2015 Area Boys Lacrosse Preview
Ches-Mont League
Avon Grove
Coach: Eric Jackson (15th season)
Record: 9-1 league, 20-5 overall. Second in Ches-Mont. District 1 Champions. Lost to Penncrest in PIAA Championship.
Key Players: Stephen Cyron, ATT, Sr.; Bryce Reid, ATT, Sr.; Jake Pousson, ATT, Sr.; PJ Rafferty, ATT, Sr.; Beau Kush, MID, Jr.; Doug Jones, MID, So.; Nick Cardile, D, Jr.; Logan Atkinson, D, Sr.; Brayden Peck, D, So.; Liam Brodie, G, Sr. Outlook: Red Devils lost 17 seniors from the PIAA runner-up team last season, but have plenty of talent and depth back that are ready to plug in for the losses. Cyron returns after leading the Ches-Mont with 68 goals last season on the attack. He was a Daily Local News All-Area first team selection along with earning All Ches-Mont first team honors. Cyron, Reid, Pousson and Rafferty will seek to fill the void left by Tanner Pack, Eric Russo and Ryan Cook (combined for 118 goals in 2014).
Cardile and Atkinson returning on a strong defense with Peck earning more minutes as well. Avon Grove lost Kush (32 goals) for the season with an injury, which leaves some questions in the midfield. Liam Brody replaces All-American Will Schreiner in goal. “We got a good group of kids that are working hard,’ Jackson said. “Losing 17 seniors hurt, but guys are starting to figure out their roles. We definitely have some talent, but it’s more about trying to get better. With Kush out, guys are starting to step up. At the end of the day, we love to be in the discussion for the Ches-Mont title.’
Prediction: Red Devils are deep at plenty of positions. Unsure how Kush injury will affect them, but Avon Grove will be in mix for Ches-Mont and for District 1 title once again.
Bishop Shanahan
Coach: Jon Heisman (6th season, 26th overall)
Record: 10-0 league, 18-3 overall. Ches-Mont champions. Second in District 1. Lost to Penncrest in PIAA first round.
Key Players: Alex Wagner, ATT, Jr.; Eli Goforth, ATT, So.; Sam Goforth, MID, So.; Pat Corcoran, MID, Sr.; Ben Farrell, MID, Sr.; Connor Davis, D, Sr.; Jimmie Walsh, D, Sr.; Ryan McNulty, D, Jr.; Jason Yoquinto, G, Jr.; Sam Gindhart, G, Sr.
Outlook: Shanahan has tons of talent returning from the Ches-Mont championship team from last season, but will need to replace senior leaders John Mehok, Dylan Alderman and Sam Montgomery (combined 158 goals last season). Wagner returns has the top player on the attack (59 goals last season) with Goforth providing help with him up top. Eagles return a strong midfield led by Corcoran, Sam Goforth and Farrell. Corcoran will provide help on the attack as the Eagles are strong defensively in the midfield and in the back. McNulty returns on defense after earning Daily Local News All-Area first team honors along with an All Ches-Mont first team selection. Yoquinto and Gindhart will split time in goal, simlar to last season before Heisman rode Yoquinto through the playoff run. “I’m hoping to make a district and state run,’ Heisman said. “We’re still figuring out roles on the attack along with lines, but we’ll be ready to go. Our schedule is tough to start, but will help us as the season wears on.’
Prediction: Eagles are deep across the board defensively, which allow them to compete with anyone. If Shanahan can generate offense, will me in mix for district title and state playoff run. Contender with Avon Grove and Downingtown East for Ches-Mont title.
Downingtown East
Coach: Todd Cliggett (5th season)
Record: 7-3 league, 10-10 overall. Third in Ches-Mont. Lost to Penncrest in District 1 2nd round.
Key Players: Mike Risser, ATT, Sr.; Jack Mulachy, ATT, Fr.; Nolan Little, MID, Sr.; Dylan Rittenhouse, MID, Sr.; Adam Stata, MID, Sr.; Saunders Healy, D, Jr.; Jake Peden, D, Sr.; Bryan Murray, D, Sr.; Brody Wilson, G, Jr.
Outlook: Downingtown East returns 13 starters from a team that was plagued by injuries in 2014, but still managed to finish third in the Ches-Mont. The Cougars have one of the top defenses in the league with Peden (a North Carolina commit), Healy and Murray. Peden was a Daily Local News All-Area and All Ches-Mont first team selection. Wilson returns in goal after winning the job in net during the second half of last season. Little, Stata and Riitenhouse all return in the midfield and will help a young attack up front. “We have a lot of experience and a lot of depth despite being young on the attack,’ Cliggett said. “We want to compete for the Ches-Mont, compete for the district and hopefully for the state title. If we stay healthy, we can compete with anyone.’
Prediction: Cougars finished .500 and won a playoff game despite myriad of injuries in 2014. They’ll compete with Avon Grove and Bishop Shanahan for the Ches-Mont title with a deep and experienced roster. Could make a deep district run as well.
Downingtown West
Coach: Billy Davis (1st season)
Record: 4-6 league, 4-12 overall. Sixth in Ches-Mont.
Key Players: David Gallagher, ATT, Jr.; Ben Wooten, D, Sr.; Carson White, G, Sr.
Outlook: Davis arrives in his first season after spending the last two years as an assistant at Conestoga, where the Pioneers reached the state title game in 2013. Whippets young across the board, especially on the attack. Gallagher returns after leading the team with 19 goals. Hunter Lewis will help out Gallagher on the attack. White replces Alex Ataaiifar in goal, as he earned Daily Local News All-Area honorable mention honors last season.
Prediction: West has a young squad and a lot of unknowns. Davis has a tall task ahead, but can lead them to a quick turnaround.
Great Valley
Coach: Tony Verna (9th season)
Record: 7-3 league, 13-4 overall. Fourth in Ches-Mont. Lost to Wissahickon in District 1 1st round.
Key Players: Chris Hueston, ATT, Sr.; Ethan Joseph, ATT, Jr.; Scott Wagner, MID, Jr.; Conor Middleton, MID, Sr.; Aaron Joseph, MID, So.; Timmy Ashman, LSM, Sr.; Kasey Carroll, D, Sr.; Reiner Westby, D, Jr.; Scott McAneney, G, Jr.
Outlook: Patriots lose a huge part in their offense with Greg Merrill graduating, but was without him for most of last year due to injury. Joseph (13 goals) and Middleton (16 goals) stepped up in Merrill’s absence and will front the offense with Hueston (27 goals). Great Valley is young in the midfield and defense, but have Carroll, a Daily Local News All-Area honorable mention selection, back for his senior year. “We’re looking to compete for a Ches-Mont title,’ Verna said. “We like to make the District 1 playoffs for a fifth straight year as well.’
Prediction: Patriots can play spoiler in the Ches-Mont tile race. If they do, they’ll be in the hunt for a second championship in three years. Strong chance they return to districts as well.
Kennett
Coach: Sean Tischler (2nd season)
Record: 2-8 league, 4-14 overall. 11th in Ches-Mont.
Key Players: Beau Schmeusser, ATT, Jr.; Brady O’Neil, ATT, Sr.; David McVey, ATT, So.; Jake Rose, ATT, Sr.; John Finfrock, MID, So.; Matt Smith, MID, Sr.; Matt Petrick, D, Sr.; Frankie Perigo, D, Sr.; Zach Longacre, G, Sr.
Outlook: Blue Demons were young and experienced a few injuries in 2014, but are healthy heading into the season. O’Neil returns on the attack after missing 2014 with a knee injury. He’ll join Schmeusser (22 goals) and McVey on the attack. Kennett has seven starters returning including Finfrock (heading to Towson), Petrick (heading to Drexel), Perigo and Longacre. Blue Demons expected to be strong in the back with Petrick, All Ches-Mont second team, and Perigo. “These kids are hard workers,’ Tischler said. “If we continue to work as hard as we are now, we’ll compete. I’m excited for this group, especially for the underclassmen and how far they moved forward after last year. This is a great group of kids to coach.’
Prediction: Kennett has the talent to play spoiler in the Ches-Mont race and compete to be in the top half of the league. If they are able to accomplish that, a trip to districts is likely.
Unionville
Coach: Noel Breger (2nd season)
Record: 3-7 league, 8-9 overall. Seventh in Ches-Mont.
Key Players: Winslow Davis, ATT, Sr.; Jimmy Nowoswiat, ATT, Sr.; Danny Donovan, ATT, Sr.;
Outlook: Indians will have a strong offense with the tandem of Davis, Nowoswiat and Donovan on the attack. Davis led the Ches-Mont League at the conclusion of the regular season with 49 goals, an average of 2.88 per game. He was a Daily Local News First Team All-Area selection along with All Ches-Mont first team honors. Nowoswiat scored 44 goals while Donovan had 37. The trio combined for 130 goals in 2014, which was tops in the Ches-Mont. The Indians have plenty of experience on the roster to go with their attack with 16 seniors on the roster. “All of the seniors are truly key to the program in one way or another,’ Breger said. “I expect us to vie for the Ches-Mont tile and make the district playoffs, because I know we can.’
Prediction: The Indians have a lethal offense, which makes them a dangerous team in the Ches-Mont. Have a shot at the district playoffs.
West Chester East
Coach: Jim Schorn (6th season)
Record: 3-7 league, 5-12 overall. Ninth in Ches-Mont.
Key Players: Tom Gormley, ATT, So.; Brendan Warrington, ATT, Jr.; Joe Guarnere, ATT, Jr.; Sam Maddox, ATT, Jr.; Chris Gleason, MID, Sr.; Sam Walsh, MID, Sr.; Steve Phelan, D, Jr.; J.D. Carroll, D, So.; Matt Erfle, D, So.; Billy Kyle, G. Sr.
Outlook: Vikings lost their top two goal scorers in Matt Haenn and Nick Myers and will have to replace their 57 goals from last season. Gormley, Warrington, Guarnare and Maddox will look to better that production. East solid in midfield, but also young as well. Alex Hirsh, Jack Phelan, Chris Erfle and Zach Lagalante are expected to be in the rotation with Gleason and Walsh. Vikings strength is on defense with Carroll, a All Ches-Mont first team selection and Daily Local News All-Area second team selection as a freshman, back for his sophomore season. Carroll, Erfle and Phelan form one of the younger units in the league, but tough to get shots off of. Kyle returns in goal along with Jeff Sherman. According to Schorn, decision making will determine the Vikings’ success for the season.
Prediction: Vikings defense will keep them in games and team should be more competitive. Expect them to improve.
West Chester Henderson
Coach: Paul Stankewicz (33rd season)
Record: 5-5 league, 8-11 overall. Fifth in Ches-Mont. Lost to Holy Ghost Prep in District 1 1st round.
Key Players: Cody Pascale, ATT, Jr.; Nick Rizzo, ATT, Sr.; Jawk Twohig, MID, Sr.; Nick Mascetti, MID, So.; Noah Richard, MID, Sr.; Greg O’Neill, MID, Sr.; Jason DePhillips, D, Jr.; Eric Beren, G, Sr.
Outlook: Henderson has plenty of returning starters back from a young team that made the District 1 playoffs after playing a rigorous schedule in 2014. Pascale (33 goals) and Richard (29 goals) return to lead the attack. Both were All Ches-Mont first team selections last year and Daily Local News All-Area second team selections. Rizzo (18 goals) will also provide some offensive help. Twohig was a Ches-Mont first team defensive midfielder last season and is one of the top defenseman in the league while Beren returns in goal. “We have a lot of senior leadership,’ Stankewicz said. “They should help us challenge for the Ches-Mont title and a spot in the district playoffs.’
Prediction: Experience should help the Warriors improve throughout the year. Henderson has ability to play spoiler in Ches-Mont race and compete for state playoff berth.
West Chester Rustin
Coach: Tommy Hannum (2nd season, 11th overall)
Record: 3-7 league, 9-9 overall. Eighth in Ches-Mont.
Key Players: R.J. Zoba, ATT, Sr.; Mark Campanile, ATT, Sr.; Brett O’Neill, ATT, Sr.; Cameron West, MID, Sr.; Casey West, MID, Sr.; Mike McKnight, D, Sr.; Shayne Boyer, Faceoff, Sr.; Kyle Mullin, G, So.
Outlook: Golden Knights were the most improved team in the Ches-Mont last season, improving from three wins to nine with Hannum’s first year at the helm. This year, they seek to make the district playoffs for first time in school history. Campanile and Zoba lead a dangerous one-two punch on the attack as the pair combined for 70 goals in 2014. O’Neill (12 goals) join them up front. Rustin has a lot of seniors in the midfield to help the offense, led by the West twins. Golden Knights will be strong in goal with Mullin in net. Boyer also is one of the top faceoff players in the league. “We improved at a lot of positions,’ Hannum said. “We have a lot of athletes and leave a lot of competitiveness on the field. It’s all about how good we can get. I think we’ll do much better as we’re hoping to make the playoffs.’ Prediction: Experienced group got first taste of winning last year and should improve. Should compete for first over .500 season and district playoff berth. Could play spoiler in Ches-Mont race.
Central League
Conestoga
Coach: Brody Bush (1st season)
Record: 7-5 league, 11-8 overall. Lost to Garnet Valley in District 1 2nd round.
Key Players: Matt Schlichter, ATT, Jr.; Steve Hildebrand, ATT, Sr.; Chris Brady, MID, Sr.; Ryan Dutot, MID, Sr.; Sam Friedman, MID, Sr.; Damase Bagbonon, LSM, Sr.; Robbie Sedlak, D, Sr.; Dylan Sidoriak, D, Sr.; Jack Reilly, D, Jr.; Parke Schweiter, D, Sr.; John Roulston, G, Sr.
Outlook: The Pioneers are coming off a disappointing 11-8 season and a second-round exit from the District 1 playoffs after reaching the PIAA championship game four years in a row, winning three straight from 2011 to 2013. Conestoga returns 21 starters and has plenty of talent to make a run at its seventh Central League title in 10 years. Brady and Schweiter return after earning All Central league honorable mention honors in 2014. The Pioneers have six seniors going Division 1 schools in the fall, most notably Bagbanon (Loyola, Md.), Brady and Friedman (Lafayette). Bush takes over for Brian Samson, who spent 13 years coaching Conestoga. He was an assistant under Samson the past six years. “We have high expections this year and this group of boys have enough skill and experience to meet our team goals,’ Bush said. “We have a very challenging schedule and this will help prepare them for success.’
Prediction: The Pioneers have the talent to win the Central League and compete for the District 1 and PIAA title. Conestoga should return to its tradition of making deep postseason runs.
Inter-Ac
Malvern Prep
Coach: John McEvoy (10th season).
Record: 11-0 league, 24-0 overall. Inter-Ac Champions.
Key Players: Charles Kelly, ATT, Sr.; Adam Goldner, ATT, Jr.; Zach White, ATT, Jr.; Ryan Antell, MID, Sr.; AJ Traynor, MID, Jr.; Jarrett Donaghy, MID, Jr.; Michael Fay, MID, So.; Drew Schantz, MID, Sr.; Mike Mulqueen, D, Sr.; Matt Klinges, D, Sr.
Outlook: Friars lost plenty of seniors from last year’s undefeated Inter-Ac championship squad and are experiencing some injuries to start the season. Goldner had 31 goals last season with 33 assists. Kelly and Mulqueen were selected to the All Eastern Pennsylvania Lacrosse Coaches Association team in 2014. “We will be very youthful and inexperienced this year and just competitive,’ McEvoy said. “We hope to grow and get better by the end of the year, especially with the strong newcomers in the freshman class.’
Prediction: Friars are always in the hunt for the Inter-Ac championship desppite their youth and inexperience on the roster. This season will be no different.
