying it has been to watch his players, particularly the seniors, play an outstanding regular season and thrust the program into the conversation as one of the area’s legitimate elite teams. “All the credit goes to the kids. They’re realizing their potential and they’re making the best of this opportunity. They’re a great group of young men.”

The Cougars continued to dominate in the second quarter. Goals by Beres, Bellarin, and Hudson extended the Cougar lead to 10-0 and preceded a dazzling defensive play by senior Patrick Michalski, who made a leaping, fully-extended interception of a long downfield pass by Meade, then whipped an outlet pass to Dewling, who assisted to Kestler for the score that put the Cougars up 11-0.

After a goal by Beres extended the lead to 12-0, the game’s “wow” play was provided by senior goalie Michael Brennan. Upon saving a Meade shot attempt, Brennan forewent an outlet pass and instead raced the length of the field, circled around the opposing goal, and rolled a shot underneath Meade’s goalie for the rare score, putting an exclamation point on Chesapeake’s 13-0 lead and sending an already jazzed crowd into giddy celebration.

“I ran up the field and tried to find [senior attackman Mitch] Kammer, but nobody picked me up,” said Brennan of his goal. “So I just snuck around and put it in.”

The game was called at halftime due to rain and lightning, much to the relief of an overmatched Meade team. Coach Beres and his team have high hopes for the playoffs, but also recognize how far they have come this season: “If our program is talked about in the same manner as Broadneck, Severna Park, Arundel, South River - the premiere programs in the area - that’s a great accomplishment.”

To see the complete photo gallery for this game, click here.