As DeMatha's Ryan Kotowski scored a goal Tuesday against Severn and emerged from a pack of defenders awkwardly limping, DeMatha’s bench quickly grew silent.

Kotowski hobbled to the Stags sideline and let his boys lacrosse coach, Scott Pugh, know it was just a cramp in his calf. A sigh of relief whooshed from the bench and Kotowski was back on the field in less than a minute.

“I hate sitting on the sidelines,” said Kotowski, who scored three goals and notched an assist in DeMatha’s 14-3 win over Severn on Tuesday.

He’s done enough of it. After his team-high 71 points lead DeMatha to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title in 2006, Kotowski spent nearly all last season on crutches after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a preseason game.

Kotowski was relegated to being a captain and coach, attending every practice and game. But with him on crutches, DeMatha fell to St. Mary’s Ryken in the WCAC final, snapping the team’s eight-year title run.

“It was just brutal watching them and know I could help out,” Kotowski said. “It was horrible watching the championship game."

Throughout last season, Kotowski found comfort in his teammates, especially now fellow senior Mike Smail, whom after losses would tell Kotowski that the Stags would have won had Kotowski been on the field.

“I kept telling him, ‘We’ll have the boys back together again next year,’” Smail said.

“That just made me want to keep doing my rehab and get back,” Kotowski added.

Kotowski was worried that college coaches would be turned off by his injury, but as a testament to his sheer talent, Kotowski still signed with North Carolina before this season. At 6-foot-3 and as a natural left-hander, Kotowski is a rare, physical force with what Pugh described as the “hardest shot in high school lacrosse.”

“He’s our intimidator,” Pugh said. “He gives us a threat from the outside as well. He’s a key, key part of our offense and something we missed a great deal last season.”

Now the only sign of Kotowski’s injury is a black and white knee brace he wears on his right knee. He hates wearing it, he says, and has gradually practiced with it less throughout the season.

Kotowski already has 12 goals and eight assists on the season in just four games. He has given DeMatha (3-1) a more physical element to its offense, which last year relied on smaller, darting attackmen and midfielders such as Smail, senior Sean McKenna and midfielder Mike Rogers.

"It feels like a vacation to be back on the field," Kotowski said. "I'm back playing the sport I love. I couldn't feel better."

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