DeMatha Lacrosse Announces Spring Trip to California.

HYATTSVILLE, Md. -- The DeMatha Catholic High School Lacrosse team announced today the details of its annual spring trip. This year the Stags will visit California to take on three of the state's top ranked teams in the first annual Adrenaline Lacrosse - So Cal Lax Jamboree from March 10-12.

This will be the first trip to the west coast for the DeMatha program as it looks to challenge the rapidly rising national-caliber talent of one of the emerging hotbeds of lacrosse in Southern California. "The opportunity to bring our DeMatha team out to San Diego is really special, and I could not be more excited about the line up of teams we are scheduled to play," said DeMatha Head Coach Scott Pugh. "The growth of quality lacrosse in Southern California is undeniable. Top Division I recruits are coming out of this area every year, and we know we will have our hands full with some very challenging competition. We pride ourselves in playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, and these games should be a real test for our kids."

While in California, the Stags will face LaCosta Canyon of Carlsbad, St. Margaret's of San Juan Capistrano, and Coronado of San Diego, pre-season ranked #4, 7, and 8 in the state, respectively, by www.WestSideLax.com.

Coronado Head Coach Alex Cade said, "We are honored and excited to have a team of DeMatha's caliber come to play on our Island. As a former IAC player, I am aware of the high level of play a team like DeMatha brings to the table. Having a team from the old stomping grounds is truly a pleasure and puts a special twist on this event." Cade's Coronado team has won seven straight San Diego City league titles and has appeared in the California CIF final four on five occasions.

Dallas Hartley's LaCosta Canyon team is coming off an 18-5 record in 2006 with three of those losses from its trip to Maryland last year. LaCosta Canyon is the reigning San Diego North County Conference and San Diego CIF Champions. The Tartans of St. Margaret's are coming off a 15-3 season, with one of its 2006 losses from a Maryland team as well.

DeMatha (http://www.dematha.org/) was recently recognized by Sports Illustrated Magazine as the #2 High School athletic program in the country behind only Long Beach, CA Poly. The lacrosse team has raised over $20,000 for the trip through fundraising efforts such as its annual fall orange sale, spring mulch sale, and through ad sales in its GAME DAY program.

About DeMatha Lacrosse

One of the top teams in the Washington, DC area every year, DeMatha has won eight straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championships. Recent alums include college All-Americans Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins), Ben Love (Roanoke, San Francisco Dragons of MLL), Steve Looney (US Naval Academy, San Francisco Dragons of MLL), and Billy Looney (US Naval Academy). The team returns seven starters from last year's squad that finished (11-7). Led by juniors Mike Rogers, Mike Smail, Ryan Kotowski and senior Captain Mike Schwab (committed to Mount St. Mary's); the team is once again expected to contend for the WCAC crown and national recognition. For information please visit www.demathalacrosse.com.