Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/18/12

Peter Samson, who was instrumental in creating the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival, is the guest Thursday night when Phillylacrosse.com Editor Chris Goldberg co-hosts “Lax High” on the Lacrosse Radio Network.

Samson helped launch the event in 2001 at Radnor High to raise funds and awareness to spinal cord research and development; it has evolved into the biggest high school tournament in the nation with 27 high school games involving teams from the Philadelphia region and around the Mid-Atlantic. The event is inspired by Samson’s daughter, Katie, a Radnor grad and NCAA Division III lacrosse champion, who, in January, 2000, was the victim of a devastating spinal cord trauma paralyzing her from the chest down.

The show begins at 6:30 p.m. and can be accessed on blogtalkradio.com by clicking here.. Listeners can call in to ask questions for Samson, Goldberg or co-host Ty Xanders of Inside Lacrosse at (347) 215-7466. The show runs until about 7 p.m. and also can be accessed on a podcast minutes after its conclusion at the same URL.

The Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival, now in its 12th year, has raised more than $1 million for charities supporting spinal cord injury research, care, and quality of life improvements.

The event will feature over 20 vendors, at least 10,000 fans, more than 50 major sponsors and 2 FanZones with rides, bounces, rock walls, face painters, BBQ, funnel cakes, raffle prices, clothing etc.

The Festival provides the premier high school lacrosse teams in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond with an atmosphere promoting sportsmanship, camaraderie and purpose. The Festival is organized by volunteers from the Philadelphia regional lacrosse community and the Katie Samson Foundation.

One of the marquee games is between two Philly boys’ teams ranked among the top seven in every major poll: Haverford School and Conestoga. A top girls’ game features two highly-ranked teams, Garnet Valley and Virginia’s St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes.

Chris Goldberg

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/12/12

Marple Newtown hosted the St. Helen’s School for England last week during Spring Break.

Marple Newtown (white jerseys) and St. Helen's School of the UK enjoyed spirited games of lacrosse and friendship last week

the Tigers’ varsity won, 7-6, while the JV prevailed, 9-8, in overtime as the two teams were evenly matched throughout.

Brigid Kyne had two goals, including the game-winner in the varsity game while Joann Schmeltzer and Holly Nicolardi each scored twice. Cat Rainone had eight saves and Erica Brown led the defense while Danielle Collins had four draw controls.

The day was wrapped up with a “Philly-themed” lunch. Marple Newtown parents brought soft pretzels, TastyKakes, WaWa hoagies, Hershey’s, etc. Marple hoped to one day return the favor and visit St. Helen’s School in the UK.

Chris Goldberg

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/9/12

As the new lacrosse season heats up, Long Island’s Shoreham-Wading River (N.Y.) junior Alex Fehmel collects her gear: a stick, mouth-guard, goggles and a blue, custom-made helmet.

Fehmel, a standout midfielder for the 3-0 Wildcats, has been wearing the specially-designed soft-shell helmet since her freshman year when she helped the Wildcats claim a Class C state championship.

Alex Fehmel

The use of helmets in girls’ lacrosse has been a much talked-about subject in recent years. This year in Potomac Md., the Bullis School made national headlines when it mandated that all girls on the varsity and JV teams will wear rugby helmets due to an excessive amount of concussions sustained in the 2011 season. (See story on Bullis School’s decision).

As a result of the increased number of concussions and the increased media attention concussions have received at the high school, college and pro levels, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a new law last summer that will increase protections for student-athletes who suffer concussions, a decision supported by Long Island legislators.

The law requires any student who is believed to have suffered a concussion to be immediately removed from athletic activities and banned from returning until he or she is symptom-free for at least 24 hours and cleared by a physician.

Officials from US Lacrosse wished to clarify that helmets or any protective headgear cannot prevent concussions.

Ann Carpenetti, US Lacrosse Managing Director for Game Administration, said US Lacrosse has been working hard in recent years to create a standard for women’s headgear. When that occurs, US Lacrosse could recommend or endorse protective headgear for some or all female players.

Fehmel first suffered the concussion during an 8th grade game. She found that she was unable to play at her normal level without it.

“I lost consciousness,’ she said the first concussion “I took a charge and the girl landed on me and my head slammed against the ground pretty bad.

“I couldn’t play for a while and had to stay home and wear sunglasses. Any noises gave me a headache.”

It was after Fehmel took a stick to the head in a game that her father, Chris, decided she needed the protection of a helmet. He asked his friend, Gary Hanson, who had made professional hockey goalie masks for years, to create the helmet for Alex.

“I felt weird at first because nobody wears helmets,” Alex said. “I put it on and it wasn’t bad. Obviously, it was really different playing at first.

“It was hard because I got called names. I am still playing with it now; it was so worth it. When I wasn’t playing with it, I wasn’t the same; I couldn’t be as aggressive. I was scared to go to goal and I didn’t want to get checked in the head.”

Does wearing a helmet change the way people play against her or change the way officials make calls?

“I would say sometimes it depends,” Fehmel said. “Sometimes doesn’t work out because I won’t necessarily react to it if get hit in the head.

“If I don’t react, some refs won’t call it. I learned to put my hand on my head; it works out. I would say they normally treat me like a normal player. Just because I wear a helmet does not mean they shouldn’t call it; so usually it works in my favor.”

Now that Fehmel has been wearing the helmet for several years, she has gained a reputation as a very good player that happens to wear a helmet.

“They kind of know who I am now, so many people come up to me at lacrosse tournaments and want to buy one,” she said. “They saw my picture in the paper and now I don’t get made fun of.”
Fehmel does not believe that wearing soft helmets would change the game or make it rougher.

“I feel like the sport would get a lot more dangerous if we wore boys’ helmets,” she said. “Those are hard. Mine is soft.

“With the rules (being enforced), it should not matter. I don’t think they’ll start playing rougher. The refs have to call them fairly.”

Fehmel said that wearing a helmet has not impacted her college recruiting. She has received letters from at least 50 schools and none are concerned that she plans to wear her helmet at the college level.. She is looking at Michigan and Fairfield, among others.

“I couldn’t imagine playing without it,” she said. “Sometimes if just passing before a game or practice I won’t wear it, but when we go into drills and coach blows the whistle, it’s on for good.”

Chris Goldberg

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/28/12

The HEADstrong Foundation announced that more than $150,000 was raised at Friday night’s Lime Light Gala, a special event that celebrated the life and legacy of Ridley’s Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori.

Gala snapshot: Danny Colleluori, Patrick Colleluori Sr, Jordan Costa (Nick's fiancee), Stephen Brown (Nicholas Colleluori Award Winner), Cheryl Colleluori, Michael Colleluori and Pat Colleluori (Photo by Bob Baumann)

Hundreds of lacrosse supports attended the event at the Hyatt Regency on Penn’s Landing. The proceeds will be distributed to Nick’s House, City of Hope and the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center to support cure-finding research efforts.

“We are beyond ecstatic by the generosity and sheer number of supporters who attended our gala,” said Pat Colleluori, Director of Development for the HEADstrong Foundation. “Our Lime Light Gala is more than celebrating Nick’s life; it’s about outreach and promoting blood cancer awareness.”

The Gala featured a silent auction, a live auction and many special guests, including Philly sports comedian Joe Conklin.

HEADstrong President Cheryl Colleluori, Nick’s mother, gave a heartwarming speech about his life as videos and pictures of Nick flashed across large screens so all could get a small taste of his enthusiasm for life, even in his most challenging times.

“His life may have been short, but he lived it well and he lived it full of love with his family,” Cheryl said. “He had one simple wish: that others would benefit from the life he lived. This fueled the HEADstrong Foundation and the goal to defeat this disease.”

The evening’s highlight was the presentation of the inaugural Nicholas E. Colleluori Award to Delaware County’s Stephen Brown, a survivor of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Brown, an Upper Darby graduate and Havertown resident, whose life has always revolved around athletics and fitness, was diagnosed with the disease in February of 2006. He underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and maintained his baseline fitness level, often running home from his treatments and quickly reached complete remission.

By July of that same year, he was back to racing triathlons. By September of that year, just 7 months after his diagnosis, “RemissionMan” (see remissionman.com) crossed the finish line of his 8th career iron distance triathlon. (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run).

He became an Assistant Triathlon Coach for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s TEAM in TRAINING program. In 2008 he was named TEAM in TRAINING’s “Volunteer of the Year” and in 2010 he was named “Man of the Year by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Brown, an accomplished writer and blogger, has chronicled his journey through remission and in May, 2007 published the book “My New Race” to tell the story.

“I am blown away by the explosion of the HEADstrong Foundation,” Brown said Friday night. “It began as a relatively small engine and has gained so much momentum it’s now a powerful machine.

“I’m on board. I think it’s important to get involved when I have something to contribute.”

To find out more about the HEADstrong Foundation, go to headstrongfoundation.org.

Chris Goldberg

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/16/12

MaxPreps.com released its 25 Players to Watch for 2012 in high school boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and named many Long Island players.

Listed among the boys’ list were:

Connor Frisina, A, Senior, Conestoga (Berwyn, Pa.)

Will McNamara, M, Senior, Haverford School (Pa.)

Steve Pontrello, M, Senior, St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.)

Listed among the girls’ list were:

Halley Barnes, A, Senior, Garnet Valley (Glen Mills, Pa.)

Stephanie Toy, M, Senior, Moorestown (N.J.)

Chris Goldberg

By Charles Kruzits
PhillylacrosseNews.com, Posted 3/2/12

Philadelphia Wings standout and former All-World lacrosse player Brendan Mundorf has made one thing clear: he wants to play the sport at a high level for a long time.

TapouT Mouthguard

While knowing the risks that come with playing the game, he is aiming to lessen the possibility of concussions.

Mundorf, also a key member of the MLL Denver Outlaws, recently made a huge commitment to safety landing a deal to sponsor the TapouT mouthguard, by Battle Sports Science.

“I’m just very thankful,” Mundorf said of his newest endorsement. “From the people I talked to within the organization, it was obvious that they are leading the way in safety in sports and in prevention of concussions.”

The TapouT mouthguard (http://tapoutmouthguard.com/) is designed to be re-boiled and re-molded multiple times without losing protective integrity. It is used by many pro athletes, including mixed martial arts fighters and NHL stud Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks.

According to Battle Sports, the mouthguard allows athletes to boil and mold, then re-boil and re-mold until they achieve the perfect fit, multiple times. The correct fit allows the jaw to lock into a relaxed position, enabling the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) to fill with natural fluids to compound the shock absorption qualities of the mouthguard. Athletes with braces can re-mold the guard after orthodontic adjustments.

“Growing up, mouthpieces were so uncomfortable,” said 27-year old Mundorf, a two-time All-American at UMBC while leading the Retrievers to the 2006 NCAA tournament. “It’s nice to have one that’s comfortable but also effective because it’s really important to take that precautionary step. A lot of times you can see someone chewing on the outside of the mouthpiece or just not even wearing one.”

Brendan Mundorf

The issue of safety and head injuries was heightened when Merrick Thomson’s career was cut short at the young age of 25 because of post-concussion symptoms.

“It’s really unfortunate for Merrick,” said Mundorf, a graduate of Mount St. Joseph in Maryland. “He was at the top of his game and getting better significantly every year. Situations like that make you take a step back and think.”

Thomson’s story is not the first nor will be the last as day-after-day a current or former athlete speaks out about injuries sustained on the playing surface. Jim McMahon, former Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Chicago Bears, suffers from memory loss that he attributes from the bumps and bruises that came with playing football. On the ice, NHL fans are wondering when and if Sidney Crosby will ever return to the NHL after receiving multiple concussions early last season.

Here is where star power comes in. Mundorf is hoping that younger players see the importance of safety.

“The reality is when you’re younger, taking that precautionary step isn’t cool,” Circo said. “It is (cool) when kids see a professional doing it. They’ll think, ‘it’s ok for me to do it too.’ The reason is because they want to copy their favorite athlete.”

Chris Circo, the C.E.O. of Battle Sports Science, has set out to inform the public on the importance of safety on the playing field. Battle Sports puts out many pieces of gear that focus on safety.

With the speed of the game increasing, and the players getting stronger, taking that “extra step” could be career- or even life-saving. Though Mundorf tries not to worry about his safety while playing the game, he didn’t hesitate when the opportunity arose to be endorsed by Battle Sports Science.

“I knew this was a good opportunity because you should never take your health lightly,” Mundorf said. “(Battle Sports Science) gets how important it is to provide the safest products to all athletes.”

Circo said parents often are not educated enough on the issues of safety for their children playing sports.

“If you lose a tooth, it can be replaced,” he said. “But, if you lose functionality in your brain, it can affect a lot of people, including your family and friends.”

Chris Goldberg

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/4/12

Members of the Strath Haven girls’ lacrosse team joined City Team Ministry recently to provide Sunday night dinner to needy members of the community. This evening of service is one of a continuing commitment the lacrosse team has made to CTM to help others.

Strath Haven girls pictured from left to right are: Darby Irrgang, Lily Kovach, Becca Robbins, Jenny Rowan, Delaney Irrgang, Bri Irons, Laura Rowan, Christina Labows, Kaelin Caldwell and Erica Conners.

In addition to assisting with the Christmas toy drive, lacrosse team members are providing help preparing and serving meals at the CTM recovery house throughout the year.

Participating in the event were Darby Irrgang, Lily Kovach, Becca Robbins, Jenny Rowan, Delaney Irrgang, Bri Irons, Laura Rowan, Christina Labows, Kaelin Caldwell and Erica Conners.

Chris Goldberg

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/31/12
From Press Release

Join the HEADstrong Foundation and its mission of defeating blood cancer by getting involved in the 3rd Annual Score For A Cure campaign this season.

Led by professional lacrosse star Bill McGlone (Ridley), make each goal count this season by soliciting pledges based on total team goals or single nominal donations in an effort to generate funds for the HEADstrong Foundation and improve the quality of life for patients and families of blood cancer. Players can register themselves at www.HEADstrongfoundation.org and begin fundraising for lacrosse season.

The nationwide fundraiser is open to all lacrosse players. Registration for the campaign will begin on February 1, 2012 and will run through May 31, 2012. The HEADstrong Foundation is encouraging teams to adopt this fundraiser, however players must register individually. There is fee of $20.00 per player to get underway. The registration fee allows for each player to receive the official Score For A Cure fundraising package which includes access to HEADstrong Foundation’s online giving portal powered by FirstGiving, a Dri-Fit Performance Shirt and HEADstrong Mouth Guard.

Players are encouraged to share the mission of the HEADstrong Foundation and solicit pledges from family, friends, neighbors and supporters. Players will track their total team goals using the Official HEADstrong Score Tracker available online and collect pledges at the conclusion of their season.

In an effort to assist players an online fundraising component is new this year. Players will receive access to HEADstrong Foundation’s online giving portal powered by FirstGiving and will be instructed to create a player fundraising page. Players will link in with their teammates to create fundraising teams. Participants will have the ability to communicate and pledge donations online through communicating with their social network. To streamline the giving process contributions will be collected and submitted securely online.

This year, the HEADstrong Foundation has teamed up with Inside Lacrosse, Lacrosse.com and Brine Lacrosse for some great new fundraising incentives. This year the top individual fundraiser will receive a Limited Edition HEADstrong Rebounder from Brine and the top team fundraiser will receive a pair of Limited Edition HEADstrong lime green collegiate lacrosse nets as seen at the Inside Lacrosse Big City Classic on ESPN.

Now in its 3rd season the Score For A Cure campaign has assisted the HEADstrong Foundation, generating over $150,000 in their fight against blood cancer. $100,000 is the fundraising goal for the 2012 season. You can assist their goal by registering today at www.HEADstrongfoundation.org and getting involved.

“Teams and players from around the country are always asking us how they can get more involved with the HEADstrong Foundation. Score For A Cure was born from those inquiries. For teams the fundraiser is a great team building project, for players it is a fun-filled opportunity to use the game to make a difference in the lives of patients and families of blood cancer. We hope that you join our team of champions this season by participating in Score For A Cure.” HEADstrong Foundation president Cheryl Colleluori

HEADstrong Foundation works to advocate, raise funds for and to support those affected by blood cancer or working to eliminate it. HEADstrong Foundation generates funds for blood cancer research, distributes grants and provides assistance to patients and survivors of blood cancer.

In addition, HEADstrong Foundation awards scholarships and grants for students with ambitions of entering the medical field. Founder Nick “Head” Colleluori” attended Hofstra University where he played lacrosse. While at Hofstra Nick was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. While sick he began counseling other patients and began laying the framework for what would become the HEADstrong Foundation, in an effort to raise cancer awareness and help others and future patients that found themselves in a similar situation.

In August of 2006 he even found the strength to play in one last lacrosse game. Nick passed away on November 28, 2006 at the age of 21. Even though he is gone, his memory and relentless determination lives on through the HEADstrong Foundation.

Chris Goldberg

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/30/12

Alexandra Lista had seen charities and fundraisers for victims of cancer before – but she never heard of one for those diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of secondhand smoke.

From left, Alexandra Lista, Dominique Nyzio and Olivia Gannon of Mount St. Joseph founded Laxers vs. Lung Cancer

So one day the Mount St. Joseph junior goalie decided that – since her mother, Donna-Lee, was a survivor of cancer from secondhand smoke – she wanted to do something herself to help the cause and raise awareness.

The result was to combine her love of lacrosse with the goal of educating others and raising money to combat the disease that her mother fought so eloquently.

So, Laxers vs. Lung Cancer was born, with the help of Mount teammates Olivia Gannon and Dominique Lyzio. The three raised $1,200 last year by selling t-shirts and hair-ties and later presented the money to the Lung Cancer Partnership.

With the lacrosse season arriving soon, the threesome will again be raising money by selling t-shirts and hair-ties to other lacrosse players, and hopefully at camps and tournaments or possible grade school clinics.

Donna-Lee Lista was diagnosed with lung cancer early in 2006, and doctors removed the upper lobe of her lung. She underwent chemotherapy and celebrated five years of survival last spring. Donna-Lee, who sits on the board of the National Lung Cancer Partnership, is active in speaking and raising money for research into lung cancer treatments and helped inspire her daughter.

“My mom was a non smoker and got lung cancer,” said Alexandra. “Of course it was a really big shocker.

“One day, after I saw event after event promoting breast cancer – which is a great cause – I said to my mom that I really never find events for people with lung cancer. Olivia’s grandmother had lung cancer so she was on board.

“You are stigmatized, and in my mom’s case she never even smoked but most people think you have to smoke to get it.

“My mom speaks at events and makes it known that anyone can get it.”

According to the National Lung Cancer Partnership, approximately 220,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Also, lung cancer takes more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. Lung cancer for non-smokers is the sixth most common cause of cancer, and 67 percent of non smokers that are diagnosed with cancer are women.

The National Cancer Institute reports that there are 69 toxic chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke cause cancer and that 3,000 people die each year due to cancer from secondhand smoke. Alex said the most alarming statistic may be that lung cancer research receives the least amount of federal funding among cancers per death. For instance, for every breast cancer death (approx 40,000 per year) the federal funding is approx $22,000; for every lung cancer death (161,000 per year) the amount spent is $1,500.

“The hope is by selling these items and raising more money, we can do something for the fight to cure this disease,” Alexandra said.

Chris Goldberg

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/29/12
From Lehigh Sports Information

Following a preseason scrimmage against each other Saturday, head coaches Kevin Cassese of Lehigh and Brian Dougherty of Chestnut Hill College will be joining forces Sunday when the two friends coach the U.S. National Team in the Champion Challenge.

Coach Brian Dougherty (Chestnut Hill College) and Kevin Cassese (Lehigh) met in a scrimmage Saturday and then took off for Florida and the Champion Challenge

After the Mountain Hawks and Griffins squared off, the two hopped in a car for the Philadelphia airport. Their ultimate destination is Lake Buena Vista, Fla. where they’ll lead the United States against defending national semifinalist Denver.

Also on the United States’ staff is Towson head coach Shawn Nadelen. Sunday’s game will face-off at 1:30 p.m. live on ESPN3.com and will re-air at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

Things worked out so perfectly that you’d think the two set up the scrimmage intentionally, knowing that they’d be headed in the same direction Sunday. But that wasn’t the case.

“It’s pretty cool how this weekend came together,” said Dougherty (Episcopal Academy grad) after the game. “Now, we’re going to hop in a car [for Philadelphia] and fly down to Florida. We’ll probably talk a little bit about the game, but more about life; two buds getting a chance to catch up. It’s pretty cool, from getting our teams going to representing the United States the next day.”

Cassese and Dougherty have always been competitors, but it wasn’t until 2007 when the friendship truly blossomed. After facing each other on the field for quite a while, Cassese was traded to the Philadelphia Barrage where he and Dougherty went on to win an MLL Championship.

“That’s when we got to know each other really well,” said Cassese. “We’ve had a great relationship ever since through both Team USA and coaching.”

For Cassese, it’s déjà vu from October when the Mountain Hawks played Towson in a fall ball game before he and Nadelen headed right to Stars & Stripes weekend to face Cassese’s alma mater Duke.

“I need to get a ride at some point,” said Cassese jokingly. “I gave Shawn a ride in the fall and now I’m giving Doc one in the spring. At some point, I’ve got to get some gas money back or something.”

“It’s a lot of fun and an honor to be involved, especially with Shawn and Doc; they’re great coaches and great people. It’s extra special when you do these types of things with great friends.”

This is Cassese’s fourth time coaching the United States’ team, leading the squad in the Stars & Stripes Weekend and Champion Challenge each of the last two years. Sunday will mark the first time that Cassese, Dougherty and Nadelen are coaching together, though. Cassese was the only coach last fall against Harvard before being joined by Dougherty for last year’s Champion Challenge against Notre Dame. Meanwhile, this fall, it was Cassese and Nadelen for Stars & Stripes against Duke.

On Sunday, the trio wants to win and improve to 4-0 over the last two seasons. Along with getting a result, the experience with the U.S. National Team is an invaluable opportunity to learn from the best and should ultimately help the collegiate teams they’re coaching. Both Cassese and Dougherty stressed the importance of being around the best from the sport of lacrosse.

“Just being around the best players in the world, you pick up so many things,” said Dougherty. “Just little drills, attitudes and things they do during the game. I try to absorb all that kind of stuff then bring it back to a smaller level.

“We have to realize that our guys are not the world team, so we can’t ask them to do things that Paul Rabil is doing out there, but we can pick some things out,” he continued. “I think that gives us a pretty good advantage over maybe some other coaches who don’t have that opportunity.”

“It’s always great to stay involved with the top players in the game and be around the highest level of play that our game has to offer,” said Cassese. “That’s really what Team USA is all about. We get the opportunity to work with, and coach, some of the top young talent in the world.”

“The players form such great habits in how they play and how they work,” he continued. “You can bring that back to your team. Team USA is a collection of guys that has really never played together. Each time they come out, it’s a different group; there are some consistent members, but there are different players every time. Every single time, they come together very quickly and the common goal is to get a victory.”

For all three coaches, it’s a busy weekend, but something that’s worthwhile both personally and for their current teams – Lehigh, Chestnut Hill and Dougherty. Cassese and Dougherty experienced a little bit of everything this weekend: from coaching against a good friend one day, to teaming up to coach some of the best players in the world the next.

Story written by Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Media Relations

Chris Goldberg