2011 Lacrosse Mid-summer Classic (Saturday)
Posted on July 11th 2011
On Saturday New England Prep Stars took in a full day of the 2011 Mid-summer classic at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. The event featured many of New England’s best club teams and players and did not disappoint, despite many of the area’s elite talent being at various lacrosse obligations, such as the Warrior 40 and U19 USA tryouts. While the games at the club tournaments are not as always as close as you would like they still provide and excellent platform to see a lot of talent on one HUGE field.
Game 1 – Laxachusetts “White” (MA) defeated 413 Lacrosse Elite White (NY) 12-1
This game was dominated by the faster and more talented Laxachusetts team. Laxachusetts White dominated ball possession and received strong goalie play from net minders Jonathan Barton (BC High) and Patrick Wallace (St. Sebastians/Avon Old Farms). The offense was lead by three players who accounted for 11 of the 12 goals. Midfielder Billy Polk (Dover-Sherborn) (pictured below), attack Cam Joyce (Archbishop Williams) and attack Tim Giarusso (Thayer Academy). Polk scored and dodged at will and Giarusso looked especially impressive with his speed and quick release.
Game 2 – NH Tomahawks U19 (NH) defeated Junior Lizards Varsity (NY) 9-2
The Lizards opened the game and the second half with goals but that would be all they would get on the Tomahawk defense and goalies Colin Delea (Bishop Guertin) (pictured above left) and Peter Mumford (Groton School). Mumford came up with a couple very impressive saves in the second half. Attack Matt McIver (Andover, MA), attack Casey Burnett (Bishop Guertin) and midfielder Paul Spinney (Bishop Guertin) scored two goals a piece in the win. Attack Zander Buttress (Brooks School, MA) scored a goal and also looked very quick and strong with the stick for the Tomahwaks.
Game 3 – Laxachusetts “Green” defeated Long Island Tomahawks 9-2
Laxachusetts Green came out firing early as they took a 4-0 lead out of the gate and a 4-1 lead at halftime. Cam Slatton (Billerica) (pictured below) scored two of his game high five goals (plus 1 assist) in the first half and attack Kevin Blair (Hingham) (1G, 3A) also had a nice day as the pair looked extremely comfortable working together. Slatton had a couple of rips and looks to have added some RPM’s to his shot. Attackmen Jack Burke (Avon Old Farms) and Peter Crane (Wellesley) scored the other two goals in the game for Laxachusetts. Goalie Dan Shaughnessy (Lincoln-Sudbury) made a couple of nice saves and Keegan Hayes (BC High) had a strong game defensively in the win.
Game 4 – Team Central Elite Red defeated Jersey Thunder Black 9-6
Team Central had their hands full with the Jersey Thunder as they took a close 4-3 lead in to the half. The first half lacked flow with a lot of stoppages of play but TC Red scored the final two goals including a pretty goal by Max King (Pomfret). In the second half TC Red took control of the pace of the game and got a goal from midfielder Jackson Finigan (Concord-Carlisle), that started a 4-0 run directly out of the half. Attack Blake Pendelton (2G) scored the final TC Red goal on a great outlet pass from goalie Doug Gouchoe (Concord-Carlisle). Gouchoe, defensemen Eric Smith (Dover-Sherborn) and LSM Dickson Smith (Holderness) all played well for TC Red.
Game 5 – Connecticut RIP-IT defeated Team Central Elite White 7-5
RIP-IT lacrosse looked very sharp early as their three man attack unit of Mason Burr, Trevor Gallagher, and Evan Ruszala all scored and looked good early. Midfielder Jeff Smith scored a beautiful goal and helped lead RIP to a 5-2 halftime lead. TC White came back in the second half and made it a games as Jay Drapeau (Westford academy), Matt Allen (Bishop Feehan) and Carson Hart (Wayland) all scored in the second half for TC White. Hart was also strong taking face-offs and looked like an up and coming star in the Class of 2013.
Other
We also caught the NESLL 2014 game against a more experienced and older Long Island Tomahawks team. The Tomahawks dominated early but NESLL 2014 came back and made it a contest lead by Cody Livermore, Patrick Fraser and Dustin Vitagliano at attack.
