Lacrosse today has evolved from its original form as developed by Iroquois Indians, dating back as early as the 15th century. The game was played for recreation as well as for training warriors and settling disputes. Games sometimes lasted for days and involved over 1,000 participants. Goals tended to be larger natural gaps, such as those in between trees, and no sidelines existed. This expansive playing area sent players far and wide in an effort to score.
Jesuit missionaries from France were the first settlers to encounter the game in the 17th century. Due to the Native Americans and the French, lacrosse spread throughout the United States and Canada. Today, "the fastest sport on two feet" is played fervently throughout the world.
Founded in 1985 the Gonzaga Lacrosse Program strives to mold young men into lacrosse players who participate in the true American sport. Following the school's motto of molding students into "men for others," players are taught to compete with sportsmanship, heart, and a love for the game. Many people have been integral to the Program's foundation and success. Notably, but not exclusively, are the efforts of current Head Coach Casey O’Neill’s father, Brendan O'Neill, Sr. '60 (P ’86, ’96), John and Teri Moller (P '90, '92), the Adelman Family, the Mason Family, and the Warren Family. The Eagles call Gonzaga's Buchanan Field their home.
Gonzaga originally competed in old Washington Area Lacrosse League (WALL). After a third place finish in their fourth WALL season, the Eagles inaugurated play in the Washington Metropolitan Athletic Conference (WMAC), which become the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) in 1989. The Program has won the conference title ELEVEN times, reaching the finals 21 times. The team's all-time conference record is 236-42. Gonzaga teams have finished the season 14 times in The Washington Post's Top-20 team poll and in 2012 the first time ever as the Washington Post's #1 team and followed up in 2013 AND 2016 as #1 team as well. 2014 AND 2015 ranked #2.
Gonzaga boasts many superior players throughout the years. The first All-American in the program was attackman Sean Moller '92. Sean was the first blue-chip player in the Program with his superior stick skills, aggressive play, and natural ability to score.
Midfielder Billy Glading '99 also earned All-American honors. As captain of the University of Virginia's 2003 squad, Billy earned the ACC Tournament MVP award in leading his team to the national championship. Defenseman Matt Rienzo '93 earned All-Met honors and played at Georgetown University, where he served as Team Captain. He provided the defensive foundation upon which Coach Dave Urick founded one of the country's elite college programs and Rienzo was the head assistant at Georgetown for many years. Goalie Andrew Moss ’04 was a 2004 High School Academic All-American and walked on at UNC-Chapel Hill. SEVEN players have gone on to become Division I and III College All-Americans. Under Coach O'Neill's tenure, NINE players have been named US Lacrosse All-Americans, 12 players Washington Post 1st Team All Mets and three have been Washington Post Player of the Year. Timmy Monahan '15 is the current era's all time leader in points with 214. Gonzaga's program was fortunate to have its own foundation in two very talented midfielders, J.B. Deerin '86 and Brendan O'Neill '86, who both set the mold for how the game of lacrosse was played on Eye Street. These players and many, many more have represented Gonzaga Lacrosse and all that it stands for with hard work, dedication and being “Men for Others.”
2010 was a special year for the Eagles. Gonzaga Lacrosse set the school record for wins (20), winning streak (16), and many more accomplishments. Chris May '10, was an All-American, two-time All-Met and WCAC Co-Player of the Year. Chris was also named to the prestigious Washington, DC Tewaaraton Team. Coach O'Neill was the Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year, WCAC Coach of the Year and US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter Coach of the Year along with Andrew Battaile being the US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter Assistant Coach of the Year. The Eagles finished ranked #3 by the Washington Post and in the top 25 of various National Rankings.
In 2011 the Eagles backed up 2010 with another stellar season, going 19-3 and winning their second straight WCAC banner! Midfielders David Planning and Connor Reed were both named to the Washington Post 1st Team ALL MET Squad and Planning was voted as All-American as well. This is a first for the program to have two players on Washington Post 1st team in one season. AMAZING! The Eagles also were recognzed nationally in several top 25 polls and continued to make a mark in this area as a premier program!
2012 marks the first ever time The Eagles were the #1 team in the Washington Post, Ranked Top 4 in the nation in several polls, including #2 in ESPN National Ranking and first ever THREE PEAT as WCAC League Champs. Gonzaga also swept the IAC going 4-0 vs. those teams for the first time ever and going 2-1 vs. MIAA conference. Several players received national recognition including 2012 WCAC Player of the Year, All-American and Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, Connor Reed. Luke Miller was also a 1st team Washington Post All-Met and five other players made All-Met teams, most ever in program history. This 20-1 record goes down as the best in school history. The team was one goal away from going un-defeated.
2013 Gonzaga Lacrosse backed up their pre-season rankings in fine fashion with a fourth straight WCAC Championship. #1 Washington Post for second straight year and top 5 national ranking for second straight season as well. The Eagles finished #3 in two national polls. The graduating seniors finished with a 45-0 WCAC record and in two years did not lose to a Washington area opponent. The Eagles were 4-0 in the IAC and 3-1 in the MIAA this season. The team boasted Two US Lacrosse All-Americans (Matt Borda and Alex Corboy), Two Washington Post first team ALL METS (including Post Player of the Year and all time school points leader Alex Corboy), Two Washington Post second team ALL METS (Max Planning and Jack Slater), Seven WCAC first team ALL League Players and 19-2 record overall.
2014 Marked a Fifth Straight WCAC Championship, #2 Washington Post ranking and several national polls had the Eagles in top 20 and top 10 in the country. This year marked a five year record of 55-0 in WCAC League play and finished with a 4-1 IAC record. Eagles had four 1st Team WCAC ALL league players, Timmy Monahan was Washington Post 1st Team All Met, Michael Borda- 2nd Team All Met and four Honorable Mention All Mets. Eagles finished with a 16-5 record.
2015 Gonzaga Lacrosse won its Sixth straight WCAC Championship. An incredible accomplishment considering the team did not have a home field for the entire season. Practicing in 10 different locations, and playing "home" games at 5 different college venues. This team played every game on the road making their slogan "Any Field". This season marked a six year 65-0 WCAC record. Their overall record was 18-3 ranked top 5 in several national polls, #2 in Washington Post and the Eagles played nine different national opponents ranked in the top 20 of the country. Five players were WCAC 1st Team, Timmy Monahan was the Washington Post and WCAC Player of the Year and a host of Eagles were named to the Washington Post All Met team. Senior Ridge Slater was named the 2015 US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter's ONLY "Bob Scott Award" winner.
2016 Gonzaga Lacrosse won a Seventh straight WCAC Championship. The Eagles took on another national and local schedule with a 19-2 record (10-0 WCAC) The Eagles now have a seven year, 75-0 WCAC record. Their ranking in several national polls was top 3 in the country and for the third time in the last five years Gonzaga was the #1 ranked team in the Washington Post as they swept the local DMV schools including a 4-0 IAC opponent record. Avery Myers (WCAC POY), Nick McEvoy and Ryan Finlay were named Washington Post First Team All Mets along with also being named Under Armour All Americans in the National Senior Game. Goalie George Christopher was a two time WCAC First Team Goalie and Second Team Post All Met. Luke McCaleb was a US Lacrosse Academic All American and Avery Myers a US Lacrosse All American. 12 of the 17 incredible seniors are heading off to play Division I, II and III college lacrosse. It was also an incredible season playing on the "new" Buchanan Field.
Gonzaga lacrosse players have gone on to play at these institutions:
1986 Alumni
J.B. Deerin-Vanderbilt Club
Tom Massey- Holy Cross
Brendan O’Neill Jr. – Providence
Mark Pattavina- Mt. St. Mary’s
1987 Alumni
Joe McMahon- Georgia Tech Club
1988 Alumni
Trey Vincent- Colby
1989 Alumni
Steve Brita- Providence
Tom Caroll- Notre Dame
Tom Lynch- Dartmouth
1990 Alumni
Andrew Battaile- Georgetown Club
Matt Abraham- Mt. St. Mary’s
Nathan Cavanaugh- Fordham Club
Brian Green- Roanoke
Justin Mahlman-Virginia
Paul Sassa- Loyola
Randy Stone- Scranton
1991 Alumni
John Dugan- Trinity
Paul Mason- UMBC
Mike Massey- Holy Cross
1992 Alumni
Doug Davidson- JMU Club
Alex Dessouky- Middlebury
Justin Glasgow- Providence
Andy Jenkins- Washington & Lee (Two-time Div. III All-American)
Tim Maier- Vanderbilt Club
Sean Moller- Notre Dame
Ted Perez- Loyola Club
Tucker Quayle- Lehigh
David Weeda- Fairfield
Tony Wheeler- Fairfield
1993 Alumni
Pat Abraham- Mt. St. Mary’s
Brian Crawford- Lehigh
Mark Decker- William & Mary Club
John McHugh- Loyola Club
Matt Rienzo- Georgetown(Div. I All-American)
Peter Sommers-New Hampshire
Chad Stackhouse- Dickinson
Chris Toomey- Hamilton
Dave Trippett- St. Joe’s
Tim Walsh- Mt. St. Mary’s
Christian Weber-Washington College
1994 Alumni
Andrew Edgerton- Gettysburg
Ben Quayle- Duke
Brendan O’Connell- Hampden Sydney
Ben Winburn- Vanderbilt Club
1995 Alumni
Tim Adelman- Franklin & Marshall
Sean Urgo- Ohio Wesleyan
Peter Flynn- Villanova
1996 Alumni
Joe DiPietro- Hampden Sydney
Eddie Costello- Bucknell
Mike Fisher- Lynchburg
Peter Kusek- UVA club
Terry McHugh- Providence
Bob Neary- Wheeling Jesuit
Casey O’Neill- Lehigh
Brendan Scanlon- UCLA club
Paul Sommers-Boston College Club
Tony Valado- Loyola Club
1997 Alumni
AlexBrick-MerchantMarineAcademy
BrianDriscoll-University of Denver
Shaun Duignan- Vanderbilt Club
Shawn Lopes- Mass. Maritime Academy
Tony Mendoza- VMI
Brandon Meyer- Muhlenberg Club
Pat Sindelar- Maryland
Keith Urgo- Fairfield
Marc Wilson- Holy Cross
1998 Alumni
Joey Coleman- Villanova
Brendan Coppinger- Mt. St. Mary’s
Bill Edwards- UVA club
Jimmy Nalls- Catholic
Devin Ryan- Notre Dame
Michael Tarantino- Air Force
Lexie Lewis- Lafayette
1999 Alumni
Billy Glading- UVA (Div. I All-American)
Brendan McBride- Villanova
Pat Carmack- Widener
Jamie Test- Mary Washington
Ross Cutler- Merchant Marine Acad.
Michael Brant- Catholic
Alex Evans- Tennessee Club
2000 Alumni
Colin Cappadona-Washington College
Michael Oristian- Randolph Macon
Andrew Forbes- Lafayette
Justin Lang-Ohio State
John Leubecker- Mount St. Mary’s
Bryce Baschuk- Trinity
Eric Ruffer- Denison
Sean Philbin- Villanova
2001 Alumni
Eddie Deegan- Hampden Sydney
John Schlegel-Ohio Wesleyan (Three-time Div. III All-American)
Tim Warren- Holy Cross
Shane Wilkerson- Brown
John Cannon- York
2002 Alumni
Connor McCarthy- Lehigh
Kevin Carbonell- Manhattan
Tom Marchetti- Wagner
Mark Norton- Dickinson
Reid Swanson- Denison
Stefano Young- MIT
2003 Alumni
Tim Atkinson-Bridgton Academy
Brendan Callahan- Stony Brook(Div. I All-American)
Conor Catliota- Dickinson
Mark Dillon- Providence
John Eager- Wheeling Jesuit
Patrick Molloy- Providence
Jack Kelley- Navy (JV)
Bernie Nolan- Dickinson
Doug Smith- Tufts
Robby Walsh- Lehigh
Broughan Fanning- Mary Washington
2004 Alumni
Brian Bausch- Xavier Club
Sean Fay- Fairfield
Matt Greaney- Miami of Ohio Club
Andres McCalister-Ohio Wesleyan
Andrew Moss- UNC Chapel Hill
Michael Preston- Andover
Matt Schlegel- Ohio Wesleyan
Brian Test- Ohio Wesleyan
2005 Alumni
Michael Atkinson- Loyola
Chad Dudley- St. Joe’s
Josh Eager- Wheeling Jesuit
Zeke Eager- Virginia Commonwealth Univ.
Justin Johns- St. Joe’s
John McDonnell- Cornell
Sean McQuade-Virginia Tech
Sean Mitchum- West Point
Matt O’Connor- JMU Club
Bryce Pyle- Yale
Andy Wassman- Mt. St. Mary’s
Pat Williams- St. Joe’s
2006 Alumni
Tim Barry- Providence
Joey D’Avanzo- St. Joe’s
Mike Duffy- Dickinson
Charlie Gorman- St. Joe's
Gabe Kelley- Wesleyan
John Lewis- St. Joe’s
Kevin Murray- Dickinson
Jack Redmond- JMU
Brian Shea-Penn State
2007 Alumni
John Culver- Trinity
Sean Dinn- Navy
Chris Donato- Providence
Pat Manders- Lynchburg
Felipe McAlister- Stevens
Chris Mitchell- St. Mary’s
Evan Seward- KingsCollege
2008 Alumni
Tyler Anderson- Catholic
Pat Baer- Roanoke
Ryan Doyle- Catholic
Victor Farr- Trinity
Joe Johnson- Navy/Scranton
Jimmy McGinnis- Virginia Wesleyan
Tyler Schmutz- Hampden Sydney
2009 Alumni
Conor Baucum- Penn State
Josh Furnary- Mary Washington
Taylor Hanley- Air Force
Steven Krawczyk- Susquehanna
Nick Leon- Dickinson
Tony McDonnell- Ursinus
Peter McGrath- Mary Washington
Kevin Shea- Catholic
2010 Alumni
Chris May- Georgetown/Ohio State
Conor Kenny- Providence
Frank Kelly- VMI
Tommy Healy- Sewanee
Patrick Covino- Virginia Tech
2011 Alumni
David Planning- Ohio State
Kyle Bruun- St. Joe's
Reese Cassard- St. Mary's
John Sullivan- Catholic
Rawley Loken- Santa Clara
Troy Bruning- Elon
Peter Benziger- Texas
Rick Battista- LSU
2012 Alumni
Luke Miller- Ohio State
Connor Reed- Johns Hopkins
Sean Whitcomb- Mount St. Mary's
Eric Baumgardner- Denison (D3 All American)
Alex Rock- High Point
Dennis Nalls- Georgia
Matt Bowman- Army
Maxen Haveles- RPI
Cayman Sotudeh- Georgia
2013 Alumni
Max Planning- Denver
Alex Corboy- Fairfield
Joe Fitzpatrick- Maryland
Matt Borda- Fairfield
Jack Slater- Bucknell
Patrick Myers- Boston Univ.
Daniel O'Berry- Bowdoin
Drew Gordon- Middlebury
Timmy Farrell- Ole Miss
Thomas Farrell- Denison
Tyler Golian- Dickinson
Jimmy Kuzma- Roanoke
Jamie Bash- Univ. of San Diego
Phil McCarthy- Georgia
2014 Alumni
Jake Mraz-Tufts
Mark Anstead- Detriot Mercy
Colin Riehl- Marquette
Luke Smith- Lafayette
Peter Gilday-South Carolina
2015 Alumni
Luke Vassos- Marquette
Ridge Slater- Cornell
Richie Petitbon- Alabama (football)
Teddy Myers- Furman/Trinity
Timmy Monahan- Maryland
John Heckler- Roanoke
Ben Forde- Haverford College
Liam Fitzpatrick- St. Joe's
Michael Borda- Michigan
2016 Alumni
Kyle Newman-Smith- Tufts
Gary Pierpont- Wingate
Sam Offutt- Virginia
George Christopher- Dartmouth
Hunter Golian- Denison
Luke McCaleb- Brown
Mikey Stanton- High Point
Nick McEvoy- Penn State
Matt Mulligan- W & L
Ryan Finlay- Brown
Avery Myers- Michigan
Henry Chastain- Maryland
Stephen Ricci- Virginia Tech
2017 Alumni
Brian Townsend- Penn State
Brendan Alt- Marquette
Will Rock- Virginia
Joey Murphy- Furman
Connar Mulcahy- Ohio Wesleyan
Charlie Lynch- Colby
Program History
Year Record Comments
1985
2-13 Inaugural Season
1986
7-8 WALL B Quarterfinal
1987
1-15 CharacterBuilding
1988
4-8 WALL B Division 3rd Place
1989
7-5 WMAC Record 3-2
1990
10-6 WMAC Record 5-1
Coach Bahor: Coach of the Year/ WMAC Semifinal
1991
9-5 WMAC Record 6-1 WMAC Semifinal
1992
17-1 WMAC Record 7-0 WMAC Champs
Sean Moller: All American
Coach Bahor:Coach of the Year
1993
12-6 WMAC Record 6-1 WMAC Champs
Matt Rienzo: All Met
1994
7-9 WMAC Record 5-3 WMAC Semifinal
1995
9-8 WCAC Record 7-1 WCAC Final
1996
12-6 WCAC Record 9-2 WCAC Final
1997
14-4 WCAC Record 9-1 WCAC Champs
1998
15-7 WCAC Record 10-0 WCAC Champs
1999
12-7 WCAC Record 8-2 WCAC Final
Billy Glading: All American
2000
13-7 WCAC Record 8-2 WCAC Final
2001
10-13 WCAC Record 7-3 WCAC Final
2002
10-11 WCAC Record 7-3 WCAC Semifinal
Connor McCarthy: Season Scoring Record
2003
13-9 WCAC Record 9-2 WCAC Final
Coach Doughty: Coach of the Year
Brendan Callahan: Player of the Year
2004
16-6 WCAC Record 9-2 WCAC Final
2005
11-7 WCAC Record 8-2 WCAC Final
2006
11-7 WCAC Record 8-3 WCAC Final
2007
8-10 WCAC Record 7-3 WCAC Semifinal
2008
15-6 WCAC record 7-3 WCAC Semifinal. 3-0 in overtimes
2009
9-12 WCAC record 7-3 WCAC Semifinal
Chris May 1st team ALL-MET
2010
20-2 WCAC record 12-0 WCAC Champs
Chris May 1st team ALL-MET & All American & WCAC
Co-Player of the Year
Coach O'Neill: Coach of the Year-ALL MET
Top 25 National Ranking and Washington Post Top 3
2011
19-3 WCAC record 11-0 WCAC Champs
David Planning and Connor Reed 1st Team ALL-MET
David Planning: All American
Coach O'Neill: Co-Coach of the Year
Top 20 National Ranking and Washington Post Top 3
2012
20-1 WCAC record 11-0 WCAC Champs
Connor Reed: WCAC Player of the Year and All-American
Connor Reed and Luke Miller: 1st Team ALL-MET
Coach O'Neill: Coach of the Year
Top 2 National Ranking and Washington Post #1
2013
19-2 WCAC record 11-0 WCAC Champs
Alex Corboy: Washington Post Player of Year and All-American
Matt Borda: 1st Team ALL-MET and All-American
Top 3 National Ranking and Washington Post #1
2014
16-5 WCAC Record 10-0 WCAC Champs
Timmy Monahan: Washington Post 1st Team ALL-MET
Top 10 National Ranking and Washington Post #2
2015
18-3 WCAC Record 10-0 WCAC Champs
Timmy Monahan: Washington Post & WCAC Player of the Year, All American
Ridge Slater: US Lacrosse Potomac Chapter Bob Scott Award Winner
Top 5 National Ranking and Washington Post #2
2016
19-2 WCAC Record 10-0 WCAC Champs
Avery Myers: WCAC Player of the Year and All American
Luke McCaleb: Academic All American
Avery Myers, Nick McEvoy, Ryan Finlay: Wash Post 1st Team All Met
Top 3 National Ranking and Washington Post #1
2017
14-7 WCAC Record 9-1 WCAC runner-up
Brian Townsend: Washington Post 1st Team All Met
Nick Yano: Academic All American
Washington Post #7