Boys lacrosse: First team

Joe Bonanni, St. Mary's

Bonanni, a four-year starter, was routinely called upon to keep the opposing team's top player in check. The fundamentally sound, Ohio State-bound defender helped lead his team to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference quarterfinals. He is an Under-Armour All-American selection and is also The Sun's Player of the Year in Anne Arundel County.

"I think what he meant to our team, was a guy, who led by example," Saints coach Matt Hogan said. "He's a guy that practices every day hard and played hard within himself. In a world where it's all about me, Joe's not all about me. Joe's about us."

Bonanni, a two-time first-team All-Metro selection, also scooped 58 ground balls this year.

Joe Cummings, Loyola

The Maryland-bound senior attackman was one of the toughest players to cover in the MIAA, as he totaled 37 goals and 13 assists. The team captain, who was a second- team All-Metro selection last year, stepped up in Loyola's biggest game, scoring three goals and adding an assist in the Dons' 12-11 victory in the A Conference championship.

"Whenever we needed a spark, Joe gave that to us," fellow Loyola senior attackman Steele Stanwick said. "He does a lot of little things that people overlook. He gets a lot of ground balls and he's a great rider. He does a lot of things besides just scoring goals."

Jack Doyle, Gilman

You name it, and Doyle probably did it. The midfielder could score (37 goals), pass (25 assists), pick up ground balls (70) and also handle faceoffs. The Harvard-bound junior has 60 career goals, 29 assists and 114 total ground balls.

"He excelled in all phases of the game," Gilman coach Brooks Matthews said. "He's a combination of great talent, great work ethic and great competitive spirit that allowed him to have a successful year."

Doyle is The Sun's Player of the Year in Baltimore City. Many MIAA A Conference coaches called Doyle the best player on a team stacked with talent that finished the season 18-1.

Joey Ehrmann, Gilman

Ehrmann, a senior,was one of the area's top football players, and will attend Wake Forest on a full scholarship. He's no slouch with a lacrosse stick either, routinely matching up with the best player on opposing teams as a defender.

"I think Joey Ehrmann was t h e b e s t defenseman around," Gilman coach Brooks Matthews said. "Everyone talked about our offense, but a key factor was how much better our defense was. Joey was a significant factor."

Ehrmann, who had 60 ground balls, is an Under Armour All-American Selection. Matthews said that his improvement on the defensive end was a main reason for the team's near-perfect season.

Patrick Fanshaw, Calvert Hall

The junior played midfield and attack for the Cardinals, and was nearly unstoppable near the crease, totaling 51 goals and 13 assists. He also chipped in 72 ground balls. Fanshaw was lauded as a "finisher" by MIAA A Conference coaches, and proved it in the team's quarterfinal game against Archbishop Spalding, where he totaled a career-high seven goals in a 16-5 victory.

"He has a tremendous amount of heart and he never stops," Calvert Hall coach Bryan Kelly said. "He just has a knack for getting open, he's very creative with his stick and he can find the net."

Marcus Holman, Gilman

Referred to by MIAA coaches as "the quarterback" of Gilman's attack, the junior produced in all facets for the Greyhounds. He had 34 goals, 34 assists and 54 ground balls, bringing his career totals to 51, 47 and 86, respectively.

Opposing teams' top defenseman often matched up with Holman, who will attend North Carolina after he graduates.

"Marcus is as tenacious an attackman as I've ever seen," Greyhounds coach Brooks Matthews said. "Anything you ask him to do, he does it a million miles an hour."

Chris Lightner, Calvert Hall

Calvert Hall coach Bryan Kelly, a defenseman for North Carolina in the early '90's, called Lightner the most talented defender he has ever coached. The junior tallied 72 ground balls, marked the opposing team's top offensive player every game and still found time to score two goals and two assists. He played 15 games, missing the last four due to an ankle injury.

"He, in my mind, was the Ray Lewis of our defense," Kelly said. "Both from a physical standpoint and a mental standpoint. He's a leader vocally and just a dominant player."

Lightner has committed to Hopkins for lacrosse.

Sean Maguire, Calvert Hall

A number of MIAA A Conference coaches thought Maguire was the top player on a loaded Cardinals team. The Towson-bound senior was outstanding, scoring 52 goals with 23 assists and 45 ground balls.

Maguire did his damage while being watched by the opposing team's top defenseman every game. He scored a game-high four goals in his last high school game, a 10-9 defeat against eventual conference champion Loyola in the semifinals.

"He's a big strong kid and a great shooter that can beat you with speed and power to the goal," Cardinals coach Bryan Kelly said.

Jay Mann, Dulaney

Dulaney was filled with talented seniors this year, but Mann was the one that stood out the most. The 6-foot-4, Navy-bound midfielder had 34 goals and 27 assists for the Class 4A-3A champion Lions. Since making the varsity as a freshman, Mann has gotten better each season, and has career totals of 67 goals and 93 assists. Most Baltimore County coaches called Mann the most talented and versatile player in the county this season.

"He was kind of the heart and the soul of our team," Lions coach Jake Reed said. "He's a workhorse midfielder who never comes off the field, he has a great attitude and great leadership."

Mark Staines, Severn

Time and again, the senior showed his versatility. The 6-foot-5 defender moved to midfield when needed and scored four goals and dished out two assists. He was strong on ground balls, scooping 158, and also did occasional faceoffs.

"He'll do whatever it takes to put us in a position to win," Severn coach Brian Wood said. "The kids all look up to him, and whatever he does, he does it at a high level. He's all out all the time." Staines will attend North Carolina in the fall, the same school where his three older brothers, Ronnie, Billy and Ben played lacrosse.

Steele Stanwick, Loyola

Last year's All-Metro Player of the Year wanted one thing this season: for his team to repeat as MIAA A Conference champion. The Virginia-bound senior, who was nursing an injured right hand in the playoffs, led his team back against Calvert Hall in the semifinals, scoring the team's last three goals, including the game-winner in overtime.

He had a goal and two assists in the final, bringing his season totals to 39 goals and 31 assists, and his career totals to 123 goals and 108 assists. He is a member of the U-19 national team.

"When everyone's moving at 100 mph, Steele is always calm and collected, and I really admire that about him," fellow Loyola senior attackman Joe Cummings said. "He's probably one of the best lacrosse players I'll ever get to play with."

Related topic galleries: Under Armour Inc., Ohio State University, Values, Jake Reed, Ethics, Ray Lewis

• CUSTOMER SERVICE

• DRIVER - CDL

• DENTIST - GENERAL

• DIAGNOSTIC TECH

• CONSTRUCTION

• View all Top Jobs