By Alex Frazier
In my last notebook of the 2011 season, I would like to recognize some of the accomplishments of teams and players this season.
Although still relatively new to the lacrosse world, compared to teams from the Ches-Mont and Central leagues, the Suburban One League is making a name for itself.
Each year, in addition to standbys like Abington and C.B. East, relative newcomers like Pennsbury, Plymouth Whitemarsh and Council Rock North are beginning to make in-roads. That’s not to forget teams like Central Bucks West, North Penn, Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion and Wissahickon, which have all had district playoff experience.
You don’t build a lacrosse program overnight, but time and patience is beginning to pay off for SOL teams.
Hats off to Central Bucks East, which made it to the state quarterfinals and semifinals for the second time in the past five years.
With Conestoga pounding St Joe’s Prep 13-4 in the championship game, it would not be a stretch to say that the Patriots are the second best team in the state, especially since they knocked off the Prep 13-8, during the regular season.
Four SOL players were selected to this year’s all-state team, yet another testimony to the increasing quality of players from the league.
Thanks coaches, players and parents for another great season. I welcome suggestions and ideas for next year. See you then.
Coach of the Year
Bruce Garcia, Central Bucks East
Bruce Garcia is one of the classiest coaches in the SOL. He not only builds successful teams, but he also molds the character of his players. He always looks at things in a positive light, which only reflects in the good things that happen to his team.
Runner-up
Phil Chang, Plymouth Whitemarsh
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the hard work that Phil Chang has put into developing the lacrosse program at PW. This year, after knocking on the door the last couple of years, it all paid off when the Colonials ran the table with a perfect 12-0 mark to win their first American Conference title.
Team of the Year
Pennsbury had a great late season run, pulling off two major upsets in the District One Tournament to qualify for states.
The Falcons ousted No. 4 Downingtown East in the second round and No. 5-ranked Avon Grove 4-3 in overtime in the quarterfinals. Conestoga proved an insurmountable obstacle (as it did for every team it faced).
All-League MVPs
National Conference
Ryan Ambler, Abington
(See below)
Continental Conference
Johnny Kirchner, Central Bucks West
(See below)
American Conference
Colin Joka, Plymouth Whitemarsh
Joka racked up an impressive 187 goals and 64 assists in his career at PW.
He holds the school record for goals in a game (8), goals in a season (62) and goals in a career (187).
He scored 57 goals this year and 17 assists.
He is a three-time Suburban One American Conference first team attackman.
Joka will attend Marist College next year to play attack.
Sportsmanship Awards
National Conference
Harry S Truman
Continental Conference
Not available
American Conference
Cheltenham
All-State
Ryan Ambler, Abington, Attack
Ambler was the National Conference MVP. In 26 games this year (22 regular season in addition to four playoff games), Ambler scored 38 goals and 53 assists for 91 points. He also picked up 75 ground balls.
Sean Reilly, Central Bucks East, Midfield
As a faceoff specialist for the Patriots, Reilly won an amazing 79 percent of his draws. He came up with the ball 117 times of 149 attempts.
He also scored five goals and contributed an assist.
As a team captain, he was certainly an inspiration.
“Sean is the heart and the drive of our style of play and showcases that style every game,” said coach Bruce Garcia.
Johnny Kirchner, Central Bucks West, Long Stick Midfield
Kirchner has recorded some very impressive stats in his four years starting at West.
This year he set the single season record for ground balls with 148 (breaking his previous team record of 122 last year). With that mark, he also established the West career record for ground balls at 369.
When he wasn’t picking up balls, he scored eight goals and chipped in three assists in 17 games played. He has been selected to the Continental Conference first team for the past two years, and this year was named MVP of the league as well as the team.
He also made the All-EPSLA team as a long stick midfielder.
As coach Matt Coverdale wrote about him, “Johnny is a complete player and leader. He was the keystone of our defense and a vocal team leader. He was a threat for takeaways and knockdowns on defense, and a transition threat with the ball every time he touched it.
“He did everything we asked of him at West. He was always assigned the opposition’s best offensive threat, lined up on the wing for faceoffs and rotated back to close. He also took faceoffs and either won them clean or neutralized their faceoff guy, beating him to the draw with his speed and groundball skills.
“He has great transition speed and elusiveness and superior fundamentals. He scored all eight goals this year on his own fastbreaks off of takeways.
“He left everything on the field at every game’s end and was an exemplary worker in practice. It would be difficult for me to ask for more skill, effort, and heart from a long pole than what Johnny gave us every time he stepped onto the field.”
Beau Gomez, Wissahickon, Defense
Gomez has been a first team all-American Conference selection for the past three years (He was third team as a freshman).
ESPN RISE named him to the Pennsylvania Preseason Second Team All-State Squad.
He finished this year with 101 ground balls, four goals and one assist.
This year he was also named to the All-EPSLA team for the second time.
For his career, Gomez picked up 268 ground balls and had 212 takeaways. On offense he scored five goals and had nine assists.
Gomez will attend the US Naval Academy next year.
Coach Anthony Gabrielle had this to say about him:
“He was one of two healthy seniors and one of only three returning varsity guys (because of injury and eligibility) on this year's team. As a leader, he made sure we NEVER gave up in a game and that we fought, no matter the score, for four full quarters.”
SOL in D-III – Three former Suburban One League players were members of the Salisbury team that pounded Tufts, 19-7, to win the 2011 Division III National Championship on May 29. They were: Freshman Chris Brady from Neshaminy, junior Kyle Quist of CB East and sophomore Bryan Dacey of CB West.
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