Andrew Vitelli, The Examiner
2008-05-02 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

BALTIMORE -

Dulaney senior Cody Lehrer’s past two seasons haven’t come close to matching his freshman year, which ended with the team celebrating a dramatic victory over Severna Park to win the 4A/3A state title.

Last season, the Lions lost in the semifinals of the state tournament to Wootton of Montgomery County, a year after getting overwhelmed by Severna Park in the state final.

“Every year our goal is a state championship, and nothing else is acceptable,” Lehrer said. “Losing sucks all the time, and especially to come that close and not come away with it and feeling that we didn’t play our best games in the losses, that’s tough.”

Lehrer is doing his part to make sure the eighth-ranked Lions (11-2) don’t feel that way in a few weeks, as he’s emerged as the team’s leading scorer after moving from midfield.

“He’s doing a great job,” Dulaney coach Jake Reed said. “It was an unselfish move by Cody.”

The Lions’ biggest loss of the season came in a win over Eastern Tech on April 22. Notre Dame-bound midfielder Eric Keppeler, a senior captain, went down with a hamstring injury and has not returned to the field. The Lions hope Keppeler will be able to play in the state tournament, but his absence has forced his teammates — specifically senior midfielder Jay Mann — to increase their roles.

“Anytime one of our players goes down it’s rough,” said Lehrer, who will play for Mount St. Mary’s next year. “With Eric being a captain, it’s a tough loss. But I think we have plenty of talent, we’ve got a lot of depth and people will step up and make up for it.”

Keppeler will not play on Saturday, when the Lions host Towson (7-3) at 4 p.m. in a game where the winner advances to next week’s Baltimore County championship game against Hereford or Catonsville.

The Lions believe in many ways their team is better than the one that fell two wins shy of a state title last year. Dulaney has won 10 of its past 11 games since suffering a 14-9 loss to Boys’ Latin on March 27. The Lions, who rebounded from an 8-7 loss to Urbana of Frederick County last week by posting a 21-9 win over Perry Hall this past Tuesday, have held the opposition to an average of just 5.6 goals per game behind a stout defense led by senior goalie Alex Williamson. The Lions average 12 goals per game offensively.

“I think we’re a lot tighter knit this year,” said Mann, who will play at the Naval Academy Prep School next year. “A lot of guys have stepped up and continue to step up. When we get Eric back, it’s going to be awesome.”

But to Dulaney’s players, there are no excuses for not winning a state title, which would add another chapter to the school’s storied history. The Lions’ seven titles are at least three more than any team in the state, and Dulaney has advanced to the state tournament in each of the past 13 years — the longest streak in the event’s 18 year history.

“A state title would mean everything,” Lehrer said. “Starting out with one as a freshman, going through all the trials and tribulations sophomore and junior year, and then ending with a championship senior year would be awesome.”

avitelli@baltimoreexaminer.com