Home is where he makes it

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Stephen Berger has spent the majority of his life in Maryland. He grew up here, went to high school at Mount St. Joseph and went on to attend Washington College.

After college Berger was sent to play out of state with the Long Island Lizards. He was the final selection of the 2004 Major League Lacrosse draft. For the first time he was forced to play on a home field outside of Maryland.

“Would I consider myself a Baltimoron? A little bit,” he said. “I love hanging around Baltimore. I love the city.”

When he is not firing shots from beyond the 2-point arc, Berger said he enjoys other Maryland activities.

“As long as I am doing something active. I love the outdoors,” he said. “Of course the beach is only an hour and a half away.”

Berger did not decide to find a house outside of Maryland. Instead he chose to make the 6-hour drive to Long Island every weekend for home games.

Since graduation the only extended time he has spent outside of the state has been with the Lizards.

For the first two years after commencement at Washington College, he was a graduate student and assistant head coach for the Shoremen. This summer he accepted an alumni relations position at Mount St. Joseph.

The distance has not prevented Berger from establishing relationships with his teammates or other players around the league.

“That’s how the league works, it’s how the game works,” he said. “You know so many people because you’ve played with all these people growing up.”

Whenever Berger plays games at Towson University’s Unitas Stadium it feels like a home game. Even though the stadium belongs to the Baltimore Bayhawks during summer weekends, Berger’s friends and family show up in large numbers to support the Baltimore boy.

“It’s a lot more comfortable here,” he said. “Playing here is just more fun.”

THE BERGER FILE

Height: 6-0

Position: Midfielder

Did you know? Berger is the second leading goal scorer on the Lizards with 11 including one 2-point goal... he scored five goals in a semi-final playoff game against the Boston Cannons in 2005.

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