Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/31/16
Staff Report
The Duke’s Lacrosse Club’s U11 Nationals will leave Florida with a great sense of accomplishment, if not a championship.
Dukes fell in a heartbreaker, 6-5, to mighty Team 91 of Long Island today in the finals of the NDP Lacropsse Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions in Wesley Chapel, FL. Despite the loss, Dukes Nationals co-coach Brady McCormick had nothing but praise for his team.
“One of big takeaways is that we’ve been together with this team for only a year and to see them come together and play this well against a team that has been together for a long time is just a tribute to our kids,” he said. “I am so proud of them. We played so unselfishly – I think about 80 percent of our goals were assisted.
“They look for each other and move off ball. (Coach Brian Lamey) got the boys to buy into the offense and understand what they are supposed to do. We had 10 different scorers because everyone contributed.”
Ryan Falkenstein and Aidan Garrett were leaders on defense, but McCormick said the entire unit was standout. Goalie Brayson (Goose) Wilson had 9 saves in the finale and Rich Rindos won over 75 percent of his face-offs.
“The defense and goaltending were great the entire tourney – I think they allowed 18 goals in seven games. I was so proud of the team’s effort and how they played together – event when things got tough against Team 91. They kept banging and never got down.”
Team 91 rallied from a 3-1 halftime deficit, but tied it, 3-3 and won it with less than 7 minutes to play. Jimmy Kennedy led Dukes with three goals while Charlie Kingsbury and Ian Cann each scored once. Casey Lamey, Tyler Raffini and Stone Evans each had assists. Truman McCormick and Ashton Morgan also were keys for Dukes, coach McCormick said.
Dukes Nationals has players from PA, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Long Island.
Dukes roster:
Brian Lamey
Ian Cann
Adam Carroll
Declan Conraughton
Patrick Coughlin
Stone Evans
Ryan Falkenstein
Aidan Garrett
Jimmy Kennedy
Charlie Kingsbury
Case Lamey
Jake Laubach
Truman McCormick
Ashton Morgan
Cooper Mueller
Aidan O’Connor
Rich Rindos
Brayson Wilson
Ty Yonas
Carter Youts
Justin McFaul
Caden Mason
Tyler Raffini
