By Alex Frazier
Welcome to the 2009 boys lacrosse season. I am planning on covering one game a week and posting a notebook every other week. I welcome your ideas and suggestions for stories and features. Please send them to suburbanonesports@comcast.net
An exciting season – This year could well be one of the most exciting lacrosse seasons for the SOL. In the first place the league will have a slightly different look to it with Council Rock North and South moving up to the National Conference, while Central Bucks South, Pennridge and North Penn drop to the Continental. Norristown will replace Quakertown in the American.
These changes should renew some of the traditional rivalries as well as save commuting time.
But the biggest change is that the PIAA will be sponsoring its first state championship in boys lacrosse. The implications are numerous. First, the SOL won’t have to compete against Catholic and Inter-Ac schools to make the state playoffs.
The Catholic League teams will compete in District 12. The Inter-Ac will compete in a prep school state championship.
Secondly, more teams will make the post season. Twenty-eight teams will qualify for the District One Tournament with the top seven advancing to the state playoffs.
Making the state playoffs for SOL teams won’t be a given, however, as they will still have to compete against the tough teams from the well-established Central League, but it certainly will be easier to make one of the top 28 spots in the district tournament.
“It’s a better percentage for teams to make the playoffs,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Phil Chang.
Area coaches have diverse reactions to the new playoff system.
“I have mixed emotions,” said Hatboro-Horsham coach Dave Sowers. “I enjoyed playing the GAs. I will miss playing some of the Inter-Ac teams. I’m kind of from the old school. I really enjoyed the fact that you made it to the state playoffs in lacrosse, it meant something.”
Randy McNeill of Abington believes the SOL gets short changed because conference teams have to play each other twice, thus limiting non-league competition. In the Catholic League, teams play each other only once, allowing them to schedule very competitive non-league games to make them playoff ready.
Last year SOL teams were allowed 20 games and two scrimmages. This year as part of the PIAA, they are allowed only 18 games and two scrimmages. In a conference like the Continental with eight teams, that means that 14 games are within the league, allowing for only four non-league contests.
“It definitely shrunk our schedule,” said McNeill. “They gave us less games to play, but they made it in a tighter time period. We’re playing three games a week, and to win everything you have to win nine playoff games.”
No matter what, this year’s playoffs will be exciting.
As Sowers said, “Our District One is going to be ridiculous. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be some real good lacrosse. We’re going to have the toughest district in the entire state.”
Conference previews
National Conference
Abington is the favorite to repeat as conference champion this year, although Neshaminy, which finished runner-up to the Ghosts a year ago, could be in the mix.
Abington returns seven starters from last year’s team that went undefeated in the SOL and was 1-1 in the state playoffs.
The Ghosts’ defense will be especially strong as they return Paul Berger, Alex Cohen and goalie Jon Cairone. On offense Abington lost 80 percent of its scoring. Returners like Joey Jones (attack), Rich Rambo (midfield), Anthony Hensley (midfield) and Andrew Charles (midfield) will have to make up the difference.
Rambo and Jones have already orally committed to play for Hofstra next year.
Neshaminy also returns a good group of seniors. The Redskins will rely on junior Chris Brady (attack), senior Casey Elfvin (defense), senior Tristan Emig (defense), senior Alex Forman (midfield) and senior Andy MacPherson (attack).
Neshaminy opened the season on a positive note by edging Central Bucks West 8-7 in overtime, but then stumbled badly against Hatboro-Horsham, 15-4, and Continental power Central Bucks East, 17-3.
Council Rock North and South are new to the conference this year. The Indians, led by seniors Bill Brush (defense), Doug Rheiner (attack) and Pat Sweet (midfield) and juniors Shane Perdikis (attack) and Tyler Hamilton (midfield), will have a balanced team and could give Neshaminy a run.
Council Rock South could break .500 this season as the Golden Hawks have a solid defense, led by senior twins Frank and Mike Junod and senior goalie Sean Poritsky. On offense, Brian Bollinger (attack) along with middies Andy Lihani and Matt Moreton will supply the firepower.
Pennsbury will have a mix of experience and youth. Depending on how well that combination develops, the Falcons could even challenge Neshaminy for the second spot. Seniors Ryan Brim and Ben McDannell will anchor a strong defense, while Peter Sweetland and Kenneth Warren will hold down the other end of the field. In between Shawn Caven and Ricky Jutkeiwicz will provide the transition.
Harry S Truman didn’t win an SOL game last year, but it’s a team that can’t be overlooked to pull off an upset this year. The Tigers have strong leaders in their seniors like Jim Curra (midfield), Ken McHugh (defense), Jake Nessen (attack), Joe Sullivan (midfield) and Nick Walsh (midfield).
“Anything is wide open,” said McNeill. “There have been a lot of scores early that have been surprising to a lot of people. A lot of teams got hurt by graduation and a lot of competition has equaled itself out. A lot of the younger programs have gotten a lot better.”
Predicted finish
1. Abington
2. Neshaminy
3. Pennsbury
4. Council Rock North
5. Council Rock South
6. Harry S Truman
Continental Conference
The conference title will once again come down to another dogfight between Central Bucks East and Hatboro-Horsham. Last year the tams split games, but the Hatters faltered against C.B. West to give the Patriots the title outright.
East returns 11 seniors including midfielders Rich O’Brien and Zach Sharman as well as attackman Matt Hughes, defenseman Tom Bashwiner and goalie Chase Kudla.
Hatboro also has a good nucleus of returning starters like Jarrett Carr (attack, senior), John Rombach (attack, senior), Tim Newcomb (midfield, senior), Ryan Kreston (midfield, junior), Ed Coombs (midfield, junior), Greg Cutilli (midfield, junior), Mike Bobrin (defense, senior), Ryan Mullen (defense, senior).
The key to this year’s Hatter team is to get all the players on the same page.
Central Bucks South and Central Bucks West should be vying for the third spot in the league. The Titans, led by seniors Brett Poorman (midfield), Dan Adams (attack) and defenders Corey Hojnacki and Paul Reinisen, will be a competitive addition to the conference. South already has some impressive wins over Pennridge and Father Judge.
C.B. West returns quite a few players from its 9-3 team that upset Hatboro-Horsham last year, including senior attackmen Scott Wilbur and Jon Hoynak and midfielder Zach Zappala. Although the Bucks have already dropped two games to Neshaminy and Upper Dublin, they can’t be overlooked.
Pennridge and North Penn are also new to the conference.
Pennridge will rely on two key seniors in the backfield, Shawn Cole (defense) and Sam Algeo (goalie). The Rams are looking for a few key wins that will help them continue to build the program.
North Penn lost 15 seniors from a team that went 7-10 last year. Coach Jeff Greiner still thinks he has a good core of returning seniors, like Paul Reuteman (midfield), George Elias (midfield), Nick McPeak (attack) Josh Krossgrove (long stick midfield) and Wayne Braverman (midfield), who can supply leadership to the younger players.
Souderton has its third coach in two years. The Indians will continue to struggle in the toughest conference in the SOL. The core of this year’s team is sophomores. Todd Pettit is focusing on building discipline and fundamentals. Attackman Sean Becker will be a role model for the younger players like Brad Sawhill (junior defender), Dan Berret (junior defender), Lee Stiles (junior midfielder) and sophomore goalie Grant Nice.
“There’s a lot of parity right now in the league,” said Sowers. “Anybody can step up and beat anybody else.”
Predicted finish
1. Central Bucks East
2. Hatboro-Horsham
3. Central Bucks South
4. Central Bucks West
5. North Penn
6. Pennridge
7. Souderton
American Conference
With Methacton off to the Pioneer Athletic Conference, it looks like Upper Dublin will top the conference all by itself this year, after sharing the honor with the Warriors a year ago.
The Cardinals have already notched a big win over Central Bucks West. Key returners include Scott Beury, Jim Trentini, Eric Painter and Pat McDermott.
Wissahickon should be an improved team this year. The Trojans return seven starters including seniors Nick Scannapieco (defense) A.J. Simanglatt (midfield) and junior goalie Sean Smith. In fact, the entire defense from last year is intact.
A good sign of things to come for the Trojans came in their first game of the season against Archbishop Wood, which they lost by just one goal (9-8) in overtime.
One of the surprise teams of the league this year is Upper Merion, led by junior attackman Nate Hare. The Vikings have already knocked off Plymouth Whitemarsh. They return most of their players from a team that has been getting better and better every year.
Plymouth Whitemarsh has been struggling at the beginning of the season dropping games to Pennsbury, Upper Merion and Wissahickon (8-7 in overtime).
Coach Phil Chang is a bit concerned about team chemistry, especially since he was missing a few basketball players early in the season. But he’s confident they should come around as the season progresses.
Another team that appears to be much improved this year is Upper Moreland. The Golden Bears were off to a 3-0 start with wins over Pottsgrove (5-3), Norristown (5-4 OT) and Cheltenham (8-4).
Although the team will still be young, it has a solid core of experienced defensemen including Kevin Holst and junior goalie Max Schubert.
Norristown is new to the conference this year, moving down from the Continental Conference. The Eagles should fare better in the smaller division.
Cheltenham is still in the building stage with junior midfielder Jeff Henstenberg the lone returning starter.
Predicted finish
1. Upper Dublin
2. Wissahickon
3. Upper Merion
4. Plymouth Whitemarsh
5. Upper Moreland
6. Springfield
7. Norristown
8. Cheltenham
SOL Top Five
1. Central Bucks East
2. Hatboro-Horsham
3. Abington
4. Upper Dublin
5. Central Bucks South
EPSLA Top 15 - March 23
1. Conestoga (6) 1-0
2. LaSalle College H.S. (1) 0-1
3. The Haverford School (1) 3-1
4. Malvern Prep (2) 0-1
5. Springfield-Delco 2-0
6. St. Joseph’s Prep (1) 0-0
7. Downingtown East 2-0
8. Radnor 0-1
8. Penn Charter 1-1
8. Episcopal Academy 1-1
11. Emmaus 1-0
12. Lower Merion 1-0
13. Penncrest 1-0
14. Central Bucks East 0-1
15. Unionville 0-1
Others Receiving Votes: Abington, Ridley, Garnet Valley, Germantown Academy, Downingtown West, Great Valley, Archbishop Wood
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