Top Lax Recruits
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TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/31/16
From US Lacrosse
The eighth annual US Lacrosse National Championships wrapped up last Sunday at Grand Park with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Md.) National taking the boys’ division title. FCA won its fourth gold medal with a 10-4 defeat of Colorado.
Earlier in the girls’ division, the Yellow Jackets (N.Y.) won their third straight U15 national championship, 7-4 over Liberty (N.Y.), and took home the gold in the U14 and U13 tournaments as well.
A look at the U15 all-tournament teams and more notes from #USLaxChamps to put a wrap on the summer tournament season.
U15 Girls All-Tournament Team
Regan Greco, A, Top Guns Black (N.Y.)
Kathleen Sullivan, A, Integrity 2019 (Md.)
Anna Winkeler, A, C2C Dallas (Texas)
Kira Accettella, M, Top Guns Black (N.Y.)
Katie Bellucci, M, Liberty (N.Y.)
Alexa Gentile, M, Yellow Jackets 2019 Blue (N.Y.)
Liana McDonnell, M, Liberty (N.Y.)
Haley Urgo, M, Integrity 2019 (Md.)
Christina Biscardi, D, Yellow Jackets 2019 Blue (N.Y.)
Danielle Carson, D, Yellow Jackets 2019 Blue (N.Y.)
Christina Flaherty, D, Yellow Jackets 2019 Blue (N.Y.)
Krissy Kowalski, G, Liberty (N.Y.)
Lacrosse Monkey (Minn.) earned the sportsmanship award.
U15 Boys All-Tournament Team
Travis Hitt, A, Colorado
Daniel Kelly, A, FCA National (Md.)
Lance Tillman, A, FCA National (Md.)
Brenden Malloy, M/FO, Nati Lax Bros (Ohio/Ky.)
Louis Perfetto, M, For the Love of the Game (N.Y.)
Xander Wells, M, Nati Lax Bros (Ohio/Ky.)
Jacob Snyder, D, FCA National (Md.)
Marcus Trujillo, D, Colorado
Connor Whalen, D, FCA National (Md.)
Christian Tomei, G, FCA National (Md.)
Utah earned the sportsmanship award.
Colorado Boys, C2C Dallas (Texas) Girls Break Out
The Colorado boys struggled through pool play. They edged rival 3d Select National (Colo.), on which there’s some roster crossover in other tournaments, 6-5 to start the event. Colorado then endured a 12-2 loss to FCA National (Md.) and a 13-9 loss to the Nati Lax Bros (Ohio/Ky.), in a game that NLB controlled for most of the way.
But Colorado made an impressive run as the six seed in the bracket. The Coloradoans denied third-seeded 3d revenge, eliminating 3d, 9-8, on Josh Yago’s goal 2:04 into overtime. They then dismantled second-seeded NLB in the semifinals with surprising ease, 16-6.
“We valued the ball more and played patiently and smartly,” Colorado coach Kevin O’Brien said after the semifinal. “The schedule we got — we were battle tested. I think that helped us today.”
The win sent Colorado into its first final. Colorado previously reached the semifinals in 2014.
On the girls’ side, C2C Dallas likewise made some history in its third appearance in the tournament. C2C Dallas got the 14 seed after falling in pool play to Yellow Jackets 2019 Gold (N.Y.), Top Guns Black (N.Y.) and Integrity 2019 (Md.).
The Texans stunned third seeded Team 180 2019 (Colo.) in the first round, 11-8, to draw a rematch with sixth-seeded Integrity 2019 in the quarterfinals.
“We weren’t working as well together as a team [early on], but we came into the Team 180 game with a lot of enthusiasm, and that made all the difference,” midfielder Jordan Aikman said. “Our team really grew. That was really cool to see us play lacrosse the way we know how to play.”
In the quarterfinal, attacker Anna Winkeler could not be stopped, scoring six goals and handing out an assist for C2C Dallas. Integrity took an 8-3 early in the second half, but the Texans rallied to score seven straight goals for a 10-8 lead in the closing minutes. A yellow card proved costly, however, as Integrity scored three times in the last 1:46 to escape, 11-10.
The loss did not diminish the team’s performance for coach Molly Ford, a Baltimore native.
“I love the fight in this team,” said Ford, who played at Georgetown. “Dallas is starting to get engulfed with lacrosse, with talent and with athletes; we just need to catch up to the players in the East in terms of skills.”
Indeed, C2C Dallas has improved in each of its three appearances under Ford. The Texans lost in the first round in 2014, won their first-round game last year to get to the round of 16, and won their round-of-16 game this year to reach their first quarterfinal.
An Aikman on the C2C Dallas team? Yes, it’s his daughter
NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships, supported his daughter, Jordan, on the sidelines among other team parents and family members.
Troy Aikman was gracious throughout the three days at Grand Park, pausing for photos with coaches and families of other teams.
“It’s great to be a father and watch and not get into all the nuances of the game; to just support her and see how she does,” Aikman said after C2C Dallas’ narrow loss to Integrity in the quarterfinals.
Aikman had not been exposed to lacrosse until Jordan began playing in third grade. While his knowledge of the sport has grown, he limits his advice to Jordan and her sister, Ally, regardless of the sport in which they participate.
“There’s three things they can do each and every game,” Aikman said. “Listen to their coach. Give great effort. And be a good sport. If they do those things, I’m pretty happy. And they always do.”
Winning counsel from a true champion.
Next Year’s Site
The US Lacrosse Nationals will feature age divisions for 15U (commonly associated with the high school class of 2020), 14U and 13U. The girls’ tournament is set for July 28-30, 2017, in Richmond, Va. The boys’ tournament site and dates are expected to be confirmed soon. Team registration is expected to open in August.
The post Follow-up from @USLaxChamps: All-Tourney teams; @c2clax girls excel, Troy Aikman’s daughter playing lax appeared first on Top Lax Recruits.