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‘Leave No Doubt’: Veteran Boys Lacrosse Team Eyes Championship Run

 

Fox Chapel and Central Catholic players compete during a high school lacrosse game.

There is a very simple motto for the boys lacrosse team this season at Fox Chapel Area High School – Leave No Doubt.

That’s exactly what the 2026 Foxes hope to do. 

“At the end of the year, we have to make sure there is no doubt how good this team can be,” said coach Jordon Hodder.  

There is no doubt that many of the players on this team have grown under coach Hodder, who is in his fourth year as head coach. 

“We’re working on things that we’ve always done,” coach Hodder said. “We can really find the details rather than trying to find the basics of things. The first couple of years were piecing it together and trying to figure out who we've got, using the guys we had previously. Now, it's all of the guys that have been doing the same things, the same concepts, the same principles for the last four years. It’s just working on the details and allowing them to just play as a team, rather than just a couple of good individuals. We can use all of the talent and use everyone that we have.”

Some of that talent includes junior Tucker Cullen, who already has committed to Cleveland State University, making him Hodder’s first Division I recruit. Cullen has paced the Foxes in scoring each of the last two seasons.

 “He’s been able to put the hard work in and get to where he wants to get to,” coach Hodder said.  

Other players who are expected to lead the offense include seniors Brady Matthews, a Seton Hill recruit, and Griffin McCaffrey.

“He’s going to be a big factor for us,” coach Hodder said about Griffin McCaffrey. “He’s about 6’5” now. He’s continued to grow. He’s a big athletic dude and a problem to defend for others.” 

Another offensive stalwart is expected to be junior Dom Rothmeyer, a Point Park recruit, who coach Hodder referred to as a “good, sneaky little guy.”

Fox Chapel Area boys lacrosse goalie and defenders assume defensive stances on the field.

Backstopping the defense will be senior goalkeeper Jacob Amster, the player coach Hodder refers to as the team’s linchpin. 

“We’re going to be in a lot of games because of him,” coach Hodder said. “He’s going to be an it factor for us and somebody who will give us a chance to win, even if it’s a sloppy, slow game, and we’re not figuring it out on offense. We have all of the confidence that he’s going to help us, he’s going to keep us alive in games, give us a chance.”

 Other key defenders are expected to be seniors Sam Troutman and Anderson Dockey. 

The Foxes reside in quite the tough section, WPIAL Class 3A Section 2, with Butler Area, North Hills, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, and Shady Side Academy.

But coach Hodder feels this is a Foxes team that can go far this season. It’s all up to them.      

“We have a good group of guys,” said the coach. “They were my first group of guys as freshmen, now they’re seniors. They really have everything out in front of them. I think they have the talent to go and try to compete for a championship if they want to and if they put their mind to it. I think we can be in that conversation by the end of the year. They have to work at it, but it’s an opportunity, for sure.”