Waving Sticks in the Air

A changing environment demands new mindsets and that’s just what the boys' lacrosse team, the Peglegs, have had to develop this season. Aiming to keep their heads high since their poor 2022 season, the team and their new head coach took on that challenge with a fiery passion. 

Following the introduction of the PSAL All-Access program in the spring of 2023, the team faced issues with re-building. They found disconnects in their play and felt a lack of energy due to their existing losing streak. Sixteen graduating seniors had also left a large hole in the team. The sudden disappointment and low performance enforced a change amongst the members in the returning squad. Their new coach, Michael Tauber, who formerly coached the boys’ football team, brought in his experience to sharpen up the players for the upcoming season. He managed practices during the weekdays while the team played in official games twice a week. The practices were targeted to build endurance and skill sets, in addition to conditioning and forming a game plan. “I consulted other coaching friends who coach lacrosse to get some ideas,” Coach Tauber said. 

With his expertise working with athletic teams, Coach Tauber led the lacrosse team to an all time high record of 8-8 in the 2023 season, allowing the team to make the playoffs by a large margin. As it was his first time coaching lacrosse, being able to achieve such a feat within his first year of head coaching was astonishing even to himself. “I love new challenge[s],” Tauber said, convincingly demonstrating his resilience as he rebuilt the team from the ground up. Not only was he coaching a new sport, but Coach Tauber also only had around 10 returning players to work with compared to a typical 15-20 players. As a result, extra days were added to their training camp in order to revisit the basics and establish a strong skill foundation for the team. 

Although the switch in head coaches did have a positive impact on the team’s performance, the team still faced challenges, mainly in their practice space. Similar to football and other sports, “field space at the pier is always a challenge [and] finding space with no permits on many days forces us to adjust the practice plan on the fly,” Tauber said. As their returning players dwindled, so did their practice spaces, and yet, the Peglegs managed to maintain a playoff finish during Coach Tauber’s first season. 

For the first time in the team’s history, there was a light that presented itself during the 2024 season. However, it was not by luck, but rather earned by the team. The captains and members found bonding experiences within times of hardships and losing streaks, and established connections that they would have never imagined. “Even though we did not win it all, we played our hearts out each and every game,” senior Oscar Yang said. The team’s involvement was consistent throughout the season, and the season’s results do not fully reflect the team’s potential. “Even though this season’s record wasn’t as good as last year's, we grew as a team and will have a solid base for next year,” junior co-captain Jeffrey Huang said.

Although the team ended the season with a 4-6 record and lost during the first round of the playoffs to Christopher Columbus Campus (1-8), they certainly had some major highlights. The Pegleg’s wins over Murry Bergtraum (12-7) and Maspeth High School (13-3) were to be noted. Their close games against John Dewey High School (7-8) and A. Philip Randolph Campus High School (8-9) were also a testament to how the team was unwilling to give up.  

In particular, the game against A. Philip Randolph Campus High School was the closest game that the Peglegs experienced this season. Although they were tied 4-4 at halftime, Randolph would score three goals during the third quarter, making it 4-7. In the fourth quarter, the Peglegs were able to rally back, scoring four goals while Randolph scored one, tying the game at 8-8. While the Peglegs lost during overtime, this game showed how they were able to keep up with other teams. 

However, none of these games would’ve happened without the players. Senior co-captain and goalie Tejas Siddaramaiah had a total of only 48 saves and had allowed 47 scores during the 2023 season. Compared to the 2024 season where he had over 150 saves and allowed only 83 scores, this season demonstrated that Coach Tauber’s guidance has allowed the players to improve immensely. The new All-Access player, junior Gavin Conroy, and returning All-Access player, senior James Romano, had 118 and 98 ground balls, respectively, with 32 total goals from Romano himself. 

Though inexperienced and new to the game, the Peglegs are seeking vengeance for a new and high-scoring season. With over 20 returning players for the upcoming season, the future is bright for this returning group alongside their head coach. Though there are moments to reflect on since 2022, the team has no plan on slowing down. The transition to a new team environment demonstrates how even through adversity the Peglegs are still in the running, and setting the stage for a new beginning for Stuyvesant lacrosse.