LEARN LAX NEWS

Learn Lax would like to keep all current and former clients up to date with pertinent information. 

We would also like to acknowledge players’ accomplishments in the news.

 

Erdman Named Inside Lacrosse/Nike National Player of the Week
March 16, 2010
Junior Goalie Rewarded for Performance in Upset of Merrimack

SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo University junior goalie David Erdman has been selected as this week’s Inside Lacrosse/Nike National Player of the Week it was announced by InsideLacrosse.com on Tuesday morning. The Mt. Sinai, NY native stopped 27 shots on the week and his brilliant performance last Saturday helped lead the Lions to a 12-11 upset of then-No. 4 Merrimack.
Erdman racked up 27 saves in those victories, including 19 in the win over Merrimack. He collected eight saves while allowing only five goals against Notre Dame De Namur earlier in the week. Erdman’s effort against number four Merrimack included a point-blank stuff of an MC player who snuck behind the SLU defense, caught the ball in stride, and headed, uncontested, towards the goal. The save set the tone in the crease and preserved the Saint Leo victory.
The 6’4” Erdman has helped the ninth-ranked Lions to a 7-1 start, with a double-overtime loss to Queens University of Charlotte standing as their only blemish in 2010. On the season, Erdman has stopped 61 percent of the shots he's seen while only allowing 6.65 goals per game.
His selection marks the first National Player of the Week in the five-year history of Saint Leo Lacrosse and it is the second individual honor on the national scale for the Lions in 2009-10 after volleyball junior Bruna Rocha claimed AVCA national honors on October 8, 2009.

 

Brian Tilley Joins Hartford Coaching Staff as Assistant Coach
WEST HARTFORD, CT – The University of Hartford Department of Athletics has hired Brian Tilley as an assistant lacrosse coach, as announced on Thursday by head coach Peter Lawrence.

Tilley will serve as offensive coordinator/goalie coach and will run the box for the Hawks. He reunites with both a program and coach with which he is very familiar. A graduate of Hartford in 2008, he played for the Hawks from 2005-08 and spent three seasons under Lawrence's tutelage.

"It is nice to add an alumnus to staff who has so much pride, as well as a desire to help restore the tradition here at Hartford," said Lawrence. "Brian has great character, values, and a tireless work ethic which will transfer to our players."

Tilley, who graduated with a degree in entrepreneurial studies, began his coaching career as an assistant at Oneonta State last season. The Red Dragons finished the 2009 season with a 6-10 overall mark and 2-5 in the SUNYAC.

Tilley was a four-year letterwinner for the Hawks who played in 57 career games. An America East All-Rookie Team selection in 2005, he finished his career with 42 goals and 26 assists for 68 points. As a senior he ranked second on the team in scoring (15 goals, four assists) and was named the team's most valuable player. He also was selected to play in the Turfer Senior East-West All-Star Game.

Prior to attending Hartford, the Lake Ronkonkoma, NY native played lacrosse at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, NY and Stony Brook Preparatory School. As a senior at St. Anthony's he earned the lacrosse sportsmanship award. He also played soccer and wrestled in high school.
2009-07-02

 

 

Brian Tilley Joins the Lacrosse Staff at Oneonta State

ONEONTA, NY – Oneonta State Head Lacrosse Coach Dan Mahar has announced the addition of Brian Tilley to the 2009 Red Dragon's coaching staff. Tilley joins Oneonta State following a successful playing career at the University of Hartford.

"Brian is a young man of outstanding character and will be a tremendous asset to our program," stated Mahar. "His playing experience at both the University of Hartford and St. Anthony's give him a great foundation for coaching and his Long Island background makes him a perfect fit for one of our primary recruiting bases."

Tilley was a four-year letter winner for the Hawks who played in 57 games and scored 42 goals while adding 26 assists for 68 points. He ranked second on the team in scoring in 2008 with 15 goals and four assists for 19 points and was a 2005 America East All-Rookie Team selection.

"I am excited to be a part of the Red Dragons coaching staff. We have a lot of talent and I'm looking forward to competing in the SUNYAC," said Tilley.

Prior to attending the University of Hartford, the Lake Ronkonkoma, NY native played lacrosse at St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, NY and Stony Brook Preparatory School. As a senior at St. Anthony's he earned the lacrosse sportsmanship award. He also played soccer and wrestled in high school.

 

Congratulations to Jimmy Langton, James O’Brien, Connor Fitzgerald, Michael Sweeney, Jimmy Dawson and the Mt. Sinai lacrosse team for winning the NYS Class C championship in 2008.

NEW YORK STATE 2008 CHAMPIONS

 

 

 

 

2007 - WARD  MELVILLE  LACROSSE  ALUMNI  GAME

(Saturday, June 16, 2007)

 

The 10th edition of “The Modern Games” is now history.  Since 1998 the game has been occurring on/near either Mother’s Day weekend in May or Father’s Day weekend in June.  Prior to that, John Schettino ’74 single-handedly organized a game from 1984 -1988.  After a ten year gap of “no game”, Chris Walker ’83 said “Enough!” . . . and he proceeded to “invent (as Yogi would put it) the “Modern Games”.  He immediately enlisted the help of classmate/teammate Bob Betcher ’83, and together these two unique former “Patriots” have produced 10 very successful alumni games. 

 

The 2007 game occurred on the lower field from 3:30 to 5:30 pm amidst bright sunshine, 80-degrees temperature, and a light breeze.  A total of 42 players assembled at game time, and were separated into two squads under the guidance of Justin White ’96 by randomly separating three piles of sticks (attack, midfield and defense) into two groups.  This was the second year in a row for this approach, the previous years having followed either the “odd-years verses even-years” or the “Murphy verses Gelinas” approach.  At this point Chris Walker’s “surprise of the day” occurred.  For the first time in 10 years Chris was missing as he recovered in his Maryland home from recent knee surgery, and perhaps that explains how he was bold enough to put the two teams in the colors of “Ultimate Pink” and “Doo Doo Brown”. 

 

The Head Referee was once again Mike Nagle, Sr. (who interrupted a vacation on a Montauk beach to police the game), and he was ably assisted by Tom Attanasio.  Willy White had once again set up the field (and closed it down, too); and for the second year in a row, Melville High’s Athletic Director, Don Webster, manned the scoreboard together with Jake Westermann ’06.

 

The Captain of the “Pinks”, Justin White ’96, was stuck in one cage for the entire game, so Vice Captain Anthony Pisciotto ’97 was in charge of strategy and tactics from the sideline.  Matching him move-for-move from the “Browns” sideline (except when running as a midfielder) was Captain Tom Kelly ’85.

 

Half way through the first quarter the score favored the “Pinks” 3-2, and three minutes into the second quarter it was still a small “Pinks” advantage at 6-4.  At that point the roof came down on the “Browns” as they witnessed seven goals to their one.  Even though the “Browns” won the second half 5-3, it wasn’t enough to overcome the “Pinks” impressive 13-5 lead at halftime.  The scoring details appear elsewhere in this report. 

 

It takes extra courage to be the goalie in these alumni games, so special credits go to the “Browns” John O’Rourk ’90 (10 saves) and the “Pinks” Justin White ’96 (8 saves).

 

The defensive MVP was Bob O’Rourk ’83 who motored constantly all over the field, and at one point leaned hard right to pluck a line drive out of the air directly in front of the open cage.  The offensive MVP award went to Mike Monfett ’97 on the strength of his 3 goals and numerous other threats on the “Browns” cage.  The day’s box score shows three other “Pinks” with three points, one of those efforts being an impressive “3 assists” from Jason Sanders.  Had the “Browns” come out on top, the 4 “on the door step” goals by 1992’s Mark Nagle would have competed for the offensive MVP honor together with the 4 assists from 1995’s Ethan Mills (the day’s “Mister Assister”). 

 

As is usual during the Alumni Game “weekend”, various clinics were held Saturday morning for the young “lacrosse stars of tomorrow”.  The key to these clinics are the former players who volunteer to be the instructors, and they are identified elsewhere in this report. 

 

Special honors this year were delivered to two former coaches who have played an all-important role in the success of Ward Melville Lacrosse.  Long-time coach of Melville’s famous “backer” defense, Bill Martens, and long-time JV coach, Ray Weeks, were recognized by the alumni for their unique contributions to the WMLax Program.  Former Head Coach, Joe Cuozzo (1969-2006) was there to join in on the applause for his two key assistants who, additionally, happen to be gentlemen of the finest sort.

 

 The day’s finale was yet another exciting raffle of endless lacrosse/sports equipment. With many kids of all ages in attendance, Bob Betcher ’83 and Mike Heming ’83 conducted yet another successful drive to raise the funds needed to cover the event’s expenses.  From this year’s proceeds a donation will be made in the direction of a former “Patriot” stickman, Drew Eggers ’87, who is recovering from a serious accident.  The highlight of the 2007 raffle was the day’s special prize (a set of golf clubs with golf bag) which was won by the late Tom Higgins’ father on Father’s Day Weekend.  Special credits in this area for their donation of raffle prizes go to:

     Greg Cattrano ’93 of Warrior Lacrosse                   Mike Orton ’90 of Golfetail

     Mike DeSimone ’87 of Lacrosse Unlimited             Port Jeff Sporting Goods

     Jim Oliver ’89 of Laxpower                                     Rich Sibero of Morgan Stanley

 

Helping to round out the weekend of fun and games was the Stony Brook pub, Patty Buchanan’s, who hosted the usual Friday night and Saturday night “huddles”. 

 

The key word during each Alumni-Game Weekend is “spirit”.  It is what drives the event,  and it is what is being honored each time.  As a result, the event’s key award is the “Tom Higgins Spirit Award”.  Tom Higgins ’78 demonstrated a full tank of alumnus spirit.  Beginning with the first year (1998) of the “Modern Games”, Tom came eagerly all the way from Georgia to participate in the games of the first four years.  Despite being one of the older players, this junior high teacher and coach never failed to end up in the day’s box score.  A few months following his appearance at the 2001 game, a sudden illness took his life.  But his impressive example of “spirit” lives on through the annual “Tom Higgins Spirit Award”.  In 2007 this award was captured by John Wilkens ’85, and was presented to him by the Higgins family (father, step-mother, brother, sister and two nieces).  An eager member of the entire weekend (Friday night party, Saturday game, and Saturday night party), John Wilkens has come from Massachusetts for eight of the ten games since 1998, the last five being in a row.

 

TOM  HIGGINS  SPIRIT  AWARD 

 

2002 - Mike Heming ’83    2003 - Rich Wilkens ’77    2004 - Bob MacDevitt ’71    2005 - Mike Nagle, Sr.    2006 - George Schmidt ’78    2007 - John Wilkens ‘85

 

Will Gray

6/20/07      

 

PLAYERS:(42)

 

     1971:  Bob MacDevitt

     1972:  Greg Giampaolo

     1974:  Mike Hoppey; Mark Opisso

     1977:  Chip Pittard; Rich Wilkens

     1978:  George Schmidt

     1980:  Kevin Morris

     1981:  Tom Dolezal

     1982:  Jim Manning

     1983:  Mike Heming; Dave Koehler; Bob O’Rourk

     1985:  Tom Kelly; Rob Pinnata; John Wilkens

     1986:  Tom Brown; John Mitchell

     1990:  Glen Grippe; John O’Rourk; Mike Ruffini

     1992:  J.J. Arline; Jared Mills; Mark Nagle; Jason Sanders

     1993:  Shane McLaughlin

     1995:  Ethan Mills

     1996  Justin White

     1997  Mike Monfett

     1998  Matt Grosso

     1999  John Melucci; Brendan Morgan

     2001  Ryan Kelaher; Brad Lutzer; Matt Monfett; John Salvesen

     2002  Bill Granger

     2005  Jason Ben-Eliahu; John Graziano; Ken Mazzone; Brian Smith

     2006  Mike Droesch

       

        Also in attendance, but did not play: Bob Betcher ’83; Tom Burne ’85; Colin Forestal ’97; Peter

        Higgins ’81; Dave McCulloch ’81; Anthony Pisciotto ’97; John Schettino ’74; Rob Walker ’87.

               ULTIMATE PINK                                 DOO-DOO BROWN

                  Captain:  Justin White ’96                                    Captain: Tom Kelly ‘85

           Ass’t Captain: Anthony Pisciotto ’97

 

             Mike Monfett          ’97   3 + 0 = 3                               Mark Nagle        ’92    4 + 0 = 4

             Brendan Morgan    ’99     2 + 1 = 3                               Ethan Mills         ’95    0 = 4 = 4

            Jason Ben-Eliyahu   ’05    1 + 2 = 3                               Ken Mazzone     ’05    1 + 1 = 2

            Jason Sanders          ’92     0 + 3 = 3                               Bob MacDevitt   ’71    1 + 0 = 1

            Mike Droesch          ’06    2 = 0 = 2                               Mike Hoppey     ’74    1 + 0 = 1

            John Graziano          ‘05    2 + 0 = 2                               John Salvesen     ’01     1 + 0 = 1

            Matt Monfett           ’01    1 + 1 = 2                              Mike Heming     ’83    1 + 0 = 1

            Jared Mills             ’92    1 + 1 = 2                              Bill Granger       ’02    1 + 0 = 1

            Kevin Morris          ’80    1 + 0 = 1                              Rich Wilkens     ’77    0 + 1 = 1

            Dave Koehler        ’83    1 + 0 = 1                             John Wilkens     ’85    0 + 1 = 1

            Glen Grippi            ’90    1 + 0 = 1                                                                   10   7    17

                                                     16   8   24

 

                 PINK:       6  +  7  +  2  +  1  =  16

                 BROWN:  2  +  3  +  4  +  1  =  10   

 

N.B.  If you enjoyed these stats, then tip your helmet in the direction of Bob Walker, Sr.  For the third year in a row he has been my able, and most-welcomed, assistant.  Manning the scorers table, he calmly deals with the facts, and only “the facts”, while super excitement boils all around him.

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   Revised: April 17, 2009