Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/23/17
From Staff Report
The Bryn Athyn Freaks defeated Dogs Lacrosse Club, 11-7, to claim the 2017 Lenape Lacrosse Summer League Championship recently at Turk Field in Doylestown.
The Freaks were playing in their sixth straight championship game and looking to win it for a second time. They have a unique blend of youth and talent that has carried them well in the many years they have competed in this league, including Jack Forster (Penn State, La Salle).
The Freaks opened the game with a quick goal and set the tone early. The Dogs fought back to make a 6-3 game at half. In the second half, the Dogs tied it and after a little back and forth action, the Freaks regained the lead for good.
The Freaks scored 11 goals on 21 shots (on goal) while the Dogs scored 7 on 14 shots (on goal). Stars of the game included Forster (4 goals and 2 assists) and Thayer Damm (2 goals and 2 assists, La Salle/Washington College). For the Dogs it was Michael Ott (CB East), won 13 of the 20 face-offs, and Ian Vogt (3 goals and 1 assist).
Eight teams made the playoffs out of the 20 that competed in the league this season. The Freaks came into the playoffs with the nNo. 1 overall seed and were pitted against No. 8 Houston Road (Wissahickon and Upper Dublin Alumni). The two teams played the week before in the final game of the regular season that resulted in a Freaks win in overtime. For that reason the tension was a bit high and this led to a very physical game. Despite a strong showing from Luke Gomez (Wissahickon, Hofstra) and Michael Sowers (Upper Dublin, Princeton) the Freaks were able to pull out a two goal victory late in the game.
Next door on Field Two, the No. 2 overall seed, Team Bud Light, took on the No. 7 seed, ArrowHead (Lower Bucks area). At half it was 5-2 in favor of Bud Light but face-offs proved to be the key for Arrowhead in an eventual comeback win in overtime.
In a most intriguing quarterfinal game, the No. 3 Magerk’s Tavern of Hatboro and its roster comprised of 8 or 9 current D1 players took on No. 6 The Dogs. This is a roster that surprised some this season due to the many freshmen who have as yet to make a name in college. Names that you will come to know and respect included but were not limited to Fanelli, McIntosh, Ott, Pinado, The Brown Bros, and Vetter. These two teams were amongst the youngest in the league and the speed on both sides was very evident. In the second of three games that went to overtime, the Dogs pulled off the upset to face the winner of the Bingers-Blue Collar game.
The No. 4 seed, Blue Collar Lacrosse (Easton and Lehigh Valley area alumni), came into the game with one of the toughest defenses and top face-off guy in the region when they played the No. 5 Bingers (Abington area) and their All-American Goalie Nick Hreshko (La Salle, Monmouth). The Bingers won in OT.
The second round of the playoffs were played immediately following the first and The Freaks and Dogs prevailed in tough games.