It’s a Ridley team Janes would have appreciated
RIDLEY — Each spring Ridley High lacrosse coach Kevin Ellers and his father Doug, also on the staff, consider the team a work in progress.
This year it’s a little more that way, at least on a personal level.
With the Green Raiders looking like a team to be reckoned with, their 14-4 victory over previously unbeaten Great Valley Tuesday their fourth straight on the season, it’s impossible for the Ellers not to think about their lifelong friend Dick Janes.
Janes was one of the Ridley lacrosse program’s biggest fans, supporting the operation in almost every imaginable way. He and Doug Ellers’ wife, Pat, walked the far sideline together during the games.
Until this season, that is.
Janes passed away in February at age 67. The Ridley Park High grad had circled the lacrosse games on the 2015 schedule, anticipating another winning season, another year of cheering on the Green Raiders, another year of being part of the family.
“He would have loved this team,’ Pat Ellers said. “They’re very unselfish. Whoever is open gets the ball.’
The Green Raiders (4-1) found the open man often, if not early in the afternoon game at Phil Marion Field. Eric Magro deposited a pass from Cade Stratton into the Patriots’ net with 8:52 gone for a 1-0 lead.
Sophomore middie Devon Tavani couldn’t help but grin on his way off the field after threading the needle through a pile of bodies to fellow sophomore Brock Anderson, who flipped it over goalie Scott McAneney for a 2-0 cushion. The ball seemed to whistle on its way into the crease.
The Patriots didn’t come closer than one goal the rest of the game.
Senior Nick Fox, who led the Green Raiders with three goals, watched the offense come of age.
“Our goal today was to come out up-tempo,’ Fox said. “They had a week off or so. We wanted to get out there and score a couple of goals early. I think we did that. We were almost in double digits at the half. It was the first time we really ran our offense. We were really clicking. I think we did a lot better today working as a team and it worked out for us. Most teams will focus on a certain person who they think is our best option. We really have like nine maybe even 10 good offensive players. They can’t just pinpoint our best player. As you can see, just about everybody can get the ball and score.’
Eight different Green Raiders found the back of the net on the day. Moreover, goalie Dawson Faust, who had nine saves, and the defense shut out the Patriots in the second and third quarters.
“That’s good to see,’ Kevin Ellers said. “We had sickness and an injury preventing two defensive starters from playing. It’s good to see the guys who stepped in play well. This year going in we’re strong on the offensive end. Defensively we’re coming together and trying to figure out who fits where.’
The Green Raiders figure to have a better idea of how they’re coming together when they take on Radnor and Penncrest, the defending PIAA champion, in their next two games. The Green Raiders are 2-0 in the Central League.
“We’re improving every game,’ senior captain Jon Lyman said. “Our offense is all contributing. If every single person just keeps stepping up, maybe we can all do something big. We’re just going to have to prepare the same way that we do and make sure we all play as a team and have good goaltending and the defense gets back. We’re all going to have to play our best games.’
These are the times Doug Ellers would confide in Janes, who never failed to find the absurdities in life. Now, these are the times that test the soul. Truth be told, Ellers is having a tough time getting used to seeing just his wife walk that sideline … alone.
“He was such a big part of our program as far as being a loyal fan,’ Ellers said. “At times he would donate money to players to go to camp, who couldn’t afford to go. He was always encouraging and supportive of the coaching staff and the boys. He loved to go to football games as well. He just enjoyed watching the Green Raiders play. He was a great friend. There’s a void. There’s a void.’
Fox and Lyman knew the Green Raiders superfan as “Mr. Janes.’ They were saddened to learn of his passing.
Green Raiders head coach Kevin Ellers is glad the season is on. He knows how difficult it’s been for his parents.
“It’s always hard when you lose someone from the lacrosse family,’ Kevin Ellers said. “Aand I mean Dick has been a family member before a lacrosse member. I’ve known him my whole life. Not having him on the sidelines, it’s kind of sad. The kids know who he is and things of that nature because he was always there for them on the sidelines, yelling for them.’
