SOL Boys’ Lacrosse District Preview (5-16-17)

On Tuesday, May 16, seven AAA SOL boys lacrosse teams will open the District 1 postseason: Souderton vs. West Chester Rustin, CB West vs. Boyertown, Upper Dublin vs. CB South, Pennridge vs. Unionville, CR North vs. Ridley and Wissahickon vs. Haverford. In AA, Springfield Township will host Pope John Paul II on Wednesday. An additional three AAA teams (CB East, Hatboro-Horsham, North Penn) will have byes and begin play on Thursday. Below is a closer look at those teams…

For the Hatboro-Horsham lacrosse team in recent years, something was missing, be it defensive pieces, a dominant goalie or a face-off specialist.

In 2017, all of the pieces finally coalesced for the Hatters, who returned the entire midfield and defense from last year and seem to have a team capable of making some real noise in districts while simultaneously flying under the radar in the Suburban One.

“We’ve had a real good offense, especially the last two years,” head coach John Kurek said. “We were missing some surrounding pieces, but at the end of last year, everybody coming back really bought in and decided they wanted to make some noise.”

The Hatters certainly made noise in 2017, finishing 15-3 overall and 9-0 in the SOL American Conference. The only question is, in a league dominated by CB East and a conference that saw upstart Souderton finish 16-2 overall, who heard the noise Hatboro created?

If the answer to that query is “not enough people,” then the sixth-seeded Hatters, who open with a bye and will play the winner of Souderton-WC Rustin on Thursday, are determined to earn the respect they deserve.

Hatboro is led by senior captain and four-year starter Logan Eldridge, who “wanted to make his senior season special,” according to Kurek. Eldridge did just that, leading the team with 39 goals and 29 assists despite the fact that Hatboro lost a lot of its 2016 attack to graduation. Eldridge is joined on the attack by Ian Reilly and Joe Larouche, and the group has a synergy in which they are able to find each other on the field and play to one another’s strengths.

Co-captain Chris McPoyle is a three-year starter and was an All-SOL honoree this season. Face-off specialist Brian Hood, a senior bound for Cabrini, had an 80 percent success rate this season after the Hatters had lacked that type of player in recent years.

“Brian focused on face-offs and turned it into a craft he mastered,” Kurek said.

Sophomore Joe Brophy played a few games in goal last year, but has blossomed in his first season as a full-time starter. It helps that the entire defensive unit from 2016 returned, led by junior Jeff Marshall (a Del-Val commit) and sophomore Drew Robinson, who’s already verbally committed to play college lacrosse at Air Force.

“Having those guys with experience back there as a unit has really helped Joe in goal,” Kurek said. “He benefits because the defense takes away a lot of the shots he’d otherwise face.”

According to Kurek, there’s a plethora of reasons to explain why things finally came together for the Hatters this season. For starters, the team chemistry is outstanding. The senior leadership, led by Eldridge, has “kept the group together and given them purpose.” They committed to the weight room and conditioning in the offseason, and the results have shown.

“They all have something to offer and have excelled in their roles,” Kurek said. “They realized they had something here, and they’ve kept it rolling. It’s been a blast coaching this team.”

Kurek, in his 16^th season with Hatboro including the last five as head coach, pointed to a late season, come-from-behind, conference-clinching win over Souderton, which entered the game 16-1, where he sensed another level in his team. Wins like that gave an already-enthusiastic group sky-high confidence. At the same time, the Hatters have remained level-headed.

“They know they have to take it one game at a time, because if they don’t they could be a team that wakes up the next morning and is done playing lacrosse for good,” Kurek said. “There’s no ‘if we win this, we’ll get to this.’ Every day is a one-game season.”

Above all else and no matter how far Hatboro advances, Kurek is proud to have coached this group.

“I feel great for the kids, especially the senior leaders I have,” Kurek said. “I’m ecstatic for them that they set a goal and they worked to achieve it. They’re driven and want to make a run to see what happens. I’m behind them and I’m proud of them. They’ve done great this year, but they’re driven, and they want more.”

CLASS 3A

#5 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST (BYE)
Central Bucks East

14-3 overall, 9-0 SOL National Conference (first place)
Regular season wins over #6 Hatboro-Horsham (10-8), #7 North Penn (9-8), #12 Central Bucks West (10-4), #14 Pennridge (15-7), #15 Owen J. Roberts (6-5), #16 Council Rock North (11-5), #20 CB South (13-4)
Regular season loss to #1 Avon Grove (8-3)
Have won 11 of 12 games heading into the postseason
Will face winner of #12 CB West vs. #21 Boyertown contest

#6 HATBORO-HORSHAM (BYE)
Hatboro-Horsham

15-3, 9-0 SOL American Conference (first place)
Led by senior co-captain Ian Eldridge (39 goals, 29 assists), face-off specialist Brian Hood (80 percent success rate), defenders Jeff Marshall (junior, Del-Val) and Drew Robinson (sophomore, Air Force) and sophomore goalie Joe Brophy
Regular season wins over #11 Souderton (11-9), #12 CB West (12-5), #13 Upper Dublin (9-6), #20 CB South (16-4), #23 Wissahickon (15-2)
Regular season losses to #2 Garnet Valley (12-6), #5 CB East (10-8)
Have won four of five games heading into the postseason
Will face winner of #11 Souderton vs. #22 WC Rustin

#7 NORTH PENN (BYE)
North Penn

13-4, 8-1 SOL National Conference (second place behind CB East)
Led by Reece Udinski, Nick Keim, Eric Diamond, Tanner Nelson, goalie Matt Rinck
Regular season wins over #12 CB West (7-6), #14 Pennridge (15-5), #16 CR North (13-9), #20 CB South (14-12), #23 Wissahickon (9-7), #24 Great Valley (10-9)
Regular season losses to #5 CB East (9-8), #9 Downingtown East (12-6)
Have won seven of eight games entering postseason
Will face winner of #10 Haverford vs. #23 Wissahickon

Head coach Rick Smith says: “We are excited to be the seventh seed, and we are looking forward to the challenge of the district playoffs. The bye gives us an extra day to prepare and also allows us to get some players healthy for the playoffs.”

#22 WEST CHESTER RUSTIN AT #11 SOUDERTON (Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
(Winner will play #6 Hatboro-Horsham)
Souderton

16-2 overall, 7-2 SOL American Conference (third place behind Hatboro-Horsham and Upper Dublin)
Led by freshman Stephen Blue (44 goals, 21 assists), senior captain Trent Breneman (34 goals, 21 assists), sophomore Walker Martin (40 goals, 9 assists), Syracuse-bound Jake Phaup (26 goals, 16 assists, team-leader in ground balls, 78.5 face-off %)
Regular season wins over #14 Pennridge (7-5), #23 Wissahickon (6-3)
Regular season losses to #6 Hatboro (11-9), #13 Upper Dublin (11-5)
Have won four of six games heading into postseason
2017 marks Souderton’s first-ever playoff berth in program history, and the team registered the most wins and best record in program history

Head coach Mark Princehorn says: “The team feels good about where we are and what we have accomplished this season, but this group isn't satisfied. We wanted to be playing our best lacrosse at the end of the season and I believe we are close to that goal. We have seen glimpses of our potential and now we simply need to be more consistent. Making the playoffs is great, but we want to keep this season going and to do that is going to require more consistency."

West Chester Rustin

9-9 overall
6-5 Ches-Mont League (tied for fifth with Unionville and West Chester East, behind Avon Grove, West Chester Henderson, Downingtown East and Bishop Shanahan)
Led by goalie Kyle Mullin, Cal MacKenzie, Mike Burke, Nick Madonna, Tim Durant, Will Pileggi

#21 BOYERTOWN AT #12 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
(Winner will play #5 Central Bucks East)
Central Bucks West

12-5 overall, 7-2 SOL National Conference (third place behind CB East and North Penn)
Joey Rockovich scored his 100^th career goal and set a single-season record for goals in a season.
Regular season wins over #14 Pennridge (7-6), #16 CR North (8-4), #20 CB South (11-3), #23 Wissahickon (9-4)
Regular season losses to #5 CB East (10-4), #6 Hatboro (12-5), #7 North Penn (7-6), #9 Downingtown East (10-5)
3-3 record in last six games heading into postseason

Boyertown

9-9 overall, 6-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference (fourth place behind Spring-Ford, Perkiomen Valley, Owen J. Roberts)
Regular season losses to #4 Spring-Ford (12-1), #8 Perkiomen Valley (12-4), #9 Downingtown East (13-1), #15 Owen J. Roberts (7-6), #20 CB South (14-7)
Lost in PAC playoffs to Spring-Ford (11-6)
Lost two straight games entering district playoffs

#20 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH AT #13 UPPER DUBLIN (Tuesday, 4 p.m.)

(Winner plays #4 Spring-Ford)
Upper Dublin

11-6 overall, 8-1 SOL American Conference (second place behind Hatboro-Horsham)
Graduated 14 seniors from 2016 District One championship squad
Regular season wins over #11 Souderton (11-5), #15 Owen J. Roberts (10-8), #23 Wissahickon (9-3)
Regular season losses to #1 Avon Grove (14-2), #6 Hatboro (9-6)
Have won 10 of 11 games heading into the postseason

Central Bucks South

10-8 overall, 4-5 SOL National Conference (sixth place behind CB East, North Penn, CB West, Pennridge, CR North)
Led by Ian Vogt, Dante Poli, Justin Abbonizio, goalie Brad Ross
Regular season win over #21 Boyertown (14-7)
Regular season losses to #4 Spring-Ford (16-5), #5 CB East (13-4), #6 Hatboro (16-4), #7 North Penn (14-12), #12 CB West (11-3), #14 Pennridge (8-7), #16 CR North (11-8), #18 West Chester East (19-12)
Have won three of four games entering postseason

#19 UNIONVILLE AT #14 PENNRIDGE (Tuesday, 5:15 p.m.)
(Winner plays #3 Conestoga)
Pennridge

11-7, 6-3 SOL National Conference (fourth behind CB East, North Penn, CB West)
Led by Kyle Fanelli (35 goals, 28 assists), Chris Warner (32 goals, 31 assists), Tristan Banks (.590 save percentage)
Regular season wins over #16 CR North (8-7), #20 CB South (8-7)
Regular season losses to #3 Conestoga (19-1), #5 CB East (15-7), #7 North Penn (15-5), #11 Souderton (7-5), #12 CB West (7-6), #23 Wissahickon (10-4)
Has won four of its last five games heading into postseason

Head coach JP Banks says: “Pennridge is excited for the opportunity to face a very strong Unionville squad in the first round. As always we will concentrate on doing the little things right and making the play in front of us.”

Unionville

10-8 overall, 6-5 Ches-Mont League (tied for fifth with WC East & WC Rustin, behind Avon Grove, WC Henderson, Downingtown East and Bishop Shanahan)
Led by Zach Lawrence, Jack Hoopman, Drew Lenkaitis, Garrett Rogers, Will Ciccarelli, goalie Owen Rogers

#17 RIDLEY AT #16 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH (Tuesday, 4 p.m.)
(Winner plays #1 Avon Grove)
Council Rock North

10-7, 5-4 SOL National Conference (fifth place behind CB East, North Penn, CB West, Pennridge)
Freshman Peter Lehman (36 goals, 22 assists), freshman Jack Jogerst (44 goals, 10 assists), sophomore Beckett Thompson (25 goals, 20 assists), junior Jack Early (28 goals, 13 assists), senior goalie Phil Huddy (8.13 goals per game), senior defender Joey Scardino (45 ground balls, 20 caused turnovers), freshman Max Jogerst (43 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers)
Regular season win over #20 CB South (11-8)
Regular season losses to #5 CB East (11-5), #7 North Penn (13-9), #10 Haverford (16-10), #12 CB West (8-4), #14 Pennridge (8-7)
Has won six of its last eight games heading into the postseason

Head coach John Fitzgerald says: “We are looking to win Council Rock North’s first home playoff game.”

Ridley

10-8 overall
Regular season win over #8 Perk Valley (9-7)

#23 WISSAHICKON AT #10 HAVERFORD (Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
(Winner plays #7 North Penn)
Haverford

13-5 overall
Regular season wins over #17 Ridley (13-12 OT), #18 Council Rock North (16-10) and #19 Unionville (17-4)

Wissahickon

7-11 overall, 6-3 SOL American Conference (fourth behind Hatboro, Upper Dublin, Souderton)
Led by Owen Baim, Tommy Clements and John Dickson on offense, Demetri Lowry and Cooper McMaster on defense
Regular season win over #14 Pennridge (10-4)
Regular season losses to #6 Hatboro-Horsham (15-2), #7 North Penn (9-7), #8 Perkiomen Valley (13-3), #9 Downingtown East (13-1), #11 Souderton (6-3), #12 CB West (9-4), #13 Upper Dublin (9-3)
Has won four of its last six heading into the postseason

Co-head coach Dan Layfield says: “Wissahickon is starting to fire on all cylinders and we really are a young team. We expect a tough matchup with Haverford, who we saw in the playoffs last year as well. I’m hoping our guys can respond to the challenge and put together their best games.”

AA: #10 POPE JOHN PAUL II AT #7 SPRINGFIELD TWP (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)

(Winner plays #2 West Chester Henderson)

Springfield Twp

12-5, 4-5 SOL American Conference (sixth behind Hatboro, Upper Dublin, Souderton, Wissahickon and PW)
Senior co-captains George Baughan (Princeton University commit) and Charlie Rittenhouse lead the Spartans
3-3 in last six games heading into the postseason

Pope John Paul II

7-7 overall, 3-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference (seventh behind Spring-Ford, Perkiomen Valley, Owen J. Roberts, Boyertown, Methacton, Phoenixville)
Regular season wins over #8 Holy Ghost Prep (7-5), #12 Phoenixville (10-4)
3-3 in last six games heading into the postseason