With a 6-2 record through eight boys lacrosse matches, the Washington-Liberty Generals are enjoying one of their best starts in program history.
Among the high-school team’s victories were a 11-7 win over private-school Sidwell Friends along with triumphs over Northern Virginia public-school squads West Springfield, 13-8, Marshall, 16-3, Falls Church, 16-5, and South County, 6-3.
The Generals’ losses have been by a goal each. The first was an 8-7 setback to the perennial Concorde District and 6D North Region power Oakton Cougars in a match W-L led 7-3 entering the fourth quarter.
The other defeat was 9-8 to the host McLean Highlanders in a Liberty District clash. McLean was another top team last season.
“The Oakton game was a disappointment but this team has a lot of confidence, is hungry to beat the big teams, and we’re excited about how we are playing so far,” W-L coach Clay Batley told ARLnow. “Against Oakton, the players showed they can play well against a top team. We just didn’t finish in that loss, and we have do a better job of that.”
The preseason began well for Washington-Liberty when a program-high 85 players tried out for the varsity and junior-varsity teams. Overall, there are 31 sophomores on the two rosters.
The start is the Generals’ best since being 5-1 in 2014, and the strength of W-L’s schedule is stiffer. Washington-Liberty last won a district title in 2010.
This year’s team includes 13 seniors, led by 2024 all-Liberty District standout and midfielder Jon Malatesta, along with returning all-district senior goalie Alex Conner.
Experience is a big key for W-L. Batley said the team returns 80% of its scoring from last season’s 6-9 squad that lost multiple close games.
“We have really cleaned up a lot of errors from last season,” Batley said.
One key player the Generals have been without is sophomore defender Miles Whitaker. Without him, the defense has been led by a committee of players, allowing an average of just five goals per outing through six matches.
Junior defender Lukas Naas leads the team in both caused turnovers and ground balls. Seniors Max Finkel, Ben Hughes, and Carson Peddie, as well as sophomore Tyler Hawkins, have all contributed to the defense in front of Conner.
On offense, more than a dozen players have scored goals or have assists for W-L.
Malatesta and sophomore Jude Adkins are leading goal-scorers with more than a dozen each, as well as having more than a handful of assists.
Sophomore A.J. Van Haaren had nine goals and four assists entering the match against Sidwell, and seniors Ryan Dodini and Luke Funck each had seven goals and eight assists.
Malatesta added four goals against Sidwell, senior Connor Baum had three goals and one assist, and Dodini had a goal and four assists.
Washington-Liberty has a number of key matches remaining, including against Arlington rivals Wakefield at home Thursday, May 1 and at Yorktown on Tuesday, May 6. Each also has a winning record early in the season.
The Generals play a non-district road game Tuesday, April 29 against an always good Lake Braddock team. They end the regular season by hosting the Langley Saxons, a perennial Liberty District power, on Thursday, May 8.
After the match against Langley, the postseason begins with the district tournament.
“We’ve learned how to battle. Now we have to learn how to win [close games],” Batley said. “Belief is palpable in the locker room.”
