Seven Diamonds: Boys’ Lax Rankings
June 17th, 2009 by Isaac CassOK, these are the final rankings of 2009.
I will have some additional lax coverage (video-wise) during the summer.
So stay tuned, or blogged.
Yorktown’s Remy Lieberman, who blew up during the playoffs, will be a key player for the Huskers next year.
1) Yorktown (18-3) — To succeed in primetime playoff lax, a team needs to excel in two areas:
1) The cage
2) The faceoff X
In Thursday’s loss to West Islip in the Class A state semis, the Huskers were able to check off one of the two.
Goalie Michael Bonitatibus, who is lacrosse’s version of a Merry Prankster, wasn’t messing around against the Lions. The Loyola-bound star was very much the real deal, recording at least five point-blank saves, which, don’t forget, were being unleashed by some of the best players in the nation.
As good as Bonitatibus played, there was just that much more to be desired at the faceoff X.
All-American middie John Ranagan, who played like he had an ’89 Mustang engine transplanted into his chest, wasn’t to blame.
I mean, how much more should the kid be asked to do? I wouldn’t be surprised if he also had an apron in his bag. You know, to bake the post-game oatmeal cookies, too.
West Islip’s Conor Braddish was just that much better at the art of faceoffs. Braddish picked on ’Town at the draw in the same way Randy Moss does when matched up against 5-7 cornerbacks.
“I thought he was going early a bunch of times,” Yorktown Head Coach Dave Marr said of Braddish. “But he was timing it well and getting it every time.”
“We only won two or three faceoffs,” Marr said. “When you win two or three faceoffs and turn the ball over 20 times, you aren’t going to win too many games.”
If you watched Saturday’s Class B state title game on MSG — in which Canandaigua pulled off a 10-5 upset over Niskayuna — the importance of faceoffs was virtually impossible to ignore.
Canandaigua’s Marshall Johnson won 17 of 19 at the draw, gobbling up every single groundball like a hungry hippo. And he made it look so effortless, employing a simple clamp and rake maneuver.
As a result, Nisky’s offense — which had racked up 29 goals in state tournament wins over Somers and Sayville — lay dormant. All-American middie Dan McKinney, who racked up seven goals against Somers, was held to one goal.
Canandaigua Head Coach Ed Mulheron told the Daily Messenger that he knew everything would be OK if Johnson won faceoffs.
Well, things were a little better than OK.
In the same Daily Messenger article, Niskayuna Head Coach Mike Vorgang said that Johnson was one of “the best” faceoff men they had seen.
Mulheron went straight to the heart of the matter.
“You know [Johnson] kind of put us on his shoulders,” Mulheron was quoted saying in the Daily Messenger.
Back when ’Town won its last state title in 2003 — an improbable one at that — there was someone that carried them at the faceoff X, too.
His name was Bobby McCauley.
McCauley, who tragically passed in September, was the difference in Yorktown defeating Jamesville-DeWitt in the ’03 state finals.
With JD holding a 6-5 lead in the third quarter, McCauley came to the forefront. Built like the love child of an ice chest and fire hydrant, he proceeded to dominate the faceoff X. In turn, the Huskers gathered possessions and outscored JD 5-0 to close out the game.
“Bobby did a tremendous job on the draws in the second half,” Marr said in the NCN game story. “I probably should have gotten him in earlier than I did. When we put him in there in the third, you could see he matched up with that guy pretty well. He muscled up with him, got the ball out and did a really nice job when he picked it up and got his feet moving. He’s just one of many seniors that didn’t play a lot last year, but made the most of his time when he got it.”
From a bench player to a hero, McCauley proved a faceoff man’s value. (Not to mention, he was one of the funniest and genuine guys to ever put on a Yorktown lacrosse jersey).
So, is Yorktown’s future possession weapon lurking in the shadows somewhere on the bench?
With Ranagan off to Hopkins, the Huskers won’t have that dominant midfield presence to mask the problems at the draw.
Like a long-snapper in the NFL, a FOGO (faceoff get off) guy is invaluable and nearly irreplaceable.
For those Yorktown players rotting on the bench, I suggest you make a religion out of learning the art of faceoffs this summer. Seriously. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?
You end up being the unsung hero on a state championship team?
Moving on, I hear that backup rising senior goalie Derek Koelsch is very much the real deal. Whispers indicate he has the ability to make all the saves that Bonitatibus can.
But can he handle the rock outside of the cage like Mikey B.? Not a chance. With Ranagan and Bonitatibus’ outlet passes fleeing the coop, next year’s version of Yorktown isn’t even going to come close to resembling this year’s squad.
“It’s going to be a very different team next year,” Marr said. “We lose a lot of guys. Work starts on Tuesday pretty much. There is another 360 days till we do this again.”
According to Yorktown’s home on the web, here are the captains that will lead the 2010 team: Kevin Interlicchio, Remy Lieberman, Justin Mabus and Joey Porcelli.
While Yorktown’s entire defense graduates, there is one returning guy to keep an eye on.
His name is Stephen Burke. After getting injured this year, he will return as presumably the defense’s anchor. Remember the name.
Also, don’t forget about rising junior middie Ty Schuldt, who played his best lax in the playoffs. This kid is the future.
2) Somers (15-5) — Remember when Michael Jordan retired?
(In my book, Jordan’s second retirement in 2000 was his real exit from the league. The other two retirements were too Brett Favre-ian.)
Needless to say, it was a joyous occasion for Knicks fans.
As time passed, however, the NBA really lost its zest. The post-Jordan era put my basketball fandom on life support.
It took awhile for the league to recover. And its heart didn’t really start beating again till LeBron James arrived.
The rough transition period proved how much Jordan meant to the game of professional basketball.
Now, why am I babbling on like a cheap Bill Simmons rip-off?
Because I liken All-American attackman Joe Marasco’s exit from Section 1 to Jordan’s departure from the NBA.
Seriously.
Marasco was truly a one-of-a-kind talent in the scope of Section 1 lacrosse. With the grittiness of Chris Drury and the skill of Tiger Woods putting at the Masters, Marasco really was the complete package.
While Section 1 lax won’t take a nosedive like the NBA did, it’s certainly going to be an adjustment to watch a Marasco-less Somers team.
One thing is for certain: the highlight videos won’t be nearly as sweet.
I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating: Marasco has the ability to put up serious numbers at Syracuse — serious enough that it might warrant the chance to don the fabled No. 22 jersey.
But what I’m going to say now might surprise you: Somers might actually be better next year.
With so many key pieces returning — goalie Chris Longo; defensemen Eddie Schurr, Christian Smith, Andrew Madigan and John Bello; middies Colin Tullgren, Erik Pfiffner, Matt Deiana, Anthony Lombardo; attackmen Greg Petre, Kieran Donohue and Cole Partenza — the Tuskers will have a real solid chance at repeating.
Only a giant purple mass of seasoned returnees over in Cross River stands in their way.
Like last year, expect Class B to offer the most enticing matchups.
3) Lakeland/Panas (13-5) — Don’t be surprised if the Rebels end take Class A next year.
4) John Jay (10-9) — So young, so good. The future is scary over in John Jay — for its opponents, of course.
5) Putnam Valley (15-5) — Getting blindsided by Manhasset wasn’t the best way to end an epic turnaround season, but the Tigers have nothing to hang their heads about.
Look for rising senior attackman Ryan Fitzgerald to really challenge for PV’s second straight All-American selection.
But don’t forget this year’s graduating class, which pulled the program up by its bootstraps.
Head Coach Brian Kuczma certainly hasn’t.
“This is one of the most fun years I’ve had in a long time,” Kuczma said. “That’s a tribute to our seniors. They worked hard and kept the team together. They made it enjoyable to coach. I’m definitely going to miss these guys a lot.”
6) Mahopac (10-8) — Only Tyler Perrelle graduates on offense. Many — including myself — predicted the Indians would be an offensive juggernaut this past season. Maybe I was a year off?
7) Hendrick Hudson (6-13) — Keep an eye on rising senior attackman Cole D’Addario, who could be on the verge of a big time breakout season in 2010.
BEYOND PREMATURE 2010 RANKINGS
- John Jay
- Somers
- Lakeland/Panas
- Yorktown
- Mahopac
- Putnam Valley
- Hen Hud
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