Stewart Johnson
It’s anything but a walk in the park when opponents play the Southlake Carroll boys lacrosse team. It’s more like trying to turn left on Southlake Boulevard during rush hour. Dragon defenders will come at you, and they’ll come hard.
Carroll’s gritty approach makes getting to the goal a formidable task and has spelled success in each of Dragons head coach Bruce Frady’s first two seasons at the helm.
“Our program is built to be one of the best defenses around,” says Frady, whose team held opponents to 5.8 goals per game in 10 games this season. “We thrive on playing tough and fast, and we want to have the mentality that when you play us, we’re going to come to battle.”
Players like senior goalie and captain Nick Wright, a Texas A&M commit, is a big reason for Carroll’s dominant defense. Like quarterbacks in football, goalies set the tone for the team, and Wright did just that. Junior defender Conor Spagnolli is also a captain, providing lockdown coverage when on the field. Senior midfielder John Manero plays both sides of the field and will take his talent to West Point this fall.
With 10 seniors and a trip three rounds deep into the playoffs in 2019, the Dragons used experience to their advantage all season long.
“What they’ve accomplished over the last couple seasons will have a huge impact for years to come,” Frady says.
SEASON RECAP
Following an impressive 2019 season in which Carroll went 14-6, reached the state tournament and beat area juggernaut Dallas St. Mark’s, the Dragons appeared ready to carry their momentum into this spring’s schedule.
Carroll looked sharp, holding opposing offenses in check and providing scoring at key times to go 7-3 before the season wrapped. The Dragons did not begin league play before competition was halted in March. But before this season was over, Carroll defeated three teams ranked in the top 25 in the state in 2019, including St. Mark’s once again.
“For years, private schools have had the advantage, but we’re quickly closing the gap in parity,” Frady says.
The Dragons didn’t have a chance to prove that point further, as contests against the Episcopal School of Dallas and Dallas Jesuit were scheduled later in the season. Even though Carroll won’t compete any further this spring, Frady and his players are hopeful they will have another chance to take the field before the graduating class moves on.
“The hope is that we can get things going with a summer lacrosse league,” he says.
’20 Roster
Head Coach: Bruce Frady
Assistant Coaches: Joe Gillis, Mike Jaeger, Zach Price
2 Grant Deno Sr.
3 Andrew Dumbleton So.
4 Michael Olaleye Sr.
5 Brendan O’Rourke Sr.
6 John IV Smart So.
8 Matthew Bryant So.
9 Austin Baldwin Fr.
10 Cody Forman Jr.
11 Conor Spagnolli Sr.
12 Jacob Donfris Sr.
13 Jackson Coniglio Jr.
21 Kannon Kadi Sr.
22 Jack Manero Fr.
23 Jake Nolan Sr.
28 Grant Doby Fr.
31 Hunter Holden Jr.
32 Bailey Phillips Jr.
33 JT Ross Sr.
38 Jonathan Cox Fr.
42 John Manero Sr.
44 Jonah Doddridge Sr.
45 Nicholas Wright Sr.
52 Everett Potter Jr.
65 Jacob Coniglio Fr.
70 Danny Sommerhalder Sr.
77 Ryan Hinds Jr.