By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/19/15
Late in the third period of today’s 2019 AA championship game in the Patriot Games at New Hope-Solebury High Kyle Gucwa took a feed from Zach Augustine of a perfect transition goal to give Mesa Fresh 2019 a 4-1 lead over HEADstrong North.
The goal held up as Mesa Fresh claimed a 4-3 win and its first tournament championship. It also typified the passing-oriented play Mesa is known for.
“We are drilled to not dodge,” said Gucwa, who will attend Bishop Shanahan. “Coach (Pat Carney) want is to run the offense and pass the ball. I think all our goals came off assists.
“He wants us to take 90 percent shots. If you get a 50 percent shot, don’t take it; it probably means that if you move the ball to somebody else they will have a 90 percent shot.”
Gucwa said the Mesa defense was the key to the team’s overall succes.s Mesa Fresh allowed just nine goals in five wins. “The defense was lights out,” he said.
Added defenseman Dean Costalis (Spring-Ford): “Coach is always pushing us to compete against each other. I think pushing the ball and not being selfish are the biggest reasons we were successful. We want to be nasty off ball and cut a lot while always trying to attack. Also, our face-off guys, Gavin McGill and Evan Waitte were great.”
HEADstrong coach Bill Leahy said his team – coming off a championship last week at the NXT Cup – capped a strong summer with a great effort. He
“We had a lot of great tournaments,” he said. “We had a a great. This group has been together for two years and I think went 25-6-3. Everybody did well.
“We had a great effort today. Mesa is outstanding and well-coached. We have great kids and good parents.”
