Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/23/08
On consecutive days, Malvern Prep graduates played key roles for the success of the U.S. Under-19 national team.
Matt Mackrides, who graduated several weeks ago from Malvern, had two goals and two assists Sunday to help the Under-19 team crush an All-Star team from Potomac, Md., 17-6, in Bethesda.
Just a day earlier, another Malvern Prep grad, Johns Hopkins freshman Matt Dolente won 17 of 22 face-offs and added one goal to lead the U.S. team to a convincing 15-7 victory over the Philadelphia All-Stars at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown.
The U.S. team improved its exhibition record to 3-1 with the wins as it prepares for the 2008 International Lacrosse Federation U-19 World Championship July 3-12 in Coquitlam, British Columbia.
“We felt today we made some real progress,” said U.S. team coach Chuck Apel after Saturday’s game. “As coaches we’re getting a handle on these guys and how we want to use them. We have a ways to go, but we can really see things starting to come together.”
In Sunday’s victory, Jack McBride had three goals and an assist and worked well with Mackrides to lead the attack.
McBride assisted Mackrides twice, and Mackrides returned the favor once, helping the offense to find a rhythm that powered the U.S. to its highest goal total in the four exhibitions.
The final exhibition game will be on June 29 at Mercer Island High School in Seattle as the team completes training camp before heading to Canada for the world championships.
The Philadelphia team was sponsored by the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association. Most of the proceeds of the game went directly to defray expenses for the Under-19 team. The Philly team was coached by Malvern Prep mentor John McEvoy and assisted by Chet Laubach (Lower Merion head coach) and Mark Petrone (Haverford assistant).
Also on the U.S. team are Ohio State sophomore James Green (Central Bucks East) and Villanova freshman defender John Lade. One of the assistant coaches is Haverford School coach John Nostrant.
