St. Vincent de Paul head lacrosse coach Ed Evans has been working to get a varsity team on the field for the last three years. In 2022, he has finally gotten his wish.
After COVID-19 led to season cancellations and restricted the Mustangs to just a JV season in 2021, St. Vincent de Paul will conduct its inaugural varsity lacrosse team this season.
Evans started out his coaching career at Cardinal Newman when he was hired as the JV coach, where he served from 2005-09. Prior to that, he coached youth lacrosse for five years throughout the North Bay. Most recently, he was the JV coach at Casa Grande High School from 2015-2018, according to the school.
Numbers-wise, the roster is smaller so Evans says it is critical for everyone to be available throughout the season.
“Staying healthy and academically proficient is important because we only have a 14-man roster and we play 10 men on field,” Evans said.
The roster this year is headlined by senior Riley Gilfillan, juniors Nathan Rooks and Jaret Bosarge, sophomores Preston Kwan, Bishop Gilfillan, Gavin Tank-Crestetto, and freshman goalie Enzo Valle.
Valle is expected to be the main goalie all season and has gained the trust of Evans, based on his basic fundamental skills.
The group started the season off with a loss at Terra Linda February 28 by a score of 6-3. The Mustangs rebounded with a 14-4 victory at San Rafael.
After a 13-goal swing from the first two games, it is evident that the team is in fact getting better every time it touches the field.
“I believe this team is getting better and better every time we step out onto the field,” Rooks said. “Our chemistry will be a problem for many.”
Although being a first-year varsity team does pose some challenges, the competition ramps up and more experienced teams are on the schedule.
“As a first year team on varsity this season will be challenging,” Bosarge said. “But as long as we stay focused, we will be able to compete with the teams we face.”
As a helping factor for this team, more than half the roster also plays football for the reigning North Coast Section Division 7 champs. Athletes that compete in both sports see their time on the gridiron helping them when they take the lacrosse field.
“Football helps with my lateral movement and quickness. To stay on your guy so that he does not score a goal,” Rooks said.
Another challenge for the Mustangs this season will be their lack of experience as only five of their 14-man roster - Riley and Bishop Gillfillan, Bosarge Valle, and Tank-Crestetto - have played lacrosse before, according to the Petaluma Argus Courier. However, Evans hopes to overcome that and build experience throughout the season.
Their roster is filled out by Trent Ahneman, Brian Martin-Martinez, Robert Rooks, Malcolm Rooks, Viktor Blais, Johnny Martin-Martinez, Kai Dove, Ben Sumrall, and Daniel Rivera.
The Mustangs have two more road games at Windsor the next two Wednesdays before playing Sonoma Academy next Friday. Their first home game will be March 21, when they host Cardinal Newman.
