Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/3/08
Fifteen teams and over 300 athletes competed Saturday in the 5th Annual Brian Houshower Lacrosse Classic at Downingtown West, an event honoring the memory of the former West lacrosse player killed in an automobile accident five years ago.
The memorial tournament celebrates the life of a promising student-athlete who was a sophomore at Downingtown West when he passed away. Proceeds from this event go to the Downingtown West Brian Houshower Scholarship Fund.
The tournament started with the ceremonial face off with Brian’s mother, Joan Ferrere, in attendance.
The “A” Division championship was won by Black Bear Lax Chesco, coached by Jim Holleran and Matt Bonner. The team defeated the Avon Grove Devils, 7-2, the Lancaster Meltdown, 6-3, the Shanahan Eagles, 4-2, and the Lehigh Valley Skyhawks, 5-4, in the championship game.
The team consisted of Mike Honeybink (Conestoga), Matt Biegel (West Chester East), Ben Tuscai (East), Chris Zarrilli (East), Ethan Heisman (Henderson), Dan Flynn (Malvern Prep), Dan Cohen (Conestoga), Ryan Nowell (Bayard Rustin), Nick Tatlow (East), Jim Barr (East), Evan Weldon (Henderson), Chris Suggese (East), Ryan Vincins (Kennett), Jason Cuzzuppe (Great Valley), Tim Shaw (Rustin), Andrew Protenic (East), Chris Hochstetler (East), Zach Lieb (East), Jordon McGinty (Bishop Shanahan), DJ Sakel (East), Matt Bonner Jr. (East), Blair Bonner (East), Dylan Spangenburg (Malvern Prep), Dan Taney (East), Elliot Cairns (Henderson).
Back Bear Lax got outstanding goaltending from Vincins; stellar middie play from Protenic, who played despite a broken bone on his finger; and Matt Bonner Jr., who played a strong two-way game on offense, defense and face-offs. The defense was anchored by Barr and Nowell; the attack was led by Tuscai, who had many key goals and assists. The game-winner in the final was scored by sophomore Hochstetler.
The “B” Division championship was won by the Lions from Delaware County, coached by Bill O’Donnell.
The Lions consisted of: Darrel Hunter (Strath Haven) – G; Drew Goff (Strath Haven) – D/LSM; Dylan O’Donnell (Penncrest)– D/LSM; Ben Murray (Strath Haven) – D; Nate Van Wyk (Penncrest) – D; Mike Baldassarre (Penncrest) – M/LSM/D; Andrew Caldwell (Penncrest) – M; Dan Mojica (Springfield-Delco) – M; Sean Hobson (Penncrest) – M; Matt Leonard (Strath Haven) – M; Adam Muetterties-Schultz (Penncrest) – M; Sam Huestis (Strath Haven) – M; Paul Manwaring (Strath Haven) – M; Shane O’Donnell (Strath Haven) – M/A; Dan Belk (Penncrest) – A; Zander Brown (Penncrest) – A; Garrett Boon (Penncrest) – A.
The Lions defeated Downingtown West, 5-2, Harrisburg Meltdown, 4-3, and Nazareth, 5-3, and then defeated Harrisburg Meltdown, 7-1, in the finals.
The top scorers were Caldwell with seven goals and Brown with five goals. Other goal scorers included Boon, Mojica, Shane O’Donnell, and Dylan O’Donnell. The low score wins were attributed to an excellent defense, led by goalie Hunter, and defensemen Van Wyk, Murray, and Dylan O’Donnell.
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