O'Donnell, Manown Look to Lead La Salle to Back-to-Back Lax Titles

O'Donnell, Manown Look to Lead La Salle to Back-to-Back Lax Titles

The La Salle boys lacrosse team has experienced quite a bit of success over the last two seasons. Winning their first state title and coming off of an undefeated season last year, the Rams are looking poised to achieve the same success this season. With an overall record of 12-0, La Salle has scored 202 goals and have only given up 65, with no team coming within five goals of the Rams in any game this season.

Two main reasons for La Salle's recent success are Brady O'Donnell and John Manown.

O'Donnell, a senior captain for the Rams, has been the best attack in the state in the past two seasons, earning First Team All-State honors as a junior last season, compiling a league-best 69 points. O'Donnell has committed to play lacrosse for the Bryant University Bulldogs next season, but has some unfinished business to take care of before he departs from La Salle.

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“I'm relying on Brady, not only offensively for his firepower, but for his leadership as a senior captain,” head coach Steve O'Donnell said of his son. “He's been a varsity member for four years, so we look to him to lead by example, whether it be by scoring or in a secondary role because he gets a lot of attention.”

Manown, a Second Team All-State selection last year as a sophomore and Duke University commit, may be the best defensive player in the state, shutting down opposing offenses all season long.

“We're looking to both of them to make our team better,” O'Donnell said. “Both are very good players and have a good lacrosse IQ, but what separates the good players from the great players, is the ability to get everyone else involved and make everyone else better.”

La Salle will take on Barrington High School on Thursday at 6pm at Brown University in the state semifinals. Although the Rams go in as the favorite, O'Donnell knows that nothing is guaranteed.

“It's basically the team's responsibility to just try to stay focused,” O'Donnell said. “They're very good players and a very good team, but it's a new season. Just because we've done well in the past, that has no bearing on the next week.”

If the Rams defeat Barrington on Thursday, they will take on the winner of Bishop Hendricken and Moses Brown in the title game on Sunday at 5pm at Brown.