Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/20/16
Fusion 2018s took home the High School A tournament championship in dramatic fashion this weekend in North Carolina, avenging an earlier loss to top-seeded Lax Factory, 5-4, in an overtime shootout.
who had bested Fusion earlier in the day 8-7, Fusion was able to beat them in a wildly entertaining shoot-out, winning the tournament championship game 5-4.
Video of the shootout can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BONP5egFW8P/
“I am extremely happy for the boys who have worked so hard this year and traveled a long way to play in this tournament,” said Fusion Head Coach and Founder Steven Holmes, whose team fell, 8-7, in their first contest with Lax Factory. “We were shorthanded and going up against a very well coached and talented Lax Factory squad.
“The boys stayed the course and gutted out a tremendously satisfying victory. Win or lose that was one of the most exciting and intense tournament games Ive seen. I want to thank Bucktown for putting on a first class event. We will certainly be back again next year!”
Fusion was paced offensively throughout the tournament by Nick Braendel (Conestoga 2018) and Kieran Ward (Malvern Prep 2017), both of whom also scored in the shootout. Defensively Ed Fusco, the lone 2017 Fusion player, was a strong presence all tournament long. Axel Beskar (Souderton 2019, Team USBOXLA) proved once again that he is one of the best American Box goalies for his age, making huge saves all weekend long.
Additionally, Fusion 2020 earned a silver medal in the JV division, losing to Bucktown 8-7 in the final. The Fusion 2021 team also earned a silver medal.
