Boys lacrosse is no longer a new sport at O'Fallon, but the Panthers do have a new head coach.
Kevin Finn takes over for Jim McIntyre, who guided the team since its inaugural season in 2008. McIntyre, who is in the Air Force, had to step down due to job commitments.
A native of Evanston, Finn played lacrosse at Loyola Academy and was a midfielder for three state championship teams. He started his collegiate career at Butler University and played there for a year-and-a-half, but left when the school discontinued its funding for a Division I program.
Finn transferred to Stony Brook University in New York, a perennial D-I power, but eventually transferred again and played his final two years for Salisbury University, a D-III school in Maryland with eight national titles. In his senior year in 2010, Salisbury posted a 21-2 record and lost in the national championship game.
After graduating, Finn moved back to Chicago and got a job working for True Lacrosse, a company that promotes the growth of the sport.
"It's comprised of professional players and former Division I players who have come together to teach the game," Finn said. "We put together camps, clinics, all-star games and get players exposed to college coaches and get them recruited to play out east, where they can hopefully have similar experiences to what I had.
"We realized there is kind of a void in the St. Louis area when it comes to lacrosse as far as camps and different things to get guys playing the sport. The company and I decided that I would move down here, and while we were making that decision, Jim McIntyre contacted us about the coaching vacancy and when I heard about it, I jumped at the opportunity."
This is the third varsity season for the Panthers, who played a junior varsity slate in 2008. Last year under McIntyre, the team was 14-6-1 and reached the quarterfinals of the Illinois High School Lacrosse Association Class B playoffs.
This year, O'Fallon took a 5-2 record into Tuesday's game at John Burroughs. After opening the season with losses to CBC and Chaminade, the Panthers defeated their next four opponents (Warren, Champaign Centennial, Fox and Webster Groves) by a combined score of 61-19. O'Fallon defeated Lemont 18-4 on Saturday.
"We don't plan on losing any more games for the rest of the season, which would mean winning the Illinois B division state championship," Finn said.
Three players in particular stood out for O'Fallon early in the season - seniors Brian Furrow (attack), Alex Consunji (a converted midfielder now playing attack) and Madison Booth (defense). They are team captains along with junior midfielder Ryan Morse and senior goalie Rob Williams.
"Madison Booth is like a second coach out there," Finn said. "He's always trying to teach the kids and make sure they're doing the right thing.
"Ryan Morse was a very good player last year and came back even more improved. We look for big things from him.
"For Rob Williams, this is his first year playing lacrosse, but he was a starting offensive lineman for the football team. The goalie position is not easy, but he comes to practice with a great attitude and his progression has been unreal."
Sophomore midfielder Jared Mintzlaff is a rising star for the Panthers.
"He's a similar player to Ryan Morse," Riddle said. "He has a great build for a midfielder - about 6-2 and 175 pounds. He works the ball from the defensive side to the offensive side and many times that ends in a goal for us."
O'Fallon was scheduled to play at John Burroughs after Journal press time Tuesday. The Panthers play Thursday at St. Louis University High.
"It's been a pleasure for me working with these guys," Finn said. "I haven't had any assistant coaches, so it's been quite a workload at times, but it's a very disciplined group. We have big expectations for this season as well as the years to come."
