Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/22/09

La Salle has advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural LaxPower Online Tournament (NOLT).

The Explorers defeated New York’s Canandaigua in the quarterfinals of the virtual online tourney. The tourney began with 64 teams, including every state champion in the country.

La Salle, which won the first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championship and has claimed back-to-back state crowns, will meet West Islip (N.Y.) in the semis Monday. The other semifinal matchup features Gilman (Md.) and Manhasset (N.Y.).

Winners for the NOLT are determined based on votes from LaxPower’s panel and by using the LaxPower computer Power Ratings (PR) as the fifth vote. The computer ratings were employed in creating a probability function such that the larger Team A’s PR differential vs. Team B, the greater the odds that they would win when a small group of random numbers was generated. This means that the computer may pick an underdog and that upsets are possible.

If you want to discuss the results or the teams, please visit the NOLT thread on the LaxPower Forum.

Group 4 – Round 4

(1) LaSalle College HS Explorers (PA) 99.80

(2) Canandaigua Braves (NY) 99.70

George Baldassare: LaSalle – LaSalle by three.

Brett Manney: LaSalle – Great faceoff matchup but LaSalle’s stellar senior defense propels them to Final Four.

Eric Smith: LaSalle – Niko Amato can stand on his head in goal, and that will be the difference.

Ryan Rhode: La Salle – Knarr is the difference in this matchup by controlling face offs and limiting the Braves’ offensive opportunities.

Computer: LaSalle

Group 1 – Round 4

(1) Gilman Greyhounds (MD) 99.90

(2) St. Anthony’s Friars (NY) 99.65

George Baldassare: Gilman – Gilman by three.

Brett Manney: St. Anthony’s – The Friars come to represent Long Island and defeat the No. 1 team in the tournament.

Eric S. Smith: St. Anthony’s – Both teams are loaded with talent, but the Friars have just seemed to jell a little better.

Ryan Rohde: Gilman – The Greyhounds’ senior leadership and talent gets them in the Final Four after the Friars take them down to the wire.

Computer: Gilman

Group 2 – Round 4

(1) Manhasset Indians (NY) 99.75

(3) Lafayette Lancers (NY) 99.50

GB: Manhasset – Manhasset by six.

BM: Lafayette – I know the Lancers lost to the Indians in the state final but this time they find a way to contain Connor English.

ES: Manhasset – Yes that player who remain nameless from Manhasset had a big game last time, but he can do it again.

RR: Lafayette – In the rematch of the state championship, the Lancers change their game plan and play all four quarters.

Computer: Manhasset

Group 3 – Round 4

(1) West Islip Lions (NY) 99.85

(3) Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas (MD) 99.60

GB: West Islip – West Islip by two.

BM: West Islip – The Hoyas hang tough but cannot keep up with the weapons the Lions possess.

ES: West Islip – In a classic battle between a high-powered offense and a stalwart defense, I like the defense.

RR: West Islip – Galasso and company are too strong and pull away in the fourth quarter.

Computer: West Islip

Tags: La Salle