By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/11/12
Sam Friedman scored the game-winner just seconds into overtime today as NXT 2015 defeated Boro Pride (N.J.), 7-6, in the title game of the High School “A” Division (mostly freshman-sophomore level) Division of the 2nd annual Philadelphia Indoor Lacrosse Championships at Fesasterville’s Sportsplex.
NXT, comprised of al freshmen from the Philly region, had gone only 2-2 in pool play but toppled Council Rock South, 10-3, in the semifinals and avenged a 5-4 loss to Boro Pride, of Hillsborough, in the finals.
Friedman, a Conestoga freshman, dodged right off a pick and delivered the game-winner. Boro Pride had sent the game into overtime by rallying from a 6-4 deficit and tying it with 10 seconds left on a penalty shot.
“The play was for me to dodge and see if the pick-and-roll was open, but I had it so I took the shot,” Friedman said.
All high school games are being played with full Box Lacrosse rules. The 24-team event was sponsored by the American Indoor Lacrosse Association and the Philadelphia Wings, who are sharing in spreading Box Lacrosse in the Philly region. Each player received free tickets to a Wings game and Wings GM-Coach and AILA Director Johnny Mouradian gave a free Box Lacrosse Clinic.
The event today featured all Box Lacrosse rules. Tomorrow 24 teams in Youth Divisions in Grades 5-6 and 7-8 will play a mixture of Box Lacrosse and basic indoor lacrosse rules.
The A Division tourney featured nine teams. Play in the “AA” Division (mostly seniors and juniors) began this afternoon after Mouradian gave the 45-minute clinic.
NXT recovered well after grasping the Box rules.
“We started out sort of slow, but we got the hang of it,” Friedman said. “You have to go a lot slower, you have to make precise passes and you have to have good stick skills and play like a team.”
It also didn’t hurt that NXT goalie John Roulston, another Conestoga freshman, was a stalwart in the cage.
“It’s a tighter area so you have to slide earlier,” said Ralston of the differences from field to box lacrosse for the defense. “But the defense is similar; you’re still sliding and you make sure you get in front. We did well (defensively), that’s why we won.
“For me, the difference is the stance and the size of the goal,” he said of the smaller goals. “I think the upper high shots are difficult because you don’t have your stick (in the air) to block it.”
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