Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/3/10
Mesa Fresh 2010 and Mesa Fresh 2012 each moved into the semifinals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions in their respective divisions during playoff action today at the boys’ club tournament in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Mesa Fresh 2010 defeated Edge Jr. (Ontario, Canada), 11-5, in the quarterfinals to improve to 5-0 overall in the 26-team Elite Division field. Mesa Fresh had toppled Atlanta Elite, 12-2, in the Round of 16 earlier in the day.
Mesa Fresh will face undefeated Warrior (NY & NC) in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. today. Warrior – which features highly-routed Albany recruits Lyle Thompson (No. 1 rated by Inside Lacrosse in the junior class) and older brother Miles Thompson – routed Philly’s Rebel Elite, 12-4, in the quarterfinals. Rebel Elite had advanced to the quarters by downing Top Tier (N.C.), 9-3 and the CT Seminoles, 10-4. The other semifinal matchup features the Rough Riders and Edge Sr.
The other Philly team in the Elite Division, Team HEADstrong, fell to Edge Sr., 11-3, in the Round of 16. HEADstrong had opened action today by edging Utah Select, 3-2, in the opening round of the playoffs. HEADstrong later fell to Norcal, 7-3 in a loser’s bracket game.
In the Rising Stars Division, Mesa Fresh 2012 improved to 4-0 by blanking the Connecticut Cardinals, 15-0. Mesa Fresh will face Palm Neach Storm/Burning River (Ohio) in the semifinals Sunday at 8 a.m. The other semifinal matchup will feature Copperhead Black (Ga) and Leading Edge (N.J.). The title game is slated for 11:45 a.m.
