Boys lacrosse preview: unfinished business for Downingtown East seniors
UWCHLAN >> As successful as the 2022 boys’ lacrosse season was for Downingtown East, it wasn’t a satisfying end.
The Cougars head into ’23 with unfinished business on their collective minds, which is scary for a team that won the Ches-Mont crown and played for the District 1 Class 3A Championship. Add in the fact that East returns a big chunk of its best players from a year ago and you have the makings of something historic.
“We will have a nice combination of youth and experience, and plenty of athleticism,” said head coach Joe Horvath. “But, graduating players like Alystair Hemberger, Liam Quinn and Jake Shannon leave notable gaps to fill.”
The Cougars went 19-4 a year ago, and advanced to the district final before having to swallow a 14-3 setback to a Radnor squad that went on to win the state title. And then in the first round of the PIAA Playoffs, East dropped a 7-6 heartbreaker, at home, to Hempfield.
Graduation losses aside, the Cougars are the team to beat again in the Ches-Mont, and are a serious player in the district and beyond. That’s mainly because a transformational group of five seniors are back for one more go around, and they’ve been playing lacrosse together for a decade, which represents more than half their lives.
The names are well-known in the region’s lacrosse circles: Bo Horvath, Bryson Kolinsky, Sam Barton, Mike Waite and T.J. Shillingford. All five earned all-area recognition in 2022, four made all-state, and all five are going on to play collegiately.
“They played on the same club team (Brotherly Love Lacrosse Club) and played on the same township team (Lionville Youth Association) for all those years,” said Joe Horvath, who is Bo’s dad. “In 2019, their township team won the Chester County Lacrosse Association Championship and they were excited to get after it in high school.
“Sadly, the pandemic took their freshman year, but they continue to stay highly motivated as they take the high school field together one last time.”
Horvath has committed to play at Lehigh, but the athletic midfielder had such an impressive senior year as a running back in football, he may opt to play both sports in college. As a junior, Horvath scored 37 goals and dished out 17 assists.
A pure goal scorer, Kolinsky had 55 last spring (along with 28 assists) and is headed to play Division I lacrosse at Delaware. And Waite is a ground ball vacuum at long-stick midfielder and will play next fall at St. Josephs.
Barton is a beefy defender who has signed to play at Colgate, and Shillingford is a versatile offensive threat who is on his way to Arcadia.
Add in returning starters like juniors Jake McMahon (midfielder) and Connor Sweeney (attack/midfield), and sophomore goaltender Brayden Quinn (88 saves), and Downingtown East has proven talent at all levels.
“We will put in the effort to recover from those (graduation) losses, generate new team chemistry, and compete,” Joe Horvath said. “Our goals are to win the Ches-Mont league, fight for a place-finish in the District 1 tournament, and compete in the PIAA 3A State Tournament.”
Here is a look the rest of the Ches-Mont:
Prior to a postseason flameout last season, Downingtown West was one of the district’s better teams (16-3 record). The Whippets have a lot of proven talent returning, including a foursome of seniors who are already committed to playing college lacrosse: Thomas Venzie (Mercer), Bret Bergey (High Point), Bram Monroe (Stevenson) and Carter Gear (Stevenson). Venzie is a premier long stick middie, Bergey had 30 points despite missing time with a knee injury, Monroe scored 32 goals, and Gear is a solid two-way midfielder. Juniors Dean Hangey and Owen Lundmark are also key contributors. “We have a great mix of confident upperclassmen that have had competitive playing experience and are incredibly driven to take this program to a different level,” said head coach Billy Davis.
In each of the previous two years, West Chester Rustin registered the program’s two most successful seasons (combined record of 27-11). Seventh-year head coach Kevin Philibin is hoping to take another step forward and the Knights return their entire starting offense — which accounted for 92% of the team’s points — including three seniors: midfielder Marek Seamon (56 goals, 37 assists), and attackers Jake Jackson (39 goals, 25 assists) and Antonio Santangelo (53 goals, 17 assists). Add in rock solid senior keeper Billy Carney (62.4 save percentage), and Rustin is a force to be reckoned with. “Our goals for this season are to win West Chester (beat East and Henderson), compete for the Ches-Mont and District 12A titles, and earn a berth to the state playoffs for the first time,” Philibin said.
Two seasons removed from winning the Ches-Mont and a runner-up finish at states, Kennett is no longer an underdog. The Blue Demons were 12-8 a year ago but head coach Bob Allvord needs to find replacements for graduating standouts Jake Freebery and Connor Jung. Senior Zach Hulme is, perhaps, the area’s most dangerous attacker, and Bo Freebery (junior, attack) and Colin Jung (senior, midfield) are key contributors like their older brothers. The defensive mainstays include seniors Dan Petrick and Luke Finfrock. “We will continue to work hard with the ever-changing landscape of our program,” Allvord said. “We are looking forward to competing in the always-tough Ches-Mont.”
Looking to capitalize on a true Cinderella postseason run in ’22, Unionville will have to deal with some graduation losses (like goalie Nico Kotch), but also have some proven returners. The top attackers are juniors Owen Kupsey and Owen Quinlan, and senior Kevin Carson is the team’s best midfielder. The defense will be held down by juniors Luke Stokes, Connor Bellafiore and Corrado Ditorro. “We lost a lot of seniors last year but we have talent at each position,” said head coach Steve Holmes. “The key will be gelling and continuing to improve every day. Our expectations are elevated due to our success last year. Therefore we need an elevated attention to detail.”
Traditional power Avon Grove is looking to regain its form near the top of the Ches-Mont standings and a threat in districts. The Devils should be more explosive on offense with the return of a trio of senior attackers Preston Boyd, Trent Lucovich and Griffin Edwards. Senior midfielders Anthony Mid and Nick Marsala are experienced, and the defense is anchored by senior Owen Edwards. “After a hard fought 2022 season and a second round District 1 3A appearance, we return a strong core of players who look to be back in the contention for the Ches-Mont title along with fighting for a District I 3A state qualifying selection,” said head coach Brian Wallace.
Under 13-year head coach Jon Heisman (193-53 record), Bishop Shanahan is always defensive-minded, but for 2023 the Eagles are poised to have a more potent attack. It starts with all-league faceoff specialist Rowan Miller, along with junior sniper Joe Devine. The defense is anchored by seniors Ben Rodner-Tims and Ben Mace. Shanahan was 10-9 a year ago. “Our expectations are simple: get better every day and compete at a high level,” Heisman said. Defensive coordinator Paul Meyers added: “Over the past few years, defense has been our backbone. However, this year can be different with our young offensive guys, who got a lot of playing time and experience last year. If these young guys can step up, along with that defense, we can be very competitive.”
Things appear on the upswing at West Chester Henderson. Second-year head coach Sean Evans has returning standouts in all three levels from a team that went 9-9. The top attacker is junior Max Abrahams (10 goals, three assists), and the midfield is in capable hands with senior Sean Surowiec (13 goals, five assists), and juniors Seamus Murphy (27 goals, nine assists) and Danny Garcia. The defense is anchored by juniors Evan McFadden and Aaron Nelson. “We went from 3-11 in 2021, to 9-9,” Evans said. “We are excited to build off of last year’s season and hope to improve in the always challenging Ches-Mont league.”
For a program that is started in 2021, Coatesville is making rapid progress and has already moved into the middle of the pack in the Ches-Mont. Some of the Raiders top scorers are back, including senior Owen Ellis, who registered 28 goals and dished out 24 assists last season. And most of the key defenders are also back, including seniors Brendan Ly and Pearse McGeehan, and senior keeper Dax Shallis (55 save percentage). “We look to improve upon a good start to our program by making the jump into the District 1 Playoffs,” said head coach Dan Ellis.
First-year Great Valley head coach Jon Knowles inherits a squad looking to move up in the Ches-Mont hierarchy. The Patriots are most experienced in the midfield with senior Tim Matthews and junior Jack Deegan, and the defensive stalwart is senior Nick DeRezende. The top returning attackers are junior Gavin Rhoades and sophomore Davis Reilly. “We have a core group of juniors and some young talent we will develop during this season’s tough schedule,” Knowles said. “We look to be competitive in the league and district and build on the solid foundation and culture at Great Valley.”
Matt McCormick is out and Nate Bauer takes over as the head coach at West Chester East. The Vikings bottomed out at 2-14 last season, but have some key pieces back, including senior goaltender Max Dugan and junior midfielder Nolan Schemmer. The new coaching staff is also excited about brothers Trey and Luke Berry, and 6-foot-5 senior attacker Greg Diamond. “We have a whole new attitude this year, beginning with respect for the game and each other,” Bauer said.
Oxford is looking to climb its way up the Ches-Mont standings, and new head coach Joe Marinelli has a defense that is the backbone of the effort. Seniors Shane Cassidy and Connor Gentile lead the way, as well as junior Parker Minch. The Hornets top returner in the midfield is senior Trent Keenan, and Luke Piskin is back on faceoffs. “We are looking to build upon last year’s 4-13 record with defense,” Marinelli said. “With our numbers being down this year we are looking for total team effort with everyone contributing.”
Here is a closer look at teams from outside the Ches-Mont:
Malvern Prep is one of the top teams in the talent-rich region. Former player (2005-08) and assistant coach (2013-22) at Malvern, Matt Mackrides takes over from John McEvoy as head coach and has inherited a load of talent. The Friars are the defending champs of the Inter-Ac league and are the team to beat once again. All American senior A.J. Nikolic has signed to play college lacrosse at Cornell and is coming off a season where he scored 45 goals and added 32 assists. Other elite goal scorers include junior Ennis Udo (Brown, senior Billy Irish (Lafayette) and sophomore finisher Mike Ortlieb. Junior Nick Wehmeyer (Yale) and senior Pat Mears are a potent 1-2 on faceoffs, and the DiBartolomeo brothers Lucca, Roman and Peri are stalwarts in the midfield. All three have committed to play at Penn State. The defense is solid with seniors Pat Keenan (Penn State) and Roman Buono (Yale), and junior Brad Piffath (Penn State). “Our non-league schedule is tough, but we’re excited about it,” Mackrides said. “Haverford definitely will be a test in the Inter-Ac. The entire league has some pieces this year, to be honest.”
With a senior-laden squad in 2022, the resulting 12-9 season was a down one for a perennial power like Conestoga. The Pioneers may not have a lot of star power in ’23, but solid players dot the lineup like attacker Wade Beckstrom (26 goals, 43 points) and fellow senior midfielders Brody Easton, Drew Mershel and Chris Forgie. The defense returns Gavin Daly and David Leighton. Replacing standout goalie Patrick Jameison (Duke) will be a top priority. “This team missed the PIAA 3A Playoff bid by one game and is hungry to get back,” said head coach Brody Bush.
After placing fourth in the Philadelphia Catholic League and second in District 12 the previous two seasons, Devon Prep would like to improve on its 12-10 mark a year ago. As usual, the Tide have a tough schedule, but have proven scorers like junior Nick D’Alleandro (36 goals, 21 assists) and sophomore Ryan Kane (20 goals, 19 assists). The squad’s only senior is goalie Cole Blassington, and the midfield is built around juniors Nick Walton (14 goals, 33 assists) and Eammon Donovan (38 goals, 14 assists). “Many starting returning players on the offensive side, with a great mix of experience and youth on the defensive half, gives us a lot of upside and room to develop,” said head coach Mark Consolo.
