By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/24/15
Defenseman Hunter Jaronski says the Duke’s Lacrosse Club’s 2019 Blue team accomplished its major goals this Fall – especially on Sunday at the inaugural Lax Evo Fall Recruiting Invitational at the Line Road Fields in Malvern.
“The team did really well; we lost two close ones (earlier in the Fall) and that was a bummer, but we came out this fall with a mission; to get great looks and become a great team,” said Jaronski, who attends the Academy of the New Church.
The Dukes finished 3-0 Sunday, winning each of its games against the NJ Riot, PA Roughriders and Rock (MD) by seven or more goals. The event featured
“Today we moved the ball well and the defense communicated,” said Jaronski. “We came out and got it done. Coach Ebe (Helm) and the assistants led us in the right direction and we got after it. Today was nice to see.”
Jaronski had a long weekend. On Saturday he competed in the Philly Freshmen Showcase and made the Fab 40 All-Star Game.
“I played in like 10 games in two days, but I got a lot of help from the guys. I’s not one person. We are so deep, which is great.”
What does Jaronski need to work on to gear for the high school season?
“I need to get cleaner and make less mistakes,” he said. “You can always improve. It helps to get great competition.”
Dukes coach Ebe Helm was proud of his team.
“They are great kids; they’re a mix of athleticism and stick skills,” he said. “They are smart, dedicated and they pull for each other. It’s a unique group in that way; a lot talk about that, they do it. The kids are very close.”
Other Dukes players that stood out on Sunday:
Grant Pinto, midfielder. La Salle
How did the Fall season go?
Pinto: “We had a couple ups and down, but we were unified and we got a lot closer.”We had a couple new additions and I really feel like a family now. I am looking forward to the summer season
How did the team perform Sunday?
Pinto: “We had a couple good games and competed really well. The Roughriders were the best team here and we (played) them pretty well.”
What do you need to work on during the winter and spring?
Pinto: “The season is gearing me up to playing at a higher level of competition. I am learning a lot of schemes and that will help me for the spring season. I noticed all the goalies on the other teams are getting better so I really need to get a lot better focused on making my shots better, looking for open lanes for my passes, dodging and moving quicker.”
Liam Rosenthal, Goalie, Central Bucks East
How did the Fall season go?
Rosenthal: “I felt like it was a really productive year. A lot of players got better and that we grew as a team. We won some really good games and lost some really good games, but I think we will be ready for the summer season and that we can dominate. We have begun to play more as a team in the four weeks we’ve been together and we have gotten to know each other and know each other’s tendencies/
How did the team perform Sunday?
Rosenthal: “I felt we moved the ball well on offense, communicated well on defense, cleared well and rode well. We did everything well.”
What do you need to work on during the winter and spring?
Rosenthal: “I feel like I should get better in everything. No one is perfect; saving, clearing, communication. I feel like I can do better in all of those, and the small plays, hustling out of the crease to get a ball, chasing it out of bounds.”
Drew Robinson, DEF, Hatboro-Horsham
How did the Fall season go?
Robinson: “At first it was rough and then we started to work as a team together. We were able to fix the little things and make the passes.”
How did the team perform Sunday?
Robinson: “Today we were able to work together. We all worked hard and everyone hustled. I think we still need to work on the little stuff, like groundballs, and not forcing it. We’ll get there,
What do you need to work on during the winter and spring?
Robinson: “I need to work on my speed and get a little faster.”
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Wrapping up the tourney
The Dukes 2017s and 2018s each went 3-0. In the 2016-2017 Elite Division, Blue Star (N.J.) went 3-0; Hunterdon Central Red (N.J.) went 3-0 and Arrowhead (PA) 2-0-1 in the 2016/17 Open Division; and Hunterdon Central Black went 3-0 in the 2018-19 Open.
An All-Star team will be announced today.
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