Part 1 is over for Yorktown
-
- April
- 24
If you look at Yorktown’s schedule, there really are three parts:
Part 1: Out-of-area schedule against some of the best teams in the country (McDonogh, St. Anthony’s, Chaminade, Ward Melville, Darien).
Part 2: Section 1 schedule, of course highlighted by THE GAME against John Jay.
Part 3: Playoffs.
Michael Bonitatibus made some great saves agianst Darien. He’ll need to continue to play well if Yorktown is going to have a succesful season. (Photo by Mike Roy/Journal News).
Part 1 concluded yesterday (It should be noted Yorktown does have a game left against Wilton) with a 12-5 loss to Darien.
Yorktown went 2-3 against the five elite teams it faced.
That’s certainly respectable.
In fact, it’s probably as good as it could have hoped for. Four of the five games were on the road, and three of the five teams were nationally ranked.
The discouraging part for Yorktown is that it lost the last two of the tough five games, and lost them both badly.
Here’s my take at this point: Yorktown is a good team. It’s just not a great team. Nothing wrong with that. Just about every team in the country would get a pummeled by Darien. Yorktown isn’t one of the best five teams in the country, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a team to do some great things before the season ends.
Now it’s time to move on to Part 2 to try to really get some solid confidence before Part 3 begins.
• For photos from the Darien-Yorktown game, click here.
• For video highlights from the game, click here.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 10:26 pm by Jeff Gold.
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Ytown got rolled tonight. 12-5 score does not even tell the story of the game. Darien defense was swarming causing turnovers and getting transition very quickly. Darien offense was smart and moved the ball to draw ytown d into stretch situations and then bang moved it one/two more for an open look.
I am sick about hearing how ytown has all these great coaches, it is ridiculous that Marr had gotten kicked out of games every year and the AD does nothing about it. Secondly, if he feels comfortable leaving the team to Lodewick and Carney he is more stupid than that Hopkins degree that he has at home.
Ytown if you want to win some games work on 3 things:
Team offense, stop trying to dodge 1v1 all the time you don't have anybody at this point that is going to break down a darien defense.
Clear!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man UP- moving the ball around the outside is a joke. your crease man tonight was open many times but bc he is small and can not post up in side makes it impossible to get him the ball. put your biggest or strongest (physically) on the crease.
slow it down,bro
Laxbroadcaster…
Maybe you should look at the careers of these coaches you seem to so quickly bash. Sound to me like you are wishing you had coach Marr's job and his degree! Jealous??
Yorktown has the world's biggest bull's-eye on it on a daily basis, so with the praise comes the inevitable bashing and second-guessing.
If you're a Town fan, you have to look at the rest of the regular season as a chance to build some momentum for sectional and then the state tournament.
It starts with Brewster, which is on a nice roll. They still also have to play rivals John Jay, Somers, Lakeland/Panas and Wilton.
Wins in all these games are a must.
The calendar turns to May very quickly. Traditionally that has always marked the time when Yorktown "wakes up." I don't know if they have enough to make any serious noise come states. They should win the section without incident. They should beat Nisky or Guilderland from Section 2.
Then, who knows? Right now, though, you can't be too confident that they will be adding a seventh state crown to the resume any time soon.
But you can take solace in the fact that Town plays its best lax in the second half of the season. They had 10 losses last year in the regular season. A new low. But they still got where they always get, so keep your chins up and get back to basics.
Jealous of nobody!
Not bashing anybody have played and seen lacrosse played at the best levels and ytown is not at that level. They are good and have a TON of talent but talent is not being used in the right ways.
laxbroadcaster;
ytown seems to play these hard out of section teams to find out what needs to be fixed. at the end of the season it really dosen't matter if they won them or not, only if they learn from the mistakes and improve. the fact of the matter is that other then wm, these other games are designed to test where they are currently at and help guide them to where they want to be and that is in the finals. I guess if they really wanted to win games, to appease folks like you, they could stay in section and pound the lights out of most, put would that really help them improve. i don't recall anyone in section 1 and that is anyone who has played 3 nationally ranked teams, fyi wm is now #5, two top 5 teams in a week, they arent' playing ranked teams going backwards, but ranked teams vying for # 1 in the nation.
I'm not a big Marr fan, but the success is there. The analogy to Hopkins, who always has the toughest schedule, takes their lumps, and strangely enough, is always around on Memorial Day Weekend might be pretty indicative. The town fans, and anti-fans, might just have to recognize that the days of throwing the green gloves on the field and walking away with a win are over. Thats not a bad thing, just the state of HS lax these days.
I think there are several points being missed here.
People and players from yorktown take pride in the program (some just come across the wrong way…giving us the "bulleye" mentioned above) this pride stems from the realization that not too long ago out of section and in section opponents feared playing yorktown and aside from the few obvious teams (WM…urrrr)town came out on top, and was almost looked down on if they lost to the likes of Wilton or Darien. It was NEVER lets play these guys loose and find out what needs to be done in May to win the section…..I stand by the word "never".
If we look back over the past few years we have an "elite" program that has almost taken a back seat to John Jay, has lost the section and might have lost more if they didn't move to A, had the first year ever with no players on empires, has lost its "lock" status for winning the section, has watched teams like Rye & Somers relish in the same success as them while at the same time losing games to these programs. Don't get me wrong there are alot of positives here as well but I am not listing them because that is not the point of this post.
Something has to change if Yorktown is to ever return to the elite status it once had. Beating a good team then getting blown out by another is not going to cut it, consistency is what everyone is looking for. Darien looked like a mini D1 team last night in every aspect of the game (and anyone who knows the game will agree), there is no reason why with the coaches and talent yorktown has this year why they can't look the same. For the programs sake i hope that the former blue collar mentality, hard nose hustle, and tough 2 and 3 sport physical athlete return soon otherwise get used to these up and down seasons and bench clearing celebrations for when we score a game winning goal in OT in a regular season game against rye….which by the way Kudo's to the coaches and players who built the program to where it is today!!!
Yorktown must first realize that they are not the Town of old. Maybe in order to compete they have to suck up their pride and run a different offense or defense one less focused on individual talent and more focused on a total team concept? Have players work on their stick skills and knowledge of the game over the winter? Stop having parents have such a strong say in how the program is run?
Bill Thorp,
I agree that they play a heck of an out of section sched which hopefully improves them. I just hope that any critisism of their play is relayed to these kids in a constructive manner.If not these big losses could hurt them or at least they won't get as much learning out of them. I hope as you and others say that Town will build their confidence as they did last yr going into the states.
Frankly if they show up "flat" AGAIN as has been said by many fans after their losses and dont bring their A game they're definately not going "to pound the lights" out of Brewster. In fact they could lose as was definately in the cards in the rye game.
I think there are several points being missed here.
People and players from yorktown take pride in the program (some just come across the wrong way…giving us the "bulleye" mentioned above) this pride stems from the realization that not too long ago out of section and in section opponents feared playing yorktown and aside from the few obvious teams (WM…urrrr)town came out on top, and was almost looked down on if they lost to the likes of Wilton or Darien. It was NEVER lets play these guys loose and find out what needs to be done in May to win the section…..I stand by the word "never".
If we look back over the past few years we have an "elite" program that has almost taken a back seat to John Jay, has lost the section and might have lost more if they didn't move to A, had the first year ever with no players on empires, has lost its "lock" status for winning the section, has watched teams like Rye & Somers relish in the same success as them while at the same time losing games to these programs. Don't get me wrong there are alot of positives here as well but I am not listing them because that is not the point of this post.
Something has to change if Yorktown is to ever return to the elite status it once had. Beating a good team then getting blown out by another is not going to cut it, consistency is what everyone is looking for. Darien looked like a mini D1 team last night in every aspect of the game (and anyone who knows the game will agree), there is no reason why with the coaches and talent yorktown has this year why they can't look the same. For the programs sake i hope that the former blue collar mentality, hard nose hustle, and tough 2 and 3 sport physical athlete return soon otherwise get used to these up and down seasons and bench clearing celebrations for when we score a game winning goal in OT in a regular season game against rye….which by the way Kudo's to the coaches and players who built the program to where it is today!!!
Yorktown must first realize that they are not the Town of old. Maybe in order to compete they have to suck up their pride and run a different offense or defense one less focused on individual talent and more focused on a total team concept? Have players work on their stick skills and knowledge of the game over the winter? Stop having parents have such a strong say in how the program is run?
As for AA's the only good take-away from last nite was the fantastic job Town's goalie did to keep it from being more of a rout. Fantastic saves with a a "say hey" willy mays behind the back,over his head save!
Latino figures in but that was an AA performance last nite.
Marr fan or not…if anyone thinks that the "critisism of their play" is relayed to HIS kids in anyway other than constructive, your crazy! Marr may be a yeller at the REFS (usually for good reasons)but he is nothing but a positive TEACHER to his kids. The entire coaching staff is.
lax,
I was just posing a question on Marr relationship with team as have no idea. Sounds like you're pretty close to the situation and good to see it's "positive" as you see it.
From the sounds of it mike b is having a great season and certainly should get consideration for aa.I don't see why that would preclude latino from also being considered. If they are 2 of the eight best players one of them shouldn't be precluded because of the other.
As for yorktown program it does get pretty tedious to every time they struggle or don't play well to have to listen to what a great program they are. I don't think anyone disputes that they have a great history and legacy. But the facts also are that the last couple of years they have only been a good team certainly not a great one. The fact that jay has beaten them 3 yrs in a row and that lakeland and others beat them last year just shows that that feling of invinciblity is certainly not shared by other programs any longer. I know everyone wants to cite last year making it to semi's as proof they are still elite. I think all it really proved was the level of competition is not there until you meet the long island team. losing 10 games in a season only makes you a middle of the road team. if they truly are an elite team then they should be beating other elite teams on a consistant basis and the last few years they have not.
so congrats on having a grat history but that history is no longer helping you win games and might be an albatrose around their necks. so let them concentrate on the season at hand and guit putting unrealistic expectations on their shoulders.
nu2lax..I would agree with the fact that history is not helping them win but tradition is what keeps them coming back to the same place year after year. They are still the only team in section 1 to win a title in the last 5 years.
They continually earn their respect, however JJ recent wins over Yorktown has not, in my opinion, earn them the all the rankings and praise. Remember it was Yorktown who won the title. And isn't thank what the goal is.
nu2lax,
Well said. Accurate,constructive and objective observation.
Let the kids play!!! I mean that in every sense imaginable.
By the way, Mitch, I voted for you in the poll on the right even though you are faster than me. (That may be the funniest thing I've seen on here)
ylacrosse,
Let me get this straight…..
you state in your post:
"They Continually earn their respect, however JJ recent wins over Yorktown has not, in my opinion, earn them all the rankings and the praise."
I believe your insinuating that John Jay has not earned their national ranking this year, last year, or in previous years.
Are you serious??
John Jay earned their national ranking by knocking off ranked teams including the #1 team in the nation. They have also been producing major division 1 talent consistently for the past 5 or 6 years.
This blog is getting tougher and tougher to stomach.
jjfan,
I think what ylacrosse was saying is that they have not reach the ultimate goal of a state championship and yorktown has in recent years..Not saying that JJ isn't great but saying Yorktown is always slammed when not at its best although they are they only team in section 1 to reach the prize.
I agree with lax2..this year alone Yorktown was left out of the polls after beating St Anthonys and Chaminade. I actually think inside lacrosse even reported one of those wins as a loss. Give credit where credit is do.
nu2lax…
"if they truly are an elite team then they should be beating other elite teams on a consistant basis and the last few years they have not."
that's a completely ridiculous statement. elite teams are not expected to CONSISTENTLY BEAT other elite teams. elite teams are expected to remain competitive with other elite teams, finding a team that consistently beats all other elite teams, thats a needle in a haystack. i'm not going to act like i'm not a yorktown fan, but yorktown every year plays the toughest out of section schedule in the section, state, and the nation. the fact that they were completely outplayed by powerhouses such as darien and ward melville, two teams in the nations top 5, shouldn't override the fact that they had two impressive wins against Long Island's best in St. Anthony's and Chaminade.. yorktown definitely did not stay competitve with WM and darien, but the fact that they even go after teams like this should be respectable. so don't go out there bashing yorktown, because without yorktown lax, there would be no lax in the hudson valley
Yorktown is good but I find it understandable why they weren't in the rankings this year. The win over Chaminade is impressive as is the one over St. Anthony's (who wasn't nationally ranked), but they havn't been consistent. It will be very hard to put town in the rankings after losing to an unranked team (Mcdonogh) by 10 goals, and this was before their two big losses. Just look at Mcdonogh, they beat Yorktown and a couple of currently nationally ranked teams but are they in the rankings? No, but they should be.
I watched the game last night and I agree that the only positive was Town's goalie. The offense could not execute and overall they looked sloppy and played with no discipline. I do not see how this Town team has any chance against John Jay, that being said, both teams seem to raise the bar against each other. I predict Jay by 4 goals, maybe 12-8. For those Town fans that say the Yorktown/Jay game is meaningless, give me a break, the game is for all intensive purposes the championship of section 1…can't wait!
To many who only look at wins and losses, Yorktown is a victim of its schedule. By being forced to play MIAA, Long Island and Conn. powers before the midway point of the season, they are in a very unenviable position. They have to win these games to get national recognition in polls. Asking them to beat 5 national powers in their first 9 games borders on insanity. But yet, when they go out and get pretty much dominated by the likes of Ward Melville and Darien, many people (not all, but many nonetheless) assume the end is near. Well, it's not. It's just not going to always have a pretty bow on top in the wins column.
Yorktown's schedule is decidedly tougher now than it was during their "glory" years. Back in the early 1990s they played all three FCIAC powers—Darien, New Canaan and Wilton—Ward Melville and maybe one other out-of-state or section foe—a second-tier L.I. power or maybe someone from northern Connecticut, like a Fairfield Prep or a Cheshire.
As solid as that schedule was, what they do now is borderline psychotic. MIAA or IAC team in first two games. Darien and Wilton, St. Anthony's, Chaminade and Ward Melville. Plus, a Section I schedule that gets tougher each and every year for reasons we all know.
If anything, Dave Marr has ratcheted up the difficulty because the days of 19-1 wins over Fox Lane are long over. Now, you not only play the CHSAA powers to prepare for Hofstra, but you also play them to prepare for John Jay, Rye, Lakeland/Panas and Somers. We've never seen this before.
The days of 21-1 are over, but it doesn't mean the program has lost any of its luster. It just means the playing field has narrowed considerably and Marr, more than anyone, knows this and has reacted accordingly.
I'll take my chances with a program that fights against the best over any that just beats up on weak sisters in its own section. Yorktown's model for scheduling is now emulated by any serious within a 20-mile radius of the high school.
That, in itself, speaks volumes.
And the program will never, ever relent from scheduling the best, even if one day their skill level is average. That's very commendable.
As for Jay not earning their place in the world, stop it. They have earned every bit of praise they have received over the last five years. But teams from our section don't "West Genny" their way to state titles. They have to fight tooth and nail for everything they get.
I truly believe Jay will get what they so desperately want … sooner rather than later.
I'm not going to go any further with you Yorktown crazies because you don't listen, you just spout out the same garbage. I particularly like this quote from laxaddict 101:
"Without Yorktown there would be no lacrosse in the Hudson Valley."
I guess I was right…You guys ACTUALLY did invent the game. Maybe before the start of every section 1 lacrosse season we can have a festival and parade thanking the entire Yorktown community for enlightening us. You guys are rich.
Fact: John Jay's schedule has been just as tough as Yorktown's the past few years.
Fact: John Jay has actually BEATEN these ranked teams that they have scheduled in the regular season.
THATS HOW YOU GET RANKED!!!!! EARN IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Its not enough just to schedule the games and then proceed to get waxed. John Jay has earned their ranking by beating the likes of Manhassett, Darien, Huntington, Corning East, Garden City, Niskayuna in recent years.
I won't even bring up Duxbury(Mass. state champs) because its become clear they are not worthy in the eyes of Town fans.
Regardless, respect to the ghosts of Yorktown Lacrosse from the 80's and 90's, but they can't help you anymore. In fact, all this talk about tradition probably does more harm than good by placing undue pressure on the kids playing the game.
JJFan
We all have had enough of the banter regarding JJ and Yorktown. However, for you to think that Yorktown and Charlie Murphy didn't bring the sport to this area is extremely ignorant.
Syracuse,
Good commnets.
think rye has reached the point where I'd like to see Dooley start putting 1-2 more good out of section teams on rye's sched but NOT like Town which would be overkill and I think detrimental to Rye at this point. Putting Wantaugh on the sched was a good example (but not good result!). Maybe teams from LI, NYS, CT teams. But I DONT mean teams like West Islip, GC, Darien, etc. Rye's got time for that. aside from the competition think its just mentally a good "refresher" for the kids to get a break from their normal Section 1 comp.
Totally agree 100 percent. Rye would benefit greatly from playing CHSAA teams (due to proximity as well as reputation) and should jump into the fray against some of the best Class C and B teams in the state.
I would love to see Rye play Carthage or Jamesville-Dewitt upstate, or maybe someone like a Manhasset or Cold Spring Harbor on the Island, or FCIAC teams like Greenwich, New Canaan, or an upstate for like Glastonbury.
These are the teams that, with experience against, can only help Rye going forward, and, yes, I agree trying to get a games with Class A powers or Connecticut elite could only hamper the program's development at this point.
That said, though, if Rye ever breaks through and wins it all, what they will need to schedule to maintain their rep and stature will have to change as well.
Rye is definitely a program not disappearing any time soon. A staple of excellence for the forseeable future.
JJFan,
Obviously your Duxbury comment was directed at me. I can understand your feelings, but please know this: My downplaying of the Duxbury win had to do with what Duxbury is THIS season, not what their reputation suggests from past seasons. Would you agree that this year's Dux team isn't anywhere near as good as Dux teams Jay has beaten or lost to in the past?
That's all I'm saying. You often say Yorktown fans are quick to defend their turf. Well, now that Jay has a lot of turf to defend, you are as guilty as Town fans. You want respect and will defend it to the end. Be careful, because you sound an awful lot like those you despise.
Syracuse,
Sorry if I've asked you this before but with your objective, balanced and obvious knowledge of the game I wanted to.
Many commnents have been made about town being flat or down for certain games as well as one saying it was time for the seniors/captians to take charge.
Do you think there is this type of issue(s) for Town and if so,why ,and what can be done? thx
All I know is from what I've seen this year when Yorktown is on they are very good. When they have lost they have been thoroughly dominated. My guess is as much as Yorktown fans want to say the team is "flat" or "didn't show up", it's probably a harder reason to swallow.
They aren't nearly as good as the three teams they lost to.
That's not an absolute, though. Just because they were dominated by Melville and Darien it doesn't mean they will get smoked by a similar team come states, should they indeed get back in the tournament.
Considering what's left on their schedule, they should be favored to win every game, with the Jay contest looking pretty even right now, but again, based almost entirely on the reactions following losses more than wins.
Senior leadership will definitely play a role, but stuff like that only works with motivation. If you can't convert on man-up, there's just so much a senior captain can say.
But, there's no questioning the talent level on this team. It's right there. Improving on man-up and moving the ball better on offense is more a matter of execution than motivation for Yorktown.
I can't imagine for a second a Yorktown team not motivated. I can, however, see a team with so many solid parts taking a long time to jel. Hence, why I and many others have said Yorktown is a "work in progress," and why I and so many others have cautioned people to back off the bashing after losses to three national powers in the first half of the season.
I'm not at Yorktown's practices. I can't imagine them being jokes. It's serious business. But for whatever reason they aren't taking some of what they practice with them into big games. Again, this could be because their opponents have simply been better, but there is no arguing the fact that their talent should allow them to be in every game, regardless if their opponent is the No. 3 or No. 5 team in the country, or an average Section I team.
It's not coaching either. Yorktown coaching is as good as it gets.
For this team to get where it needs to go and look good doing it, each and every player has to look within himself and ask, "Am I doing all I can?" The talent is there. It's now time for 30 guys to become a team in the way it executes.
When that happens, Yorktown will be Yorktown again, win or lose.
JJFan..
your comments are completely disrespectful to the sport of lacrosse, and Charlier Murphy, the YORKTOWN laxer who brought the sport to the hudson valley.
Charlier?...is that Charlie's cousin from France?
Syracuse,
Thanx. I too cant see any of these kids not coming out on the field psyched to play!! It's as you put it , the "harder reason to swallow".
I agree with and like your last sentence as well when you rise above the fray of winning or losing (winning critical of course) saying that when their entire team executes at the best of each player's ability and "leave nothing on the field" town will be "TOWN" again win or lose and chances are very strong that the result will be a big W.
Hey LAX at 12:59 use a different name.
You're trying to patent the name "Lax"? Good luck with that!
It always turns into a Town-Jay debate, doesn't it?
It struck me as I looked at the latest state rankings, which had only 1 Section1 team ranked in the Top 20/10 for each class (Town, Jay, Rye), that about ten years after Mahopac won the state title, the Section still struggles for depth. Every year there seem to be the regulars (Town and now Jay as well) and some teams that emerge for a while (Somers, Lakeland, Hen Hud, PV, Mahopac, etc.), and then fade back to the pack. Why is that? Why haven't more programs been able to if not equal Town's success, at least borrow the formula and develop a strong, consistent program ala John Jay? Does Section 1 have powerhouse baseball programs? Track? Any ideas?
Goo
Good point, I wonder if other sports are why some teams aren't consistantly good like some other teams are. Don't know much about baseball, I read in the newspaper that John Jay baseball has high hopes of states. Are these other sports like baseball still bigger than lacrosse in these section 1 schools? i didn't think so but its possible.
Baseball is not bigger than lacrosse at JJ, but actually quite a few of JJ's best athletes play baseball, being among the top in the section this year. More kids play lacrosse though of course.
Goo,
If "newer' (relative to town/JJ) strong teams like Rye keep developing junior programs and have good coaching at all levels you'll see more teams consistently at the top.
Isn't Sect 1 consistently strong in football in the states. Rye (4 out of last 5 yrs in finals with 2 wins New Rochelle, Dobbs Ferry, Harrison (more so a few yrs ago).
Hockey pretty good with teams ususally going to states I think.
Ytown's history never won a game; winning games are what created Ytown's lacrosse history. As I see it, Town has held two places in the lax world; the first is being on top – based on their history of 6 state championships – and second, knocked of the top by strong teams. When Town is knocked from the top by a strong team, most of our Section is there to kick Ytown when down – as history has already shown. Character, is the real secret to Yorktown’s lacrosse history. We are rich with great people who have grown from participating in and building up our lax programs. I see it every day with the small acts of kindness our players extend to the youth players, the collegial respect each has for one another and their coaches and the pride of wearing (or have worn) a Cornhuskers jersey. Certainly, a heritage to be proud of!
Why do I think Yorktown-Brewster has the potential to be quite interesting on May 1?
Nepotism is hurting Ytown man-up
Nobody you are absolutely correct. Nepotism is going to hurt Ytown for years to come.
I have no allegiance or affiliation with either of the JJ or Town programs but just from reading these blogs i find the situation very apparent. Yes, Yorktown has a storied history. Yes, town did help in a large way to bring lacrosse to this area, and yes, these are all things to be extrememly proud of.
But what i've noticed is that many of the yorktown faithful do not realize the fine line between having pride in past achievements and just living in the past. I fear that yorktown will not achieve all they want for its current squad until they start putting greater emphasis on NOW and but their past glory behind them.
In all reality, JJ has been the better team in the last few years and I'm willing to bet that not one kid who suits up for JJ cares one bit about how many championships town has won.
So as an outside observer and an overall fan of the game i have some suggestions:
Town- we are in the present, 2008- live in it. Its not only unfair to the team to put such pressure on them to relive the past but the program will stagnate if town continues to rely on their past.
JJ- Keep doing what your doing. If members of the town pride want to put you down with their storied history, let them. Your program will continue to grow as town drowns itself in the past
Yadda, yadda, yadda
Most of you are missing the point, again. This is the Yorktown 2008 team, 34 terrific young men. period, end of story. They practice, work hard and want to be the best THEY CAN BE, not the best the '83 team was, or any other year. They are not hoping the alumni jump out of the stands to help them win. They respect Charlie Murphy's memory, the players that have played before, and are trying to live up to the expectations EVERYONE has of them. (that is the dilemma with having a succesful history – it's hard to meet such high standards year after year) The players from the Section 1 teams all know each other – from clinics, summer lax, hockey and other sports, and they respect each other. All this bloviating by "fans" is just ridiculous. LaxBroadcaster, your inital post was beyond vicious, all of our coaches are wonderful, dedicated men. JJFan, (we do know Jay beat 'Town the last few years, but thanks AGAIN for the reminder…) we may be "crazies" because we love our lacrosse and our BOYS, but you are particularly nasty! Sect1fan, don't you worry! Our youth (many coached by our alumni on a volunteer basis) work very hard – they're defintely not drowning, as a matter of fact, they do pretty well…. Isn't it GREAT that 'Town lacrosse has inspired programs all over the county – what is the percentage of 'Town grads in Section 1 coaching positions? It's a good thing for all the boys involved. Let's refocus on the Jay-'Town game (now 5/16 7 p.m.?) which should be a great lax game, and more importantly is a fundraiser for Breast Cancer awareness. I heard a great quote the other day in reference to the money raised for "The Jimmy Fund" by auctioning off the Red Sox jersey recovered from the New Yankee Stadium… "In the fight against cancer, we're ALL on the same team." (yes, even the purple and the green) How about a prediction on how much money we can raise? :o)
are you calling me a bloviator???
Nope, not you JJFan. You are succinct, to the point, but your point is a little TOO sharp when referring to 'Town. Didn't read the blogs for a few days, when I did it took a loooong time, hence the bloviating comment. I'm guilty too. But mostly in defense of 'Town boys who get pummeled personally as a result of what a few errant 'town bloggers post or rival fans' unwarranted bitterness. Which is unfair to the boys, in my opinion. As it is for any team. Like my friend pacfan, who PROMISED pac would beat town. shouldn't do it. but yet he(she?) did. Play on, boys! lots of good lacrosse to come..
Sorry, I had a bad week…haha
Where is John Ranagan , Kevin Interlicchio, Mike B. and Ethan Fox going to or looking to go to school?? Any of you Yorktown folks out there know?
What nepotism are you talking about?
Also, Mike B. had been getting looks from Hopkins, i don't know of any for Fox, and Iterlicchio. I heard ranagan had made contact with Colgate a while ago.
Thank You very much, I appreciate it…Mr.Lombardi, if you have any other information on these players that would be great thanks!
Bonitatibus has heard from some major D-I programs. Recruiting for the goalie position is different for most schools. Some colleges will not even recruit a goalie some years depending on their needs. Usually there are only two or three goalies on a team's roster so any goalie who lands D-I scholarship money is a good one.
There are quite a few major D-I programs looking at Ranagan, including Syracuse, Albany, Hofstra and Colgate.
As for Interlicchio, coaches at some top shelf programs are very well aware of him. However, under NCAA rules, they are unable to contact recruits until Sept. 1 of their junior year in HS. So we'll have to wait a few months before we can name names of schools.
If you take a step back from what is important to you on a personal level and take a look at the current state of Section 1 lacrosse, you will realize we all have a lot to be proud of. The fact that successful programs are popping up all over the section is a positive thing, and one that will serve all Section 1 players well in years to come. The days of easy games and looking past teams are over. To be successful in this section, you have to show up and play every game. Give credit to ALL of the teams that represent our Section so well on a daily basis. We are lucky to have such great lacrosse being played right in our own backyards. There is no one who is more proud of Yorktown's lacrosse tradition than me. Being a part of that program has meant more to me than any other achievement in my lacrosse career. What I think we should all want for these kids is that same opportunity. The chance to be a part of something that they can truly be proud of in fifteen or twenty years. When it's all over, it's all over, and all that remains are the memories and the pride. Give JJ their proper respect…they have more than earned it. What they have done is an incredible achievement, and it deserves all of the respect and credit that they have received…maybe even more. If you take a step back, you can see that competition is a good thing…something that will make all of these kids better players in the end. When John Jay or Rye or Yorktown (Somers, Brewster, Byram Hills, etc) is successful, it reflects well on ALL of our programs. Like it or not, we are in this together. Better lacrosse in Section 1 means that our Section Champs will be better prepared to face the likes of Long Island and Upstate Powerhouses like Ward Melville or West Genesee. I'll admit, I will always root for my hometown boys, but if they aren't in it and someone else from Section 1 is, you can bet they have my support and respect. Believe it or not, this thing is bigger than JJ-Yorktown…you just have to take a step back to see it.
The key to developing programs is starting early (youth programs) and having good coaching in the school systems. When either of those two are not there, the program will not succeed. A good high school coach can get a program respectable, but not consistently excel without a feeder pool of talent. A good youth program will never yeild consistent results if the quality of coaching in JV/Varsity is not there. That is the challenge to programs South of 287 as the quality of the in-school coaching is very inconsistent. This will become more self-evident as the sport continues to expand.
I don't know what this means, but I figure I'd just throw it out there:
Final: Niskayuna 5, Shenendehowa 3
Here's another. Auburn 5, West Genesee 4
West Genny now has 3 losses. Auburn's win was it first ever over Genny, dating to 1975 and 48 consecutive losses in the series.
Town9cuse3
Great observation and feedback! You've posted the most relevant and positive blog I've ever read as it pertains to the game of lax for our community and Section 1's future. Well done!
I agree with Hat Trick that the post by Town9cuse3 is perhaps the most relevant and postive post hat we have seen in a while – and is most appreciated. I also agree 100% with Sec 1 Lax Fan regarding the two most important ingredients in developing a real program (Coaching and a youth feeder system). I'd add a 3rd ingredient – a good football progam that co-exists with Lax is also important. Examples are JJ and Rye, and the resurgence of Yorktown football this year. The flip side of that is Somers.
My concern is other than JJ and Rye – who has gotten significantly better over the last few years? I understand that lacrosse athletes can come in waves at certain schools – but here is my question… Is Section 1 lacrosse as a whole – really better? I have watched dozens of Varsity and JV games this year – and I am shocked at the poor quality of play from many Section 1 teams. Teams that can't clear, stand around on offense – try to beat 3 men, etc. To some degree, I think our performance over the last few Empire Games, backs me up.
While perhaps cyclical – it is troubling to me that schools like Somers, Mahopac, L/P, Hen Hud and Fox Lane – with solid coaching and youth programs – can't even sniff a quality out of section win. Instead they beat each other up, and on occassion lose to an upstart.
So to net it out – I'm puzzled…More kids play lacrosse in the Hudson Valley then ever before…We are fortunate to have the Yorktown stars from yesterday branch out and coach across our area…But why aren't we fairing better in the Empires, placing more D-1 athletes, and beating more quality programs from around the Northeast on a larger scale (other than JJ and Ytown)?