Lacrosse: CCBC Essex Primed for Title Run

The CCBC Essex men’s lacrosse team knows it has what it takes to reach the NJCAA national title game.

Now, the Knights want to prove they have what it takes to win it all. CCBC Essex, which opens its season Saturday against Northern Virginia, has advanced to the last two national title games. In each case, they lost in the finals to Onondaga (NY) Community College, .

Expectations remain high at CCBC Essex in 2012 after going 15-3 last season. The Knights enter the season ranked No. 2 in Lacrosse Magazine's national preseason poll, behind only Onondaga. 

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“The desire to win it all has been here a long time,” CCBC Essex coach Shawn Burke said. “We enjoy having those expectations. That is why people come here to play. They want to win, be on the national stage and gain the attention of four-year schools, which is what most of these players’ ultimate goals are here.”

This season, much of the Knights' experience is on defense, with sophomore Trey Cover () anchoring that unit. Cover was a preseason Player of the Year candidate for Lacrosse Magazine.

Other key returning players for the Knights include sophomore Dan Burke (Archbishop Spalding) and midfielder Neil Hutchinson (Loyola). Cover is expected to sign on soon with UMBC, while Burke is heading to national Division III power Salisbury. Hutchinson is still weighing options for several four-year schools.

All three returnees said they don’t want their season to end like last season did and expect to be playing for junior college’s top lacrosse prize again. They would especially like another shot at Onondaga to show that Maryland, not New York, has the best lacrosse in the country.

“That’s why we have the Maryland flag on our helmet,” Cover said. “We have pride in our state and the level of lacrosse we play on a yearly basis.”

But to get back to another championship game, Burke will also rely on a young attack, in which all three expected starters—Andy Thrasher (Fallston), Ty Kasher and Brian White (Fallston)— are freshmen.

“Lacrosse is different than many sports because of the limited number of Division I programs,” said Burke, referring to there just being 61 men’s lacrosse teams at the highest college level compared to more than 300 basketball programs.

“Therefore, we get a lot of players with that type of talent, but just fell through the cracks or want a shot at raising their stock in hopes of getting noticed by a four year school. These freshmen step in with a lot of talent and the ability to play at a high level in college.”

Hutchinson, who played high school lacrosse in the powerful Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Conference, said there is an adjustment period making the transition from high school to junior college.

“You really spend the early part of the season adjusting to the speed of the game,” Hutchinson said. “It was an invaluable experience as you are also learning more about time management and how to handle all the work college brings. CCBC Essex does a great job making sure we are prepared on the field and in the classroom.”