The Chicago Catholic League features some of the top lacrosse programs in the state such as Loyola Academy, Saint Ignatius, and St. Rita. However, with the combination of a strong group of upperclassmen and the arrival of new varsity head coach Matt Kelly, Mount Carmel is looking to join that tier.
Coach Kelly, a 2006 National Champion with the University of Virginia, was hired last summer when Mr. Matthew McGuire stepped down after several years at the helm. Coach Kelly has walked into a program that is already on its feet with a lot of talented players. Senior captains Zander Gorman, Peter Cruz, Jake Cozzie, and junior captain Ryland Supergeci are all experienced varsity players who have taken vital leadership roles this season. They have already started strong, picking up early wins against Immaculate Conception College Prep and St. Francis, but much work is to come for the team with several top-25 matchups throughout their spring season.
Following last season, the team was uncertain what program changes would happen, especially after Coach Kelly was hired. He was impressed, though, as soon as he stepped foot on 64th and Dante.
“I don’t even think I made it to [Athletic Director Mr. Phil] Segroves’s office before I knew I wanted to be here,” Coach Kelly said. “It’s an opportunity to shape a program in the way I’d like to. Now, I’ve been here for eight months and it’s everything that I’ve thought and more.”
While his experience within the sport is elite, working on the team’s skill set was not even his first priority. He has fully bought into MC and worked at building a lasting culture on the field.
“Some of these guys have been around a winning culture and some haven’t,” he said. “Nothing’s going to be handed to them. I told them every single day that their input equals their output.”
Just as Coach Kelly has already taken to the school, his players have the utmost respect for him.
“The connection he built with us and the foundation that he set for our season was [amazing],” Supergeci said. “It’s incredible what he’s done so far in such little time.”
Supergeci is considered one of the premiere players in his class for the state and is looking to lead in a big way this year. He has started varsity since his freshman year and is ready to implement what he has learned from past players.
“I am someone who the underclassmen can look up to for advice and tips within lacrosse,” he said. “We don’t go through anything alone, because on the field everybody is fighting for each other and nobody’s left behind.”
The team has not only grown closer with more chemistry, but they have quite literally grown in numbers. Lacrosse is now a sport that is drawing other athletes at MC to join.
“Coach Kelly would go to all the [freshman football] practices and recruit guys,” Supergeci said. “We have a record [number] around 45 kids in the program between JV and varsity.”
There has been an increase in freshman players in particular, whom Coach Kelly is very optimistic about mentoring over the next few years. While many kids are just simply getting interested for the sake of trying a new sport, it certainly does not hurt recruiting when professional lacrosse players want to train with the Caravan. Three-time Premier Lacrosse League all-star Sergio Perkovic practiced with the team a few weeks ago, and 2024 all-stars Nakeie Montgomery and Ryder Garnsey practiced at Barda-Dowling last week.
“I’ve never seen a faster shot in my life,” four-year varsity player and senior Ryan Clark said. “I started playing lacrosse freshman year, so I’ve never seen elite-level lacrosse like that in person. Guys like that are awesome for the program.”
The trio of professional players even went out of their way to come to MC just out of pure interest and excitement for the program.
“It was their idea, and Nakeie called me on Friday (March 21) and asked if he could shoot here,” Coach Kelly said. “They love being a part of watching what we’re building here, and there will be other guys that will be coming by, too.”
Since preseason workouts started back in the summer, the team has worked hard to put their name out there this season. With that, they are more motivated than ever to move forward.
“I get Sundays off, and every Sunday I watch an hour of film and spend an hour passing the ball off the wall to myself,” Clark said. “That kind of consistency to always show up and be prepared is what it takes to stay competitive.”
