When three sets of siblings play on the same team, there’s sure to be some lively moments of brotherly love – and some fierce competitiveness, too. In fact, the Foxes boys lacrosse team has a history of players sharing the same DNA, and this year is no different. The McCaffrey, Troutman, and Goehring brothers are all passing the torch from generation to generation, yet they each have distinctive dynamics and singularly unique personalities.
The McCaffreys
Senior lefty Dylan McCaffrey has been a key defensive presence on the team since his sophomore year, and younger brother Griffin, a junior, rotates between attacker and the midfield. Leaders on both sides of the field, Dylan has caused 16 turnovers so far this season. Griffin leads the team in assists and ranks third in points.
One difference between the two brothers is how they lead the team. Dylan says he tends to talk more and hype up his teammates, while Griffin takes a more hands-on approach by walking players through a difficult situation.
The brothers share a close, supportive bond that pushes them to improve, but they are also extremely competitive with each other, and in general.
“I think the most important thing I have taught my brother is not to get so down on himself for missing a shot or turning the ball over,” Dylan says, also noting that Griffin has taught him to be more confident when he’s clearing the ball up field.
Their father, Chip, is a well-known presence in the stands, famous for his vocal support. A former lacrosse player himself, he was part of the Fox Chapel Area High School inaugural team in 1990.
“He tells us to have a ‘goldfish mentality,’ ” says Dylan. “It means if you mess up once or twice just forget about it and move on to the next play. One of his favorite things to yell is, ‘Wake up!’”
Third-year coach Jordon Hodder acknowledges the brothers are “extremely competitive,” and their one-on-one matchups with each other in practice can get “intense and chippy.”
When it comes to games, with Dylan on defense and Griffin on offense, they share a common tenacity on the field.
“Dylan and Griffin are our backbone,” says the coach. “They are hard core players and have helped us defeat some very good teams this season.”
The Troutmans
Junior Sam Troutman, a three-year varsity starter, is the older brother of twin freshmen Luke and Thomas (Toby). The Troutmans also come from lacrosse legacy. Their father, Scott, was a two-way midfielder for the Foxes from 1993-1996.
Sam is a long-stick midfielder and currently leads the team in turnovers with 23. He ranks second in ground balls. He’s the kind of person who values humility and has sought to pass that trait along to his siblings.
“As freshmen, it is usually their duty to do some things that aren’t the most fun, but doing these tasks without putting up a fight and being humble will not only help them gain the respect of their teammates, but also their coaches. When I was a freshman, I was nervous before the season started, and I didn’t have anyone to tell me what the practices looked like or what went on at them. I know I would have appreciated having someone who had been through a couple of seasons before I started my freshman year. I think they do appreciate the help I give them, even though they don’t say it out loud.”
Coach Hodder adds, “Sam is even a little too humble, but he is well-respected and leads by example. His brothers are learning from him. Luke and Toby are on JV this year to gain some experience. I believe Toby can make an impact for us next season, but due to Luke being sidelined with an injury for almost the entire season, he will have some catching up to do in the offseason. But all three Troutmans are some of our hardest workers in practices and games. In that aspect, they are very similar.”
The Goehrings
Trip and Spencer Goehring have many similarities, perhaps more than their differences. They bring a gritty, competitive edge to the team, shaped in part by their background as high-achieving ice hockey players.
However, in what would seem like a contradiction, coach Hodder says, “Trip and Spencer are very laid-back kids, but are grinders and tough. What they might lack in size, they make up for in solid playing and high energy. Trip is very vocal with his communication to the defense, but off the field he likes to have fun and keeps the locker room loose.”
A three-year varsity player, Trip returned this year after suffering a season-ending injury. It gave him new appreciation for the game, something he’s been able to pass down to Spencer, a junior.
“It was very hard to have to sit out all of last year, but it made this year in both sports so much more fun,” says Trip. “Something I learned was to really try and enjoy my senior year playing both sports with my brother on both teams. I think Spencer learned from watching me go through that you need to make everything count because you don’t when or if it will go away.”
In addition to lacrosse, the brothers’ experiences playing ice hockey have contributed to their closeness and brought them closer together. The Foxes hockey team had a very successful season, finishing as the Penguins Cup Class 2A runner-up.
“We always have something to talk about,” quips Trip.
Respect and Praise for Teammates
In his typical humble manner, Sam praises the other sibling pairs for their roles in the field.
“The McCaffreys and Goehrings have been huge contributors to the team’s success so far this season, especially on defense,” Sam says. “Dylan and Trip make up one of the best defenses in the WPIAL. Not many players can beat them in a settled, 6 v 6 offense (as opposed to transition). They also bring great leadership to us as a young team that previously lost a huge senior class. Without them, it would be much harder to be in the position where we are right now heading into the playoffs.
“On the offensive side, both Griff and Spencer also are key contributors. They have progressed immensely since their freshmen years and have scored multiple goals for us so far this season. I’ve been playing with all these guys for almost 10 years now, and they also bring a sense of comfort, familiarity, and team chemistry going into every game.”
Preparing for a Season-Ending Surge
The Foxes are currently projected to be the fourth playoff qualifier in WPIAL Class 3A Section 2, but the final spot and then playoff seeding may come down to their final section game.
“We’re on the right track,” says coach Hodder, who has taken each of his teams to the playoffs during his three-year tenure. “We beat four out of the five of the best teams in 3A, so hopefully we can wrap up the regular season by at least getting the fourth seed, or maybe higher.”