DLN All Area Boys Lacrosse Squad is loaded with talent
2023 Daily Local News All Area Boys Lacrosse
Attack
TRENT LUCOVICH, Avon Grove – With a total of 94 points (62 goals, 32 assists), Lucovich was one of the Ches-Mont’s top attackers and earned first team All-League honors. During the ’23 season he broke the program record for goals in a single game (nine) and surpassed the 100-goal plateau for his career. Lucovich was the Devils’ Offensive MVP. “Trent is one of the hardest working players on the field, and without a doubt one of the best players in the league,” said his coach Brian Wallace. Has signed to play Division I lacrosse at St. John’s.
BRYSON KOLINSKY, Downingtown East – The top scorer for the two-time undisputed Ches-Mont champs, Kolinsky finished with 57 goals and 37 assists in 2023. He is a two-time All-League and All Area pick, and is an academic All American. “Bryson was our most productive attacking threat,” said his coach Joe Horvath. “He dodges long poles and short sticks alike and has the highest offensive production rate on the team along with incredible vision.” The senior has signed to play Division I lacrosse at Delaware.
JAKE JACKSON, West Chester Rustin – No attacker in the area is more dangerous with the ball behind the cage than Jackson. He shattered the Knights’ single-season record for points in a season 115 with 60 goals and an area-best 55 assists. Jackson averaged nearly five goals per outing and was held below three just once all season. “Jake was the quarterback of our offense, and he took on a larger role with Antonio (Santangelo) being injured,” said his coach Kevin Philibin. He has signed to college lacrosse at Division III York.
MATT HAMILL, Westtown – A native of Canada, Hamill helped the Moose reach the Friends League title game and finish with a 10-5 record this spring. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior is a dangerous finisher who paced Westtown with 42 goals and tacked on 18 assists. The versatile Hamill has already committed to play Division I college lacrosse at Marquette.
BO FREEBERY, Kennett – Equal part distributor and scorer, Freebery was the engine that drove the Blue Demons’ attack. The junior wrapped up the season with 57 goals and 55 assists, and received All-League recognition. “Bo is an extremely talented, balanced attackman,” said his coach Bob Allvord. “He is a smart, fierce and quiet force to be reckoned with.” Freebery has committed to play Division I college ball at Holy Cross.
Midfield
MAREK SEAMAN, West Chester Rustin – The Golden Knights’ all-time leader in goals (176) and assists (97), Seaman is a three-time All-League and All State honoree. With 58 goals and 43 assists during his senior year, he added All America to his accolades, both as a player and as a student. A true two-way midfielder, Seaman has signed to play Division I lacrosse at Loyola (Md.). “Has been a focal point of opposing defenses since he was a sophomore,” said his coach Kevin Philibin. “He is great in transition and on the wings.”
A.J. NIKOLIC, Malvern Prep – A two-time All-Area first teamer, the senior is ranked among the nation’s top-15 for his position in the Class of 2023. A Paoli resident, Nikolic scored 55 goals and added 40 assist in ’23, and is headed to Cornell to play Division I lacrosse. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder earned All Inter-Ac, All State and All American honors as a senior. “A.J. is a difference maker,” his coach Matt Mackrides said. “He is very versatile and able to stretch a defense.”
COLIN JUNG, Kennett – Big, physical and skilled, Jung was a force for the Blue Demons, and received extra defensive attention every match. A first-team All Ches-Mont pick, the senior registered 68 goals and 22 assists this spring. “His size, speed and lacrosse IQ made Colin, in my option, the best midfielder in the area,” said his coach Bob Allvord.
BO HORVATH, Downingtown East – The ultra-athletic senior did it all for the undisputed, two-time Ches-Mont champions. The consummate two-way midfielder, Horvath rarely left the field for the Cougars, and drew special scrutiny by every opposing defense. Signed to play collegiately at Lehigh, he scored 30 goals, dished out 23 assists, gobbled up 71 ground balls, and notched 90 unassisted clears. Horvath is a two-time All-League, All Area, All State and All American recipient.
DREW MERSCHEL, Conestoga – One of the most versatile players in the brutally tough Central League, Merschel is an imposing 6-foot-2, 210-pounder. A team captain, he was ’Stoga’s MVP after scoring 47 goals and dishing out 12 assists this season. The senior will be playing college lacrosse this fall at Division III Denison. “With his size, (Merschel) is a force,” said Harriton head coach Dave Sowers.
EAMMON DONOVAN, Devon Prep – A first-team All Philadelphia Catholic League pick, Donovan was all over the field as the Tide finished second in the District 12 Class 2A Tournament. A junior, he scored 54 times, added 29 assists and now has 135 career points, which is third all-time in Devon Prep history.
LSM
LUCCA DiBARTOLOMEO, Malvern Prep – A repeat All Area honoree, DiBartolomeo is a throwback from the modern-day offensive-minded long-stick midfielder. The junior shines on defense as a tenacious disruptor. He was a high-energy, aggressive difference-maker, and helped lead the Friars to a victory in the Inter-Ac Final over Haverford. It earned him All-League, All State and All American accolades. He has committed to play at Penn State. “His ability to knock down passes and get the ball off of the ground is exceptional,” said Malvern coach Matt Mackrides.
MIKE WAITE, Downingtown East – A prime reason the Cougars boasted one of the area’s top defenses, Waite was assigned most threatening opposing midfielder in every contest. The senior covered a lot of ground, was one of the area’s best on ground balls, and was dangerous when asked to jump into action at the offensive end. Waite finished with five goals, 10 assists, 91 ground balls and 66 clears. “Mike is incredibly disruptive in the defensive end and threatening in the transition,” said his coach Joe Horvath. Waite will be playing lacrosse for St. Joseph’s starting next fall.
THOMAS VENZIE, Downingtown West – A three-year All Ches-Mont pick, Venzie was one of the area’s best in ground balls (129), and also added 10 goals and nine assists. “Tom is one of the best players I have ever coached,” said West’s Billy Davis. “He shines with his play inside the 30s, and only has one speed. The amount of hustle, determination and drive is evident from start to finish n everything he does.” Venzie has received an athletic scholarship to play at Division I Mercer.
Defense
ROMAN BUONO, Malvern Prep – The senior is a gritty one-on-one defender for the Friars, who captured the Inter-Ac Playoff Championship. Recognized for his toughness and versatility, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Buono has signed to play college lacrosse at Yale. He was a first team All Inter-Ac selection.
SAM BARTON, Downingtown East – The sturdy, powerful senior anchored a Cougars’ defense that was one of the best in the state. The senior was named East’s Player of the Year, and he has committed to play at Division I Colgate starting this fall. Two-time All-League, All Area and All State, Barton is an academic All American. “Sam covers the top attackman every game and has the athleticism to contribute in transition,” said his coach Joe Horvath.
BEN RODNER-TIMS, Bishop Shanahan – Also a basketball standout, Rodner-Tims was a unanimous first team All Ches-Mont selection, and also earned All State honors. A team captain, he was routinely assigned the opposition’s top offensive threat, and added eight goals and 64 ground balls. “Ben leads by example and was one the best defenders in the area the past few years,” said Eagles’ Defensive Coordinator Paul Meyers. “He was the anchor of a defense that gave up less than six goals per game.”
JAKE LAW, West Chester Rustin – The leader of Rustin’s defensive corps, Law forced 58 turnovers, grabbed 54 ground balls, and chipped in two goals and five assists this season. The senior is a two-time All-League selection, and anchored a defense that allowed 5.1 goals per game in league play. “Jake covered team’s top option in most games,” said Knights’ head coach Kevin Philibin. “He is not as flashy or check-heavy, but is an excellent point of contact defenseman who makes his money at the goal-line extended areas.” Daly is playing college lacrosse at Division I Towson.
Face Off
RONAN MILLER, Bishop Shanahan – A first-team All Ches-Mont selection in the last two seasons, Miller was the league’s best at the X. A team captain, he prevailed on 78-percent on faceoffs in 2023, but also contributed in other ways. He gobbled up 83 ground balls and added 15 goals and 11 assists. “Ronan single-handedly kept us in games with his faceoff wins the past two seasons,” said Eagles’ defensive coordinator Paul Meyers. “He was also a faceoff guy who stayed on the field and played.”
Goalkeeper
BILLY CARNEY, West Chester Rustin – Excellent during the regular season, Carney actually got even better during the postseason to lead the Knights to a district crown and a PIAA Final Four appearance. The senior turned aside 65-percent of the shot he faced, and allowed just 5.6 per match. He had double-digit saves in 10 outings this spring, and added a goal and an assist. A first-team All Ches-Mont pick, Carney has committed to play collegiately at Division III Catholic University. “Billy is an excellent keeper who does it all: great shot stopper, commands the defense and is strong in the clearing game,” said his coach Kevin Philibin.
DAX SHALLIS, Coatesville – If anybody best represents the brief evolution of the Coatesville since the program’s debut in 2021, it is Shallis. A cornerstone since day one, he is the only starting keeper the Raiders have ever had, and he helped the team earn their first-ever berth into the district playoffs this spring. The senior stopped 176 of 290 shots for a save percentage of .607, and was a first-team All Ches-Mont pick. “I thought Dax was the best goalie in the league,” said his coach Dan Ellis. Shallis will continue his playing career beginning this fall at Division III Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Second Team
Attack
MIKE ORTLIEB, Malvern, So.
WADE BECHSTROM, Conestoga,
JOSH COX, Avon Grove, Jr.
ANTONIO SANTANGELO, West Chester Rustin, Sr.
BRET BERGEY, Downingtown West, Sr.
OWEN ELLIS, Coatesville, Sr.
Midfielder
NICK D’ALESSANDRO, Devon Prep, Jr.
NATE PECHIN, West Chester Rustin, So.
CARTER GREER, Downingtown West, Sr.
KEVIN CARSON UNIONVILLE, Sr.
Long-Stick Midfielder
JACK COMBS, Westtown, Jr.
PERI DiBARTOLOMEO, Malvern Prep, Jr.
LOGAN GOODWIN, West Chester Henderson, Jr.
Defender
PATRICK KEENAN, Malvern Prep, Sr.
WILL GILLIN, Avon Grove, So.
GAVIN SEAMAN, West Chester Rustin, Jr.
DAN PETRICK, Kennett, Sr.
BRENDAN LY, Coatesville, Sr.
Faceoff
ZACH SEBRA, Malvern Prep, So.
Goalkeeper
COLE BRASSINGTON, Devon Prep, Sr.
BRADY QUINN, Downingtown East, So.
Honorable Mention
Avon Grove: Griffin Edwards, Kyle Anthony, Owen Edwards.
West Chester Rustin: Jack O’Hora, Drew Monroe.
Downingtown West: Bram Monroe, Edmund Moore, Dominic Varano.
Unionville: Owen Quinlan, Luke Stokes, Chase Mousaw.
Malvern Prep: Ennis Edo, Billy Irish, Brad Piffath.
Westtown: Arjun Gill, Noah Snyder, Christhawn Hunter.
Devon Prep: Ryan Kane, Nick Walton, Harrison Friend.
West Chester Henderson: Seamus Murphy, Evan McFadden, Danny Garcia.
Kennett: Julian Sparacino, Marco Brid, Luke Finfrock.
Downingtown East: Jake Woodworth, Owen Lammy, T.J. Shillingford.
Bishop Shanahan: Devin Mullen, Nate Bracken, Ben Mace.
Oxford: Kieran Clark, Shane Cassidy, Connor Gentile.
Conestoga: Mikey Johnson, Clif Hawkins, Brody Eaton.
Coatesville: Jake Van Orden, Bryce Kerrigan, Steve Evans.
West Chester East: Nolan Schemmer, Joe Holland, Greg Diamond.
Great Valley: Nick Pellicciotta, Gavin Maslowski, Gavin Rhodes.
Coach of the Year: Kevin Philibin, West Chester Rustin
The 2023 lacrosse season was filled with numerous program milestones at Rustin, and head coach Kevin Philibin was at the heart of it all. A Class 2A program in a powerful 3A-dominated league, the Golden Knights were battle hardened by the time the postseason came around.
The second seed, Rustin cruised to the District 1 Final with lopsided wins over New Hope-Solebury and Bishop Shanahan, and earned the program’s first berth into the PIAA Tournament in the process. The Knights then dominated Marple Newtown 9-4 to capture the program’s first ever district crown.
“Every day he is on us about staying focused,” said senior standout Marek Seaman. “He’s been with us all four years and he’s been a big part of this team, and big part of the reason we accomplished what we did.”
Rustin then advanced to the PIAA’s final four before falling in a rematch to Marple Newtown in the semifinal round. The vocal Philibin toned down some of the fiery rhetoric as the Knights continued to improve to the point of becoming a state title contender.
“Coach Philibin’s been great,” Seaman added. “He always talks about composure and I think he’s gotten better at that as a coach.”
