Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/31/12
Staff Report
Mesa Fresh 2015 has successfully followed the lead of Mesa Fresh 2014.
For the second straight year, a Mesa Fresh squad won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions Rising Stars Division championship as the 2015 squad today downed Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), 7-3, at Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Mesa Fresh, the No. 5 seed, had opened the day with a dramatic 8-7 overtime victory over top-seeded Northern Lacrosse (Canada). In that game Mesa Fresh rallied from a 4-1 deficit and won it on a goal by Dox Aitken (Haverford school freshman).
In the title game, Mesa Fresh led from the start, taking a quick 3-0 lead on goals by Grant Ament (Haverford School), Aitken and Brendan Jacob (Haverford School).
FCA – which featured sophomore midfielder and Maryland commit Curtis Zappala (Episcopal Academy) – drew within 4-2 before halftime, but Ament and Aitken scored again to make it 6-2. Zappala had one assist and was a major focus of the swarming Mesa Fresh defense.
Mesa Fresh’s defense tightened in the third quarter and Drew Supinski (Haverford School) made it 7-2 with a goal in the upper corner. FCA scored once in the final quarter
Face-off specialist Charles Kelly (Malvern Prep) was named the tournament MVP and Mesa’s goalies – Sean McGovern (Central Bucks East), Alex Alexander (Radnor) and Jack Green (Conestoga).
“It was a complete team effort from top to bottom,” said Mesa Fresh coach pETER rOHR. “The real reason for their success was defensve. The attack rode hard, the middies slid and the big boys in the back were just dominant all around with sensational goaltending.
“The team defense and dominating (work at the) face-off X made it a MESA victory!”
Meanwhile in the Elite Division, FCA claimed third place by toppling Burnaby Mountain Select, 8-7, as goalie Brian Zappala (Episcopal Academy) made a number of oustanding saves. Team Long Island downed Sweet Lax, 13-11, for the title. Mesa Fresh 2014 handled Laxville, 11-6, to claim fifth place.
In the U11 Division, Philadelphia Freedom 2019 dropped a 5-4 decision to Palm Beach Storn in the third place game.
