They want redemption and nothing less.

The men’s lacrosse team hit the ground running this spring, hoping to reclaim the State championship title on June 1. This week, Indiana High School Association ranked the Irish third. 

Their record stands at 10-3, but their only losses are to out-of-state opponents. 

In the past four games, the Irish have outscored the opposition 66-12, with six of those goals belonging to Akron, Ohio’s Archbishop Hoban. The other three schools sit in the Top 20 in Indiana rankings. Outlasting Number-4 Guerin Catholic 16-3, Number-5 Zionsville 15-3 and Number-20 Brebeuf Jesuit 18-0, no in-state team has come even close to catching the boys.

Junior Jack Neidlinger, a Carmel transfer, leads the Irish in points. He said, “These games have been pretty big motivators. It shows how much potential we have for this season.”

Another junior, Liam McClure, an IndyStar Boys Lacrosse Athlete to Watch, added that the energy has been high on and off the field. He said, “I’m happy with the way the boys have been playing. We hope to carry this into (May 3) and the rest of the year.”

Their game on May 3 will show where they really stand. They face off against the second-ranked Hamilton Southeastern Royals on their home turf. This specific lacrosse rivalry seems to grow bigger and bigger each year.

Junior John Petruzzi’s favorite part is taking on and beating in-state teams. He said, “You play against people you know — your friends, your travel teammates, your old classmates. It’s the bragging rights.” Including McClure and Petruzzi, nine of the varsity team’s players went to HSE middle schools.

Cathedral won back-to-back State titles in 2016 and 2017, but fell just short last year of their third appearance. To HSE. 

Last season, the Royals sniped in a last second shot to win 12-11 during the regular season. Cathedral hoped to get them back in the post-season in Semistate, but on June 1, the result was the same.

Now the the team wants to even the score.

Senior Richie Krolewski said, “Lacrosse games against HSE never fail to deliver as one of the most high energy games of the season. It’s always great to beat an in-state rival, especially in front of a large student section, so pack the house.”

You heard him. Pack the house. May 3. 8 p.m. At Hamilton Southeastern.