Rhino Select Players Mentioned in IL
Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pmLax Invitational Recruiting Notes
By James Fitzpatrick
Edgewater, Md. - The Sixth University of Maryland National Fall Invitational Tournament was held on Saturday November 7th and Sunday November 8th at South River High School, near Annapolis, Md. At 70 degrees and sunny, Sunday’s weather made players forget about a chilly Saturday afternoon. The two-day event attracted thirty-six teams from twenty-seven programs. In addition to those from traditional hotbeds (Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia), players came from as far as Canada, Kentucky, Florida, Oregon, Arizona, California, Washington, and Texas to compete.
Ryan Moran, an assistant coach at Maryland, organized the tournament. A former USILA All-American, Moran graduated from Maryland in 2003. Moran is entering his second season as a member of the Terps’ coaching staff.
Over 120 coaches lined the sidelines to take in the action. Some of the game’s biggest names made appearances, including Don Zimmerman, Richie Meade, Joe Breschi, Brian Voelker, Dave Pietramala, Dave Urick, Dave Cottle and Dom Starsia.
After missing Saturday’s games, the tournament’s staff and parents offered some insight on the day’s events. The majority consensus was that Edge Canada fielded two of the tournament’s most impressive teams. As expected, Edge Canada’s junior and senior squads possessed excellent stick work and team cohesion. Set plays and impressive stick work made up for a lack of athleticism and physicality. Dukes, out of Pennsylvania, and all four West Coast Starz squads were also impressive. In fact, numerous parents and staff members commented on West Coast Starz Green Team and Red Team. Sophomore Midfielder Jack Cruzan (Cathedral Catholic, Calif.), sophomore defenseman Sam Leggett (Bellevue, Wash.), sophomore attackman Sean Doyle (Torrey Pines, Calif.) and sophomore goalie O’Neil Hughes (Issaquah, Wash.) all left positive impressions on spectators. West Coast Starz Red Team junior attackman Camercon Parker (Bainbridge, Wash.) and junior midfielder Tom Farrell (Mira Costa, Calif.) also impressed.
On Sunday, multiple teams and players impressed. The Maryland-based Propel Lacrosse Club was the most impressive team that I witnessed. Meanwhile, the Maryland-based Snappers Black was the biggest surprise of the day. Coached by former Maryland midfielder Will Dalton, Snappers Black routinely challenged opponents throughout the day. The squad showed excellent athleticism and organization. As the team continues working together, it will be exciting to watch over the next few summers.
All four West Coast Starz teams impressed.
Oregon Rhinos vs. Snappers Black
The Oregon Rhinos contained sophomore, juniors and seniors from the Portland area. Snappers Black contained mostly sophomores from the Davidsonville, Md. area.
Snappers junior goalie Alex Hrycak (Gaithersburg, Md.) had tons of big stops.
Snappers sophomore attackman Hayden Cook (Davidsonville, Md.) impressed with his ability to find the open man.
Snappers sophomore midfielder Bobby Bigelow (Dunkirk, Md.) showcased his athleticism and speed. Additionally, Bigelow proved that he can create from up top.
Predator Lacrosse Club vs. Chesapeake Rock
I caught the second half of this game. Maryland-based Chesapeake Rock was comprised of juniors and seniors. Predator Lacrosse Club contained mostly juniors and some seniors around the Annapolis, Md. area.
Chesapeake Rock junior midfielder Darion Meador (Westminster, Md.) ruled the face-off X. Meador also displayed good stick work and impressive athleticism.
Chesapeake Rock junior midfielder Tighe Harrison (Ellicott City, Md.) showed some promise initiating from up top. A quick midfielder, Harrison has good vision.
Chesapeake Rock junior midfielder Carter Treuchet (Finksburg, Md.) displayed impressive ability to create and dish from up top.
Chesapeake Rock junior defenseman Corey Schwab (Highland, Md.) is a physical defenseman with a good stick.
Oregon Rhinos vs. Virginia Lacrosse Club
I caught the first half of this game. The Oregon Rhinos contained sophomore, juniors and seniors from the Portland area. Based out of Great Falls, Virginia Lacrosse Club contained sophomores, juniors and seniors.
Virginia Lacrosse Club fielded an impressive trio of senior attackmen in Gordon Bailey (Madison, Va.), Connor Ruddy (Robinson, Va.), and Andrew Senft (Robert E. Lee, Va.). Bailey scored the goal of the day: after driving hard right-handed from below GLE, Bailey got a step on his defenseman a stuck a behind the back shot top corner while diving around the crease. Ruddy, a strong right-handed finisher, initiated the game’s scoring. Senft is a quick and shifty attackman who initiated from X. Senft displayed good field awareness during unsettled situations. Unfortunately, his size (or lack thereof) seems to deter him from turning the corner.
Virginia Lacrosse Club senior defenseman Sean Meacham (WT Woodson, Va.) impressed with his stickwork. An excellent clearer who was extremely comfortable with the ball in his stick, Meacham has an offensive mindset when he is in the offensive end. Unfortunately, nobody challenged Meacham one-on-one on the defensive end.
Rhino senior goalie John Regan (Portland, Ore.) was a good clearer and got the ball out of his stick quickly.
Rhino sophomore attackman Martin Winter (Lake Oswego, Ore.) impressed with his finishing ability and field awareness.
Rhinos senior midfielder Henry Schoonmaker (Portland, Ore.) faced-off and ran offensive midfield.
Blue Grass Bats vs. Madlax
I caught the second half of this game. The Blue Grass Bats consisted of mostly juniors from Kentucky. Meanwhile, Madlax possessed mostly juniors from the Washington, D.C. area. This game was faster and more up tempo than the day’s previous games. Both teams hustled up and down the field. The Blue Grass Bats ultimately prevailed in overtime.
The Blue Grass Bats senior attackman Zach Connors (Trinity, Ky.) is a very good righty who can catch and finish. Blue Grass Bats senior attackman Chris Kelly (Lexington Lafayette, Ky.) also impressed with a pair of goals. Kelly routinely found himself in the right position to capitalize on unsettled situations.
Blue Grass Bats junior goalie Ryan U’Sellis (St. Xavier, Ky.) made a ton of big stops throughout the second half. In addition to making a huge stop in overtime, U’Sellis ran out two different shots while down a man to regain possession for his team in overtime.
Blue Grass Bats junior midfielder Matt Herner (Trinity, Ky.) stuck the game winning goal during an extra man set.
Madlax junior attackman Sean Holliday (Gaithersburg, Md.) is a quick, shifty right handed who can finish.
Madlax senior midfielder J.C. Louis-Charles (Lorton, Va.) impressed with his athleticism. Louis-Charles displayed great speed while clearing the ball for Madlax. Additionally, Louis-Charles displayed capable stickwork when he scored off a right-handed bounce shot.
Madlax junior midfielder Paul Hummer (Stafford, Va.) displayed a ton of confidence in his right-handed cannon.
Belax Select Elite vs. Propel Lacrosse Club
I caught the first half of this game. The Maryland-based Propel Lacrosse Club was the most impressive team that I saw all day. No other team could match Propel’s energy, athleticism, and aggression. Meanwhile, Belax Elite Select contained juniors and seniors from a variety of Maryland schools, both public and private.
The Maryland-bound senior attackman Brian Cooper (Spalding, Md.) was the most impressive player on the field on Sunday. Versatile and athletic, Cooper was an absolute animal who was all over the field the entire first half. In addition to posting at least two goals, Cooper dished out at least two assists, including a pretty back door feed to senior attackman Billy Binder (Spalding, Md.). Cooper is the younger brother of current Maryland midfielder Kevin Cooper.
Binder also had an extremely impressive afternoon. In addition to displaying his ability to finish in traffic, Binder showed that he was not afraid to turn the corner when creating from X.
Propel junior midfielder Johhny Lucente (Spalding, Md.) impressed at the face-off X.
BeLax senior midfielder Richard Hunt (Catonsville, Md.) scored a nice goal off a hard, right-handed shot from up top. BeLax senior attackman Alexander Hutchison (Huntingtown, Md.) proved to be a strong inside finisher.
Belax Elite vs. Blackwolf
I caught the second half of this game. Blackwolf contained freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors from the northern Virginia and southern Maryland region. Belax Elite was comprised of mostly sophomores, with some juniors and seniors from Maryland.
With the exception of his size, Blackwolf freshman attackman Dylan Maltz (Stone Bridge, Va.) looked like anything but a freshman. Maltz dominated the second half. He proved that he could catch and finish on the inside on at least three different occasions. Also a savvy feeder, Maltz initiated multiple scoring chances from behind the net. Despite his size, he was not afraid to turn the corner and draw the slide.
Blackwolf Junior attackman Ryan Madigan (Broad Run, Va.) also proved capable of creating from behind the net when he set up Syracuse-bound senior attackman Derek Maltz (Stone Bridge, Va.) for a pretty backdoor goal. Blackwolf junior attackman Brendan Durkin (Good Counsel, Md.) also impressed. Durkin’s older brother Shane played midfielder at Navy.
Blackwolf junior Nick Gorman (Good Counsel, Md.) displayed impressive athleticism with his ability to get up and down the field.
Long Island Express South vs. Tri-State Gold
I caught the first half of this game. With the exception of junior goalie Ethan Kibrick, Tri-State Gold was comprised of sophomores from some of New Jersey’s best programs. Long Island Express South contained current freshman from some of New York’s biggest powers. In the twenty minutes that I watched, Tri-State dominated play. Tri-State displayed its athleticism and confidence, while the Long Island Express South looked and played like freshmen. As a result, many more Tri-State players stood out.
Tri-State goalie Kibrick (Peddie School, N.J.) made a series of nice saves, including one to stuff a fastbreak. Kibrick’s clearing ability was also impressive, as he repeatedly found open middies and got the ball out of his stick quickly.
Tri-State also fielded an impressive trio of sophomores on attack. Jack Allard (Ridgewood, N.J.), Robert Orazietti (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) and Sean Donnelly (Delbarton, N.J.) displayed impressive ball movement in both settled and unsettled situations. All three proved to be effective feeders and finishers. Orazietti, a strong left-handed finisher, was the most impressive of the three.
Tri-States Midfielders Alex Martinelli (Moorestown, N.J.), Tom O’Niel (St. Augustine Prep, N.J.), and Brendan Maguire (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) also impressed. Armed with a strong left-handed shot, Martinelli showcased his ability to initiate and score from up top. Meanwhile, O’Neil, an athletic middie with good field vision, showed his ability to spark transition and put players in scoring positions.
Finally, Tri-State LSM Nick Fonte (Christian Brothers Academy, N.J.) made a ton of plays. Fonte possesses an excellent stick and has a knack for grabbing loose balls.
Long Island Express attackman Matthew Koerner (Kings Park, N.Y.) displayed his field awareness and finishing ability. Long Island Express midfielder Nick Koshansky (Kings Park, N.Y.) resembled current North Carolina Tar Heel freshman midfielder Gregg McBride. A feisty and tenacious midfielder, Koshansky showed impressive speed and athleticism as a clearing midfielder and on the defensive end. Considering he’s only a freshman, Koshansky has tremendous upside.
