Penncrest Endless Summer Tournament: Jags Lax edges Penncrest, 8-7, in OT to finish undefeated

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/27/11
Staff Report

On a sunny Sunday that felt more like summer than fall, Jags Lax 1 edged host Penncrest 1, 8-7, in a Braveheart overtime win to capture the best record at Saturday’s Penncrest Endless Summer Boys’ Lacrosse Tournament.

After regulation, Jags (4-0) and Penncrest (also included some Ridley and private school players), were tied at 7-7. Zach Penfil, who dominated at the face-off X all day, won the draw in overtime and charged down the field to score the game-winner.

Half of the tournament games were decided by two goals or less. Jags Lax 1, out of Garnet Valley, was led by Penfil, Jules Raucci (Drexel), Robert Raucci (St. Joseph’s), Joseph Taulane (High Point), and Vail Urso (Drexel). The Jags tallied 43 goals during the day with the help of middies Matt Hurley and Matt Taulane and attackman Kyle Roberts.

Penncrest 1 was strong on defense with Andrew Butkus and Nick Eufrasio (Ridley). Sean Mingey (middie) and Matt Klodarska ran Penncrest’s attack.
Strath Haven (2-2) was led by goalie Steve Brodeur (Lehigh) and Kevin Daly. Haven’s attack, led by seniors Colin Campbell, Mack Cross, and Shane O’Donnell and sophomores Tucker Carney and Brian Leonard, orchestrated the scoring and edged Interboro.

West Deptford team scored 10 goals to overtake Interboro in a very strong Senior bracket. West Deptford middie Ryan Monaghan was active on both ends of the field representing Jersey well.

Defenseman Dan Hopson kept Interboro in contention with key ground balls and big hits while Dave Hearn and Brian Van Wyk were huge on the offensive end for the Bucs.

In the highly competitive Junior Division, Bombers L.C. (4-0) edged Lions White (3-1) by a goal to capture the division, followed by Titans Elite, Jags Lax 2, and Penncrest Red.

Bombers L.C.’s Jonah Tate, Nate Frantz , and Rocco Carzo of Strath Haven, along with Charlie Arena (Malvern), and Sean McHugh (O’Hara), led a devastating scoring attack.
The Lions White offense was run by several strong sophomores from Penncrest: Tommy Crowding, Ethan Trusty, T.J. Loper, Ian McKernan, and Cameron Bryan. The Junior Division was exemplified by tight defense that made goals scarce.

Lions White and Titans Elite goalies Casey Brown and Xander Pacilio put up walls in goal. Lions White’s Tommy Higgins showed off some dazzling stick work as he intercepted passes shots all day and Danny Johnson made his presence known in close.

Jags Lax 2 freshman Aaron Trowbridge had an impressive high school debut alongside Daniel Lanham who showed a lot of raw talent. Titans Elite, coached by Mike Sharman and Mike Strayline, was well disciplined and provided a balanced scoring attack directed by Tyler Brittin, Tyler Strayline, Mike Gannon, Dan Faulkner, and Brandon Jacobsen.

The Pettit lacrosse family coached three of the teams attending the tournament. Son Evan Pettit (Elmira ’02 and 2011 EPSLA, Assistant Coach of the Year) coached Penncrest 1; father Jeff (Yale) coached Penncrest Red and son Jeff (West Chester ’00) coached Lions White.

In the father-son battle, the son’s Lions White proved too much for his father’s young Penncrest Red team. Long poles Grey Nelson, Kevin Delaney, and Garrett Louth were relentless for Penncrest Red. Also on the Red team, freshmen Dan Bullitt, Paul Rafferty, Patrick Gorman, Evan Sing, and Colin Speer were major contributors on both sides of the field and provided a promising glimpse into Penncrest’s future.

All tournament honors (committed players ineligible) went to: Colin Campbell (Strath Haven), Steven Elf (Garnet Valley), Jim Gastner (Penncrest), Kelton Heverly (Ridley for Penncrest); Zach Jones (Garnet Valley), Tom McDermott (Ridley for Penncrest) , Billy McDonnell (Penncrest), Nick Reardon (West Deptford), Brian Sinex (Ridley for Penncrest), Brian Van Wyk (Interboro), and Jonathan Vandenberg (Garnet Valley).

All tournament honors in the Junior Division: Michael McKernan (Penncrest for Bombers L.C.), Liam O’Donnell (Penncrest for Bombers L.C.), Dylan Protesto (Penncrest for Bombers L.C.), Robert Logan (Penncrest for Lions White), Billy Kinnard (Penncrest for Lions White), Matt Young, (Penncrest Red), Tim McCrudden (Titans Elite), AJ Caputo (Titans Elite), Jacob Snavely (Titans Elite), Mike Lanham (Jags Lax 2), and Mike Hartney (Jags Lax 2).