The sting of last season's playoff exit still lingers for the Dexter boys lacrosse team—and they wouldn't have it any other way.
After a humbling 20-7 loss to East Grand Rapids in the regional round of the 2023 postseason, the Dreadnaughts entered this spring with a chip on their shoulder that has only grown larger with each win. That motivation has fueled a dominant 14-1 campaign, positioning head coach Justin Mambro's squad as one of the clear favorites in Division 2.
"We knew we were ready to compete because we had played East Grand Rapids last year, who won the Division 2 state championship," Mambro said. "They were just that strong, but our kids weren't intimidated. And coming into this year, it's like they had that chip on their shoulder because they knew that on a different day, it could have gone our way."
Rather than deflating the program, that lopsided loss to the eventual state champions became the fuel for a season-long resurgence. The Dreadnaughts have responded with a balanced attack and a defense that has suffocated opponents all year.
Much of that defensive success starts between the pipes. Mambro describes his goalie situation as a "1a and 1b" setup—a luxury most teams can only dream of. Senior Jeremy Schroeder brings veteran leadership and poise, while sophomore Spencer Kinnard matches that talent with years of development still ahead of him.
"I'm honestly loving how we're limiting teams," Mambro said. "In terms of goal differential, it's been a huge difference maker. We've probably kept teams to under five goals probably in 85% of the games we've played this year and honestly, it has everything to do with us having two starting-caliber goalies that we've never really had."
The numbers back him up. Dexter has racked up 182 total points scored while consistently holding opponents to single digits—a formula that travels well in the postseason.
What makes this year's run even more impressive is the chemistry that's been years in the making. With a roster largely intact from previous seasons, the Dreadnaughts entered 2024 knowing exactly what they had.
"This year, we kind of knew what we had," Mambro added. "These kids have been playing together for a while, since youth, and that's the thing. It's been a build for us. If you look over the last three years probably, we have built to this season, so coming into this year we knew we had a strong team."
As the playoffs approach, Dexter carries that same confidence—and that same chip—into every game. Last year's lesson has become this year's edge.