By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/5/14
Stephen Cyron scored seven goals and Tanner Peck had three goals and six assists as host Avon Grove defeated Ridley, 15-5, in the signature game Saturday at the 5th Annual HEADstrong Foundation Rivalry Games.
The event benefited the HEADstrong Foundation’s mission to cure blood cancer through education and awareness. Six high school games with teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware were played alongside 10 more JV and youth games.
Avon Grove (4-1), ranked No. 4 in the Delaware Valley by Phillylacrosse.com, jumped to a 9-1 halftime lead and never looked back.
It was the first year that a high school team had hosted the event, which formerly was held at Widener University in Delaware County, close to where Nick Colleluori played at Ridley. Colleluori created the vision for the HEADstrong Foundation before succumbing to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2006 while a student-athlete at Hofstra University.
Other scores included: >Perkiomen Valley (PA) 16, Pope John Paul II (PA) 3; Unionville (PA) 9, Marple Newtown (PA) 3; Kennett (PA) 7, St. Andrew’s (DE) 2; Bayard Rustin (PA) 10, Shipley School (PA) 3; and Egg Harbor Township (NJ) 13, Ocean City (NJ) 1.
After each game, a Nick Colleluori Award winner was named by each team; the players exemplified the heat and desire of Colleluori, known for his small stature and gigantic heart and determination.
“First of all it’s a great event and thanks to the HEADstrong Foundation and the Avon Grove community to put this together,” said Devils Nick Colleluori Award winner Ryan Cook (two goals). “We were just trying to come out and put on a good show for everybody.”
Cook said Devils – the defending District 1 champions – got their transition game going against a Ridley (5-2) team known for its defense.
“For the first time this year we got a lot of transition goals and we kept the ball moving,” he said “We had a lot of off-ball cutters and caught the ball and finished.
“It means a lot to host the event. The last couple years we’ve gotten more recognized and hosting this great event puts us on the map.”
Bryce Reid added two goals and an assist for Avon Grove.
For Ridley, Lou Harrison and Brock Anderson each scored twice.
“It’s a great opportunity to be here, coming from Ridley,” said Green Raiders senior midfielder Matt Borchert, his team’s Nick Colleluori Award winner. “Nick was such a great player and any time to have the opportunity to come and play for him is special.
“He actually grew up right around the corner from me in Holmes and Nick’s House is close by.
“This was a tough game, but we just want to get better.”
HEADstrong Rivalry Games
Avon Grove 15, Ridley 5
Avon Grove 3-6-3-3- 15
Ridley 1-0-1-3- 5
Avon Grove
Tanner Peck 3g, 6a
Stephen Cyron 6g
Ryan Cook 2g
Bryce Reid 2g, 1a
Beau Kush 1g
Eric Russo 1g, 1a
Nick Cardile 1a
Will Schreiner 8 saves
Liam Brodie 2 saves
Ridley
Lou Harrison 2g
Nick Fox 1a
Brock Anderson 2g
Nick Hill 1g
Perkiomen Valley 16, Pope John Paul II 3
PV 7-4-4- 1- 16
PJP2 0-1-2-0- 3
PV
Kris Boyd 3G, 3a
Sean Tornetta 3G 2a
Shawn Coulter 3G, 2a
Shawn Dickey 3G
Connor Dee 2g 1a
Ben Minardi 1g
Dan Sullivan 1g 1a
Kevin Mo 7 saves
Unionville 9, Marple Newtown 3
Marple Newtown 0-0-1-2
Unionville 5-3-1-0
Marple Newtown
Tom Higgins 1g 1a
Dave Dagessian 1g 1a
TJ Reiley 1g
Mike Carr 4 saves
Dylan Welsh 2 saves
Unionville
Dan Donovan 2g, 1a
Winslow Davis 2g
Dom Di Biaggio 2g
Andrew Rosenberg 2g
Jim Nowaswiat 1g
Kennett 7, St. Andrew’s-DE 2
Kennett 2 3 0 2 7
St. Andrew’s (DE) 0 0 2 0 2
Kennett
David McVeigh 1 g
Beau Schmeusser 1 g, 3a
Jake Rose 1 g
John Angeline 1g
Hunter Schmeusser 2 g
Matt Smith 1 g
ZAch Longacre 11 saves
Bayard Rustin 10, Shipley 3
Bayard Rustin 6 2 1 1 -10
Shipley 1 1 0 1 -3
Egg Harbor Township 13, Ocean City 1
Egg Harbor Township 4-5-1-3- 13
Ocean City 0-0-0- 1- 1
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