Written by Bella Wise

With a strong 6-3 record and steady leadership from Captains Blake Jachman ‘25, James Murphy ‘25, Milin Torgalkar ‘26, and Ari Israel ‘25, the Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse team is off to a great start. 

The season kicked off with the spring training trip to IMG Academy in Florida, where the team practiced three times a day, watched lacrosse film, and bonded with each other on and off the field. It also presented an opportunity to figure out who could handle the Florida heat and who packed enough socks for the week (spoiler: not everyone). According to Captain Torgalkar, the trip was a turning point. “We lost a lot of our offense last year, so it was a challenge to implement new plays with an almost entirely new attacking unit,” he said. “But it forced us to come together early and quickly.”

Due to injuries, several players have had to change positions and step into new roles. Captain Murphy, who typically plays midfield but has been filling in on long pole defense due to roster constraints, added, “Communication and leadership have been especially important this year. With fewer players, we all need to be adaptable and support each other.”

While the team’s chemistry has been crucial, standout individual performances have been a huge asset. In the past three games, Joe Rafferty ‘26 has obtained 18 goals and 3 assists, and Captain Torgalkar has also added 11 goals and 3 assists. On the defensive side, goalie Sebastian Rafferty ‘27 has been a brick wall in the cage, averaging 9 saves per game.

One early highlight was a comeback win against Long Island Lutheran, where the Wildcats went into halftime down 8-4 and shifted their play and energy to win 15-3. That game also featured first varsity goals from underclassmen Shane Gillies ‘28 and Stasiu Klingenstein ‘29. 

This is Head Coach Tim Powell’s third year coaching boys’ lacrosse at RCDS, and he brings his own lacrosse experience and a “don’t sweat the small stuff” coaching style. Coach Powell focuses on developing mental toughness as much as any physical skill. “We’re entering the heart of our schedule, and we’ve got to be locked in,” he reflected. “It’s easy to get distracted by who beats who or play the math game – but the triangle never adds up. We just need to stay mentally tough and pull together for one goal.” Coach Powell also emphasizes the importance of letting his players be themselves. “Every team is different, and I don’t want it to feel like a boot camp,” he said. “I show interest in what they care about – this year it’s apparently the Minecraft movie – and I let the upperclassmen lead by example.”

Offensively, the strategy is about using Army commit J. Rafferty to draw defensive attention, and then get the ball to the backside players for a shot. Defensively, the focus is adaptability and stickwork. “Stickwork is the foundation of the game. If we can’t catch and throw, we can’t compete,” Coach Powell said.

Despite the strong record, the team knows their biggest challenges lie ahead. Captain Torgalkar noted that although RCDS’s record is strong, “some of our wins have come against weaker teams, and our real test will be against top-tier opponents like Hackley and Fieldston.” The Wildcats are particularly honing in on Hackley, as the team has yet to beat them.

Looking ahead, the team’s goals remain high: making the playoffs, winning NYSAIS, and according to Captain Jachman, officially instating “Tralelero Tralala” as the team’s mascot.