Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/5/15
Tournament MVP Michael Sowers (Upper Dublin) had three goals and two assists as Team Philadelphia defeated New Jersey, 9-7, today to win the boys’ championship at the Under Armour Underclassmen games at Towson University.
Sowers, a Princeton commit, closed with an amazing 24 goals and 15 assists and helped Philly win three games today, including a 9-8 overtime victory over previously-undefeated Washington D.C. with an overtime goal in the semifinals.
In the title-game win, Brett Baskin (La Salle) added two goals and an assist while Peter Gayhardt (St. Joseph’s Prep) and Matt Moore (Garnet Valley) each had a goal and an assist.
Christian Feliziani (Episcopal Academy), despite playing with a groin injury that kept him out of Saturday’s games, won 10 of 20 face-offs.
LSM Ryan McNulty (Bishop Shanahan) made the all-tournament team and was a force all weekend long.
Goalies Kyle Mullin (Bayard Rustin) and Sean McKee (Penn Charter) stood out and the defense of McNulty, Jack Rapine (Upper Dublin), Jack Reilly (Conestoga), Nick Cardile (Avon Grove) and Zac Methlie (Springfield-Delco) was strong all tourney.
Also in the final, Murray broke loose for a goal and Ryan Kinnard (Penncrest) had a key goal
“We came up short last year (losing to Baltimore in the finals by a goal) and the field was real tough this year but we went into it with the mindset that we would battle everyone,” said Sowers. “I wasn’t really sure how we’d do, but we started clicking and never really looked back.
“Everyone truly gave a great effort.
“We were actually trailing at halftime in the final against New Jersey, but I felt like we had the momentum,” added Sowers. “New Jersey had a great team, but we were clicking at that point and we felt confident.
Sowers said his team struggled at times in the first two days, but was sparked by the return of Feliziani on Sunday.
“Everybody is good in this tourney and you can’t take any games off and we didn’t really play our best those two (losses,),” he said. “Not having Christian didn’t help but we really didn’t play our A game.
“In the win over DC, it went back and forth, but you have to give a lot of credit to Feliziani and the defense. All tournament they were the backbone of the team.”
In the overtime goal against Washington D.C., Sowers scored off a Baskin feed following a tough groundball pickup by Dox Aitken (Haverford School).
“Feliziani got the ball in a 50-50 and Dox pulled it away,” said Sowers. “It was an awesome play. Baskin dished it to me and I had a great look and it was a pretty easy finish.”
How did he amass 39 points?
“A lot comes from the middies,” Sowers said. “I didn’t have to do a ton of work, I was just able to find some open space and the middies put it right on my stick. I took the the role of finisher. Teams were slow to the side and it opened things up for me.”
Recap of earlier playoff games
Dox Aitken (Haverford School) scooped a key groundball which set up Michael Sowers (Upper Dublin) for his fifth goal and the game-winner in overtime as Team Philly defeated Washington D.C., 9-8, today to advance to the finals of the Under Armour Underclassmen Games at Towson University.
Philly will meet the West-New Jersey winner for the title at 4:15 p.m.
Sowers scored the winner off a Brett Baskin (La Salle) feed and also added two assists himself. Christian Feliziani (Episcopal Academy) won 12 of 20 face-offs despite an annoying groin injury that sidelined him Saturday.
Aitken, Jacob Buttermore (Garnet Valley), Michael Fay (Malvern Prep), and Peter Gayhardt (St. Joseph’s Prep) each scored once and Matt Moore (Garnet Valley) dished two assists while Adam Goldner (Malvern Pep) had one assist.
In the quarterfinals, Philly downed New England 9-5 as Feliziani won 8 of 9 face-offs and Sowers had two goals and four assists while Baskin scored twice. Matt Moore (Garnet Valley) added a goal and an assist. Gayhardt, Mike Coyle (Malvern Prep) and Michael Nelson (Southern Lehigh) each scored once.
Philly girls fall to Long Island in quarterfinals
Team Philly girls bowed to Long Island, 11-6, in the quarterfinals despite two goals each from Hannah Keating (Agnes Irwin) and Laura Pansini (Agnes Irwin). Samantha McGee (Abington) and Kristin Burnetta (Agnes Irwin) each scored once.
In the first round of the playoffs, Philly toppled the Midwest, 14-6, as Julia Hondros (Episcopal Academy) scored four goals, Emily Mathewson (Garnet Valley) had three goals and an assist and Sam Swart (Archbishop Carroll) added three. Lila Barker contributed two goals and an assist and McGee had a goal and an assist.
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