Rather than crumble under the weight of immense pressure and expectations, the McDonogh boys’ lacrosse team rose to the occasion.
The Eagles overcame setbacks and pulled through a series of close calls to win their third straight MIAA A Conference championship, joining Calvert Hall (2017-2019) as the only teams to pull off that feat.
It was a testament to McDonogh’s talent, resilience and togetherness.
Every time the Eagles (15-3) looked vulnerable — back-to-back losses to Calvert Hall and Archbishop Spalding in mid-April — or the end of the run appeared imminent — a two-goal deficit in the final minute of the MIAA quarterfinals against Loyola — this tight-knit group found a way to get the job done.
“We just wanted it more than anyone, I think,” said senior attackman Luke Miller, a Notre Dame recruit.
The 14-12 victory in the championship game on May 17 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis came against top-seeded Boys’ Latin, a team McDonogh had already beaten in April. It was the culmination of a season-long process of blocking out all of the outside noise as best as possible, staying focused on the task at hand and being able to reset and recover when adversity struck.
The season was a stark contrast to the two prior ones when McDonogh cruised to the title, piling up blowout victories and facing little adversity along the way. The Eagles were ranked No. 2 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse and lost just once in 2023.
This championship, by comparison, was earned right down to the very last minute.
“We really didn’t talk about a three-peat,” said head coach Andy Hilgartner, who has led McDonogh to four of its six MIAA championships, including one in 2016. “The league is too good. The coaching and scouting are too good. If you are not fully present [in the moment], you are not going to be able to play to your potential.”
A stark reminder arrived early in the season when the Eagles dropped back-to-back games to a pair of conference rivals, Calvert Hall (8-7) on April 12 and Spalding (10-9 in overtime) on April 16.
It served as a pivotal reset point for McDonogh. The morning after the Spalding loss, players showed up before 6 a.m. for workouts. Players took diligent notes during film sessions.
In the next game, the Eagles rolled over visiting Loyola, 16-6, to get their season back on track.
“Two losses early in your season can really ruin your season,” Miller said. “It was kind of like it’s now or never. Our desperation turned into pure will, and we kind of figured it out.”
There would be more hurdles to overcome. McDonogh’s season was less than a minute from ending in the MIAA quarterfinals before the Eagles found a way to score twice in the final minute and pull out the one-goal victory against Loyola in overtime.
Then, they trailed for much of the first half in the MIAA semifinals against Spalding before turning it up in the second half, outscoring the Cavaliers 4-2 for a 10-9 victory, avenging the earlier loss in April.
The championship game against Boys’ Latin was much more straightforward. The Eagles jumped out to an early two-goal lead, wiped away a brief one-goal deficit in the second quarter and then hung on in the second half for a 14-12 victory that earned them the title and a piece of MIAA history.
“I was overcome with emotion,” said senior midfielder Ben Firlie, a Georgetown recruit. “It means much more winning it as a senior and going out on such a good note. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.”
And the struggles along the way made it even sweeter, as it took more than pure talent and skill to get this McDonogh team across the finish line.
“It was never easy. Nothing was ever given to us, and that is typical in this league,” Hilgartner said. “It makes us appreciate [winning three championships in a row] that much more.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of McDonogh Athletics