From The Sun’s Stefen Lovelace:

The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) A conference is already established as one of the premier leagues in the country in boys’ lacrosse. Schools like Boys’ Latin, Loyola and Gilman are household names when it comes to the nation’s best.

But Archbishop Spalding first-year coach Zach Burke hopes his team can generate some discussion this season as a top MIAA team. So far the Cavaliers have proven they have some legitimate talent, starting the season 4-0.

"What we lack in lacrosse IQ we make up in athleticism," Burke said. "Our guys have been playing the game since they were four. We don’t have anyone less than 6-foot or less than 180 pounds. We’ve been dominating teams now, but until we get that IQ it doesn’t matter how good of athletes we are."

Spalding already has won all of their non-conference games in convincing fashion. They’ve beat River Hill 14-4, Broadneck 9-0 and St. Charles of Columbus, Ohio, 16-3.

You’d think the lopsided victories would please a coach, but Burke knows that they mean little when compared to league play. If anything, the results have been disappointing.

"They’re not getting us ready at all," Burke said of the non-conference schedule. "Right now I don’t know where we stand. We beat a couple of teams we should have and we didn’t win some games as well as I thought we would. I’m not happy with any of it."

Still, Burke concedes his team is making progress.

"We’re taking baby steps," Burke said. "Our goal is to be a little bit better every day. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t."

The Cavaliers open up league play Friday at No. 4 St. Mary’s.