Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/31/22
This is one of a series of previews for the 2022 scholastic lacrosse season
Lenape
Coach: Bill Sutphin (20 years, 225-120), assistant Anthony Brunetti
League: Olympic Conference
2021 overall record: 14-3, Won Olympic Conference division, lost in sectional finals to Monroe in OT
Key returners:
2022 Sean Shelko Att
2022 Sean Pappas Def
2022 Aiden Bregman Mid
2022 Ethan Poludniak FOGO/Mid
2023 Nolan Samson Mid
2023 Ben Blum Goalie
2023 Luke Birney Att
2024 Ryan Dickson Mid
2022 Vince Cao D-mid
Top newcomers:
2022 Chase Christella Def
2022 Ethan Smith Def
2023 Ty Smith Def
2023 Liam Humphrey Mid
2023 Nick Williams Att
2023 Liam Humphrey Mid
2023 Mike Conover Mid
2024 Matt Liebling Def
2024 Jake Simkins LSM
2023 Ian Cleary Mid/Att
2024 Cayden Storicks Goalie
Coach’s outlook: “We have several positions to replace, especially on defense. We will be young this year all over the field. Manhattan bound Sean Shelko returns to lead a young offense and he has been an outstanding leader this preseason. He will QB a young offense that should be able to score a lot of goals this year.”
St. Augustine Prep
League: Independent | NJ Non-Public A
Coaches: JC Valore (227-92 / 17th Season), Mike Sutton, Matt Spiers, Chad Flexon, Charlie Kitchen, Mike McMenamin
2021 Record: 10-5, NJ Non-Public A Semi-Finals
Key Players:
Aidan Peters / Senior / Goalie
Ryan Demato / Senior / Attack/Mid
Matthew Vanaman / Senior / Attack/Mid / Robert Morris
Luke Hendricks / Senior / Mid / Quinnipiac
Luke Scarpello / Senior / Mid / Penn State
Charles LaRosa / Senior / DM
Jackson Tinari / Senior / FO / Wesleyan
Ben Thomas / Senior / LSM / Colgate
Sebastian Tobias / Senior / Defense / Cabrini
Nate Groody / Senior / Defense / Ursinus
Quinn Menet / Senior / Defense / Stockton
Coach’s Outlook for 2022: “This season we aim to achieve balance while developing the necessary depth to compete with a highly competitive independent schedule, preparing us for a deep run in the Non-Public A state tournament.”
Washington Township
League: Olympic Conference American
Head Coach: Josh Hanlon- 6th Season
2021 Record: 10-8
Key Players:
Giuseppe Morici, Sr. F/O (St. Joseph’s University)
Alex Kunicki, Sr. Mid (Montclair State University)
Alex Birmingham, Sr. Att (Mercer C.C.)
Sean Alminde, Sr. Mid (Widener University)
Stevie Seibert, Sr. Def
Others to Watch:
Colin Vannais, So. Att
Bryce Gaffney, Jr. LSM
James Lawson, Jr. Mid
Ethan Wilson, Sr. Def
Santino Mesi, Sr. Def
Coach’s Outlook: “The 2022 Minutemen have a mix or seniors and underclassman that will need to build chemistry on the field to be successful. Everything will start at the X as Giuseppe Morici (St. Joe’s) returns with a 72% win rate. The offense will be led by midfielder Alex Kunicki (Montclair State) with 46g, 18a last season and was a Phillylacrosse.com All-SJ selection. Alex Birmingham (Mercer C.C.) will anchor the attack coming off a 28g 21a season. Sophomore Colin Vannais will look help balance the scoring on the attack unit. Bryce Gaffney returns as LSM and has a supporting cast of athletic close defenders. As always the Minutemen have the talent to play with the teams in the challenging Olympic American.”
