By Jeff Ragone and Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/20/09
More than 320 elite boys’ lacrosse players will compete Saturday in the inaugural Philly Lacrosse Showcase, a major recruiting event at Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square that will draw over 100 coaches from more than 80 colleges.
The event will showcase many of the top players in the Philadelphia region and around the East Coast and New England area. Three players are coming from as far as powerhouse St. Ignatius Prep in California and two will travel from Ontario, Canada.
The event – being run by Episcopal Academy coach Andy Hayes – will feature 15 teams, mixed with sophomores, juniors and seniors playing three games each in the morning (beginning at 8:45 a.m.). Top Philly scholastic coaches are running the squads and tournament directors will choose All-Star teams called the “Fab Forty” squads from each class. The new EA campus features six fields, two with turf.
The first Fab Forty All-Star game will pit 20 seniors playing against another squad of 20 seniors at 1:10 p.m. The Junior All-Star game will follow at 2:10 p.m. and the Sophomore All-Star Game is slated for 3:10 p.m. The coaches will combine to coach the All-Star games.
As the day progressed, Phillylacrosse.com – one of the event sponsors – will provide comprehensive coverage. There will be updates on the morning games, and updates on the selection of the Fab Forty teams and the All-Star games themselves.
The list of coaches attending the event is packed with nearly every Division I team that finished in the Top 20 teams last season. Also, many coaches from Division II and III programs are attending.
One Philly power, St. Joseph’s Prep, had 15 players registered for the event, although two will not be able to play due to recent injuries. Those players are sophomore Pat Swanick (attackman) and junior Jon Sax (defenseman).
The 13 that will play tomorrow are sophomores Tim Browne (midfielder) and Blaine Fleming (midfielder), juniors Jake O’Brien (midfielder), Rob Watts (attackman), Fenton Fitzpatrick (midfielder), Clint Barber (defenseman), Cory Scheuerle (attackman), Liam Correia (goalie), Will Farrell (defenseman), Pat Farrell (defenseman), Bradley James (midfielder), and seniors Mike Zikoski (goalie) and John Gregitis (midfielder).
“I look forward to playing,” said Scheuerle, a second team All-Catholic League and Honorable Mention All-Phillylacrosse.com pick last year for a team that went 16-2 and lost to eventual state champion La Salle by one goal in the District 12 championship game. “You’ve got to get the most exposure as possible from college coaches. I’m going to get the best out of it and see how it goes from here.”
Zikoski, a two-year starter in goal for the Hawks who is looking to get Division I exposure, said another goal is for the team members to get valuable experience against top competition.
“The real goal is to play as a leader and to get in the all-star game,” he said. “As a team, we have to be better players representing the Prep.”
Sax sustained a concussion during a St. Joseph’s Prep football game.
“I’m pretty bummed to not be playing because it is a missed opportunity to play in front of schools and coaches that I’m interested in, especially Duke,” Sax said.
The most recent rosters can be found by clicking here. Several roster changes will be made shortly before the event. The most updated list of colleges attending can be found here.
Updated Schedule
8:40-9:30 9:45-10:35 10:50-11:40 11:55-12:45 Break 1:10 – 2:00 2:10-3:00 3:10-4:00
Field 1 1 vs. 2 13 vs. 14 9 vs. 11 5 vs. 8
Field 2 3 vs. 4 15 vs. 16 10 vs. 12 6 vs. 7
Field 3 Turf 5 vs. 6 1 vs. 3 13 vs. 15 9 vs. 12
Field 4 Turf 7 vs. 8 2 vs. 4 14 vs. 16 10 vs. 11 Sr All Star Jr All Star Soph All Star
Field 5 9 vs. 10 5 vs. 7 1 vs. 4 13 vs. 16
Field 6 11 vs. 12 6 vs. 8 2 vs. 3 14 vs. 15
Games will be two 24 minute running halves with 1 minute half time.
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