E.C. Glass, seeking first state lacrosse title, is enjoying "the best times"

“We emphasize family stuff,” said Eddie Ranuska, the 29-year-old wrapping up his eighth season as head coach and 11th overall in the midtown program. “In all the years I’ve been here, we always emphasize family and that these are the best times of your life.”

That was clear when Glass (20-0) won its Class 4 state semifinal matchup Tuesday at Midlothian. Glass fans showed up in droves. Former players and their family members were there, too.

They watched a team unparalleled since Glass fielded its first boys lacrosse team in 2004.

“Even once you graduate from here,” Ranuska added, “you know you still have E.C. Glass lacrosse, you always have me. We’ll always be connected in some type of way.”

The current players are connected, too. Many of them have been playing together since they were kids, courtesy of Blue Ridge Lacrosse Club. They played for Ranuska back then, too.

“Ten years ago, these juniors and seniors were 7- and 8-year-olds in my [summer] clinics,” the coach said.

My, how they’ve progressed. The Glass defense enters Saturday’s 1 p.m. Class 4 finals versus Dominion at Salem High School allowing just 3.90 goals per game. The ‘Toppers feature one of the best defenders in the state in junior Jeremy Johnson, a stalwart goalie in Neal Shabestar, a strong midfielder in junior Matt Gallagher — who has won 80 percent of his faceoff attempts this season — and scorers like Wyatt Hamilton and Will Carrington.

The Glass defense hasn’t allowed more than four goals in a single game since April 25, when it played Virginia Episcopal.

“I think it’s depth and communication,” Johnson said, “and Neal. He’s made some great saves when the defense has broken down.”

Gallagher had success against Dominion in the past. He took the majority of faceoffs when the teams met April 14, and Glass won 18-10.

“Hopefully that leads to a win this weekend,” Gallagher said.

This group makes lacrosse look fun, but things weren’t always this easy. When Brad Barth (now an assistant) began the program in ’04 after starting Blue Ridge in ’02, it was slow going.

It took Glass almost two seasons to notch its first win. Then things started to shift. Glass hasn’t had a losing season since its third year of existence. The rise of lacrosse was evident to Barth on Tuesday.

“That game the other night was the best I’ve ever seen in all the years of Glass lacrosse,” he said. “The best ever.”

Ranuska won a region title in 2011, his first year as head coach. He celebrated another late last month.

“It used to be 0 and 12 seasons,” Ranuska said. “Now we’re looking at our first undefeated regular season, another regional championship and potentially winning the state championship. It’s pretty unbelievable.”