Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/24/18
This is one of a series of previews for the 2018 Philly lacrosse season
Allentown Central Catholic High School
League: Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC)
Coach: Dan Dolphin, 11th year
Last Year’s Record: 22-2, EPC Champions, District XI 2A Champions, lost to eventual state champions Springfield-Delco 12-9 in quarter-finals of state playoffs.
Key Returnees: Matt Marker, Sr. Attack (60 goals, 42 assists) Lehigh commit; Zach Nelson, Sr. Attack (54 goals, 40 assists) Jacksonville commit; Daniel Glemser, Sr. Midfielder; Harrison Ike, Sr. Attack; Matt Scandone, Jr. Midfielder; Luke Talago, Jr. FOGO.
Others to watch: Todd Gloss, Jr. Midfielder; Nik Sunday, Sr. Midfielder; Nolan Barr, Jr. Goalie; Joe Pasquale, Jr. Defense; Justin Pasquale, Jr. Midfielder; Jack McGorry, Freshman Midfielder; Tyler Schifko, Freshman Midfielder; Will Alderman, Soph. LSM
Coach’s Outlook: “The team graduated 15 seniors last year, including the entire defense and goalie. We return an experienced attack and two solid midfield lines, so scoring should not be an issue. The key to our success this year is going to be how quickly our young defense and first year goalie adjust to the speed of the game at the varsity level.”
Parkland
League: East Penn Conference – East
Head Coach: Brad Schifko, 6th season as Head Coach (10th as head coach, 15th overall in program), Career record: 127-47 (ranks #1 all-time PHS Boys’ Lax)
Assistant Coaches: Marcus Janda, Offensive Coordinator; Joe LaBella, Defensive Coordinator; Cory Andrews, JV Head Coach;
Matt Andersen, Assistant; Justin Fuhrman, Assistant
Last year’s record: 20 – 3 overall; 9 – 1 in Conference (EPC – East Division Champions)
Lost in EPC Championship
Won DXI Championship (first in the history of program)
Lost in first round of PIAA State Playoffs (8-6, CB East)
Key returnees:
James McGlughlin, Jr., G; Ian O’Neill, Sr. A; Jake Yannes, Jr., M/A; Greg Santa-Anna, Jr., A; Andrew Albertson, Sr., FO/M; Luke Summers, Sr., M (captain); James Cipolla, Jr., A/M, Braden Groff, Sr., M; Sam Morgan, Sr., M; Austin Sauerzopf, Jr., M; Alex Albertson, Jr., D (captain); Dylan Rham, Jr., D; Zach Fitzgerald, Jr., D; Ian Haggerty, Sr., LSM/D; Colby Carlson, Jr., D; Liam Wilson, Jr., LSM; Bobby Carlson, Sr., G; Brent Cassium, Sr., D, Max Kistler, So., LSM; Ben Dobbs, So., D; Sam Schmitt, Jr., M.
Key Newcomers:
Eli Fisher, Jr., DM; Matt Geroulo, Fr., M; Will Filipovits, Fr., M, Garrett Fitzgerald, Fr., D, Cole Helmer, Fr., D, Cade Hammer, Fr., G.
Coach’s Outlook for 2018:”A very deep, athletic, physical and ‘veteran’ defense will be the ‘heartbeat’ of this team in 2018, returning a number of players with significant varsity time, from a season ago, and also anchored by one of the best in goal. If Defensive Coordinator, Joe LaBella, can continue to mold this unit, helping them to realize their full potential, the defense will be quite disruptive in 2018! Junior goalie James ‘X’ McLaughlin, needs to take another step forward in his second season as the ‘Quarterback’ of this defensive unit. Co-team captain Alex Albertson, as well as Dylan Rham, Zack Fitzgerald, Colby Carlson, Ian Haggerty, Liam Wilson, Brent Cassium and Max Kistler, will all provide added depth to a tenacious defensive unit.
“We are returning an explosive offense, looking for ‘new faces’ to fill the void left by some significant departures, from a season ago. Offensive Coordinator, Marcus Janda, will have an offense led by 2018 Co-Captain, Luke Summers, as well as ‘Mr. Utility,’ Braden Groff, at midfield. Returning starters, James Cipolla (moving from midfield to attack in ’18), Ian O’Neill and Greg Santa-Anna, will anchor the attack, while Andrew Albertson will handle the majority of face-off duties, and will provide added midfield depth, along with Sam Morgan and Jake Yannes (who will also play attack).”