Peglegs Finish Season With First Round Exit

Led by senior and co-captain Rubin Peco and his team-leading 14 regular season goals, the Peglegs, Stuyvesant’s boys’ lacrosse team, appeared poised to upset the sixth-seeded Lehman Campus in the first round of the playoffs. The two rivals had previously battled in the regular season, in which Lehman Campus won in an intense match with a final score of 6-5. The Peglegs looked to avenge their heartbreaking loss earlier in the season, and were presented with a grand opportunity in the big stage of the playoffs. However, a rough defensive start doomed Stuyvesant, as Lehman Campus opened up the game early, pulling ahead to a 7-2 lead after the first period. They held their commanding lead throughout the game, winning it 11-5 and advancing onward to the next round of the playoffs.

The road to the playoffs was especially tough this year, as the Peglegs were forced to deal with numerous obstacles throughout the season. Many of the games were postponed, so the Peglegs lacked opportunities to build chemistry, which is vital to the growth and success of any team. Many of the younger players also did not get much experience in playing, which is crucial as they are expected to step up and lead the team in the future. However, despite these hardships, the Peglegs were still able to finish with an impressive 6-3 record. After a rough start, the Peglegs were able to step up on offense, an area that they emphasized improvement in during the season. A high-level offense combined with a stout back end proved effective in winning games; the Peglegs were deadly in all facets of the game.

One consistent aspect of the team was its strong defense, an area that the Peglegs traditionally excel in. Junior and co-captain Alex Thompson, who has been playing since freshman year, is the leader of the defense. The Peglegs previously followed the fourth pole substitution strategy—having four defensive pole-carrying players on the field at all times. However, the Peglegs implemented a new strategy to provide an even stouter defense: the midfield, who traditionally helps out on the offensive end, assisted the defensive end as well, making it difficult for the Peglegs to get scored on.

Looking ahead to next year, the Peglegs seem to be on track to keep their record above .500. Despite the loss of all three co-captains—Ariel Glazman, Rubin Peci, and Danny Jiang—the underclassmen will look to take over and lead the team next year with the crucial experience they received from the limited number of games. Junior Andrew Hirtle will look to take over more of the scoring on the team, and Thompson will aim to continue to establish a strong defense. “We emphasized the improvement in the younger members of our team so they can look ahead for next year and lead the team to a championship,” Peco said.