Here is your Hudson Valley Empire State Games roster
-
- July
- 3
Just received the final 30-player roster (including alternates) via e-mail from Hudson Valley ESG coordinator/coach Dave McNally.
Here it is. (Players’ class in school is effective the fall.)
Also, please remember, gang. As far as comments, I understand plenty of folks care deeply about this, but that is no excuse to be critical of a player who was or wasn’t selected.
I’ve asked in the past that readers point out positives about certain players and not negatives about others in trying to make your point. Fortunately the overwhelming majority of the folks who visit here do.
Any player who is being discussed is very good. It’s that simple. Please don’t lose sight of that fact. These are also not professional athletes. They’re putting in a lot of time, effort and energy into representing the Hudson Valley. Please treat them with the respect they deserve.
Attack
John Brandofino, Mahopac, Jr.
Joe Marasco, Somers, Sr.
Tyler Perrelle, Mahopac, Sr.
Rob Santangelo, Rye, Sr.
Midfielders
Connor Brown, Fordham Prep, Sr.
J.P. Garry, Rye Country Day, Sr.
Shawn Honovich, Lakeland/Panas, Jr.
Cole McCormack, Rye, Jr.
Pat O’Callaghan, Rye, Sr.
John Ranagan, Yorktown, Sr.
Will Stewart, John Jay, Sr.
Garrett Virtue, Brunswick, Sr.
Defense
John Fennessy, Yorktown, Sr.
Ethan Fox, Yorktown, Sr.
Derek Katchis, Horace Greeley, Sr.
Don Keough, Rye, Sr.
Ben Litwak, Horace Greeley, Sr.
Mack von Mehren, Bronxville, Sr.
Goaltenders
Michael Bonitatibus, Yorktown, Sr.
Luke Haggerty, Clarkstown South, Sr.
Alternates
Mario Allegra, Suffern, midfield, Jr.
Brendan Brunelle, Yorktown, defense, Sr.
John Felix, Scarsdale, midfield, Sr.
Kevin Interlicchio, Yorktown, attack, Jr.
Chris Moffa, Fordham Prep, goal, Sr.
Mike O’Hagan, Iona Prep, midfield, Sr.
Eddie Schurr, Somers, defense, So.
Brendan Syran, Mahopac, midfield, Sr.
Nick Trizano, Iona Prep, attack, Sr.
Shane Warner, North Rockland, midfield, Sr.
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on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm by Joe Lombardi.
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Very surprising Doherty's not here, and there's only 9 alternates listed Joe. But still a very good team.
4 kids for RYE???? wow they better win states next year.
two kids on attack from RYE I thought rye could not score points this season. I feel bad for Interlichio and Doherty.
Thanx Joe
Seemed to be what he was playing most of practices/games so far.
Cuse,
Where are ya bro!!
Interesting, Dohery makes AA, but can't make the empire team and Interlichio, maybe the best dodger and clutch goal scorer on Town this year doesn't make the 4 man attack line, but brandafino makes it??????
as joe said all the mentioned players are very good but this team, will NOT compete at all with LI. The glaring omissions of Jack Doherty and Kevin Interliccio are just upsetting Good luck to McNally and the boys, they really are going to have their hands full.
D-Nice,
While the super exploits of JD and KI thru the yr got them kudos and anticipation of making the team , its how the coaches saw them performing and mixing/melding DURING THESE HV TRYOUTS that counts!
Like I said you better win gold!
There were some surprises as far as the final 20-man roster is concerned. I will be weighing in with my thoughts on the team on an upcoming video report.
Also, in addition to its Sound Shore League games, the team will be playing at a tournament in Albany on July 19.
Most of the team's practices will be at Horace Greeley High School at 7 a.m. on weekdays.
Counts for what???????? No medal!!!!! Interlichio not making the team is a joke. period! Anybody with a lacrosse IQ knows that this kid is the real deal. He's getting looked at every major D-1 teams in the country for a reason. This is not the first kid to not make the team and yes he will make it next year but that's not the point. Many kids who were deserving in the past as seniors didn't get another chance. Anway good luck to HV at the games.
Congrats to all those on the team and good luck. Congrats to the alternates, too. If memory serves, several of last year's alternates had huge seasons this past spring
Joe – I will try to be as tactful as possible here.
Does the coach have a particular style he favors that negates passing? That's a serious question.
He just cut loose 62 assists, 54 assists, 35 assists and 25 assists (won't get into the 235 goals that go with those assists)
Which leaves:
On attack, assist totals reading 17, 17, 8, 7
At midfield, assist totals reading 26, 20, 15,13, 8, 5
Saw many of these players this year but not all. Never saw Warner or Trizano play, but did see Rye, Pac, LP, Town, Somers and Jay play. Of the players I did see – very, very surprised that KI and Doherty are not on the team.
Figured all the Rye kids (and Virtue) would make it and expected all the Town kids to as well.
Brandofino and Honovich surprised me the other way. They must have had a very, very good set of tryouts.
It could not have been easy for the coach to leave one of his three AAs off the team. Not only does it open himself up to an immediate storm of second guessing from the peanut gallery, but it can't sit well with his section one coaching brethren who just voted the kid AA as a junior ahead of most of the rest of the team, and several potentially deserving seniors (including Tyler Granelli).
Nor could it have been easy to not select a player from Rockland besides the backup goalie (Thought Warner a shoe-in for that reason alone) and leave Yorktown's second leading scorer and next big thing off the final 20. Not going to win him friends on either side of the river.
The coach has got to have a plan here – just wondering what it is.
D-Nice,
Seriously just thinking out loud but maybe does make sense that all undergraduate AA's automatically make the HV team? At least that would have lent some consistency to the AA honor and taken care of JD!
Slacrosse,
Sorry bro, but I'm with D-Nice on this one. Interlicchio not making it is asinine. Doherty is a returning AA and he's not on it. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
Now is not the time to say, well Interlicchio has another chance next year. CRAP.
They may still win a medal, but about 200 points will be watching from the stands.
Joe,
Compared to 31 players that you originally shared with us – it appears that Brunelle, Dougherty, and Lohrfink were either cut or declined alternate status. O'Hagan (Iona Prep) wasn't listed in your 31 names, but you now show him as an alternate – is that correct?
this is actually a mockery that an All-American, and one of the top players in our entire section doesnt make the team but there are other players that clearly arent as talented that make the team…ridiculous
Cuse,
Waht about my idea of all AA's automatically making the team? (Doesn't deal with KI I know)
Also had you heard or seen anything from the practices that would have been a pretty clear reason to not have these kids on the team. You would think that over a few weeks period that these kids's +'s would outweigh their negatives given their ability.
You know me. Maybe to a fault I've tried and will continue to support the Coach for these games as he has seemed to be the only volunterr. Gee, he's got to want to win as bad as you and me.
So why do you think he (and the other coaches) did not choose these kids?
Why would they practice at Greeley every morning when Greeley does not have turf? Bighamton has turf!!! Hello!!
Slacrosse,
I don't want to get into this because it will start trouble, but I like your AA idea. To me that's a no-brainer actually.
I don't want to criticize coach McNally or downplay the players that did make it, but I just don't understand how a returning All-American and Yorktown's best or second best offensive player returning next year do not make this team.
It's laughable.
I agree with you OldTimer. And Doherty must have just had a bad tryout, someone here said he looked like he didn't even want to be there and was not playing well, the kids who made it probably outplayed him in tryouts and the coach thought it fair to put the kids who did better in tryouts on the team instead of him. I still think he should've automatically made it, we all know his potential, he just must've had a bad tryout. Doherty imo deserved AA though, from his great season, but at least many deserving seniors (such as Tyler Granelli) ended up making it as well. So it's pretty upsetting that he didn't make it being an junior AA. As for Interlicchio, I was pretty surprised (not as surprised when I didn't see Doherty) that he only made alternate, but I guess other kids just outplayed him in tryouts, he always has next year, I don't think he should've "automatically" made it like Doherty. There's MANY solid attackmen on this team besides them though, so it's not critical that they didn't make it.
How does INTERLICCHIO not make the team?? His brother was a 2x Emp player and in my opinion he is as good if not better than his bro…..He is on track to break scoring records at Ytown and he doesnt make the team…ANND HOW THE HECK DOES A ALL AMERICAN NOT MAKE THE TEAM?????????? Mcnally its time for u to step down my freind…..Dave Marr, Adam Lodewick, Sean Carney, Rob Doerr, Dave Grahm, its time for u folks to take over the job, Mcnally u are a joke!!!
Guys please don't be so critical.
you cut an all american and have two kids from mahopac at attack, a team that could barely score 5 or 6 goals against the top tier teams in section 1, much less then the best in NY State? i dont get it, i didn't even bother going to the tryouts, this politicing is no good for the HV team. How can you win if you don't have the best kids on the field? Doherty obviously proved himself as on of the nine best in Section 1, and he gets no love. I feel bad for the kid.
laxtime 999 nobody wants the job. Not even your legendary coaches. Way to support the team, im sure you watched everyone play for a month together and know all the answers.
this is why doherty did not deserve AA. He can't even make the empire team, i don't understand how they picked him and had no goalies on the AA list.
I was at almost every minute of tryouts, and yes Lax you are correct. Doherty looked like he didn't even want to be there, that he could have cared less. He never really put any effort in on the field and when he got the ball, all he did was look to create a shot for himself, even when being double and triple teamed. I never once saw him try to include his teammate. So I pose this question to all of you coaches, you apparently all are since you have such educated views and opinions. You see a player at tryouts, not working hard, clearly showing he doesn't want to be there, and only looking selfishly to score, would you keep him or cut him?
Now to Lax999, blindside is also right, McNally has asked other coaches if they want to coach, NO ONE EVER ACCEPTS. Why don't they accept, I don't know. I can only assume it would be 1) they would lose money by not working camps 2) maybe they don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars for gas and hotel rooms or maybe 3) they know that these blogs will rip them for the kids they either pick or don't pick. Do any of you really think that all of this bashing will stop if they coaches that some of you have deemed as being gods coach the team? You will always have people voicing an opinon. I can only imagne what the uproar would be if these other coaches you all long to have running the empires would be if they DIDN'T win a gold. You think there is pressure on McNally, if a guy like Marr was the coach, he would have no wiggle room. Would be gold or bust. That is a shame. Those coaches know they are in a no win situation. The games are a crap shoot. You could have the best team in the state that year and still not win a gold. Not every ball will bounce your way, and not every kid on your team will be playing lights out. I will make this plea again, let's be happy for the kids who made the team, they themseleves are talented. Let's wait till after the games to crush coaches (I know that won't happen). I actually know one of the coaches really well. He never played section 1 lax and was very excited to be given a chance to coach the Empire Team, he as much as the kids do, consider it to be a great honor and he treasures every minute, what he doesn't understand is how so many people can be against this team.
Finally, to all of you coaches, again since there are so many of you here, next year, why don't you come our of the darkness of anonimity and tell McNally you are willing to coach.
Agree with Lax.
Hey all you critics who are PARTICULARLY dumping all over McNally for not selecting JD and KI. ENOUGH ALREADY!!
As Old Timer said McNally must have a plan and reason for making his decision. He's not a machine, has to live with all in Section 1, and WANTS TO WIN.
HE'S THE COACH WHO VOLUNTERRED TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY—-NOT YOU LAXTIME9999 OR YOU D-NICE. HEY WHY DONT YOU GUYS GIVE UP YOUR $ NEXT SUMMER AND COACH THE TEAM. I'm sure that will make all the difference!!
Waht dont people get about the following: As I understand it, no one else volunteered his time. Not "no name" or "big name" people who are too freeking busy making $ in their summer camps. How's this for a possible critisism? WHY AREN'T THE BIG NAMES TAKING ON THIS POSITION?
The only concrete idea I've seen for next year is that all undergraduate AA's automatically make the team.
THERE ARE REALLY GREAT KIDS AND PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM WHO ARE GOING TO BUST THEIR BUTTS AS WILL COACH MCNALLY
PLEASE. THE TEAM DESERVES NOTHING BUT 100% OF OUR SUPPORT
ive gone from thinking this whole process is political to thinking the whole thing is stupid. you have 3 aa's as alternates and one not even being listed as an alternate(joe do we know if JD declined or was cut?) and to have the best JR in the section not make the team while two JRs do? thats not political ladies and gentlemen its just plain stupid.
You guys make me laugh.Just wish the kids who made the team good luck.They are not professional athletes and to critcize 16-17 year olds is childish. Sorry to the kids who got alternate but that is not such a bad thing either.Life will go on. Bring home a medal guys and show all the critics how good you really are.Good luck HV.
I think it's really bad for morale to have all this negativity on the blog – my kid didn't make the team 5 and 4 years ago even though he was top ten point maker both years and and most of the other top ten didn't try out. Was he hurt, of course. Was I bitter, you bet. Did he have good try outs, NO. Is that was team should be based on, YES. We bitch if coaches "automatically" pre-pick teams, we bitch if coaches choose teams based on performance at try-outs. It's a no-win situation and I think Coach McNally and his support staff should be supported rather than critisized.
Don't get me wrong….I feel really bad for the kids who are alternates – of course they'd rather have been chosen to go to Binghampton, but the kids who did make it busted their a—and earned their spot – maybe they just wanted it more…..I've been around Rye lacrosse for quite awhile and am pretty sure McNally has nothing to gain by choosing who he did from here….McCormack, O'Callahan, Keogh & Santangelo are solid, coachable players with a "team" mentality (why do you think Rye's points are spread all over the board year after year since Dooley's came to town – oops, I guess I should say, since Dooley's came to RYE!)
Good luck to them, and to the rest of the HV team. Can't wait til the end of July to see it all gel!
lax 16 noone is critizing the kids. and yes we all will be rooting for these kids. we are critizinmg the proccess in which the kids were choosen and the coaches who run the process(and perhaps we should also be crtizing those who do not step up as well)
How do 2 kids from Mahopac attack line make the team?? Brandofino is ALL right handed and is my opinion is just a average player….Kevin Interlicchio and Jack Doherty (2 of the best players in NY and biggest recruits out there) not on the team is an absolute joke and just goes to show how awful McNally when it comes to coaching…..He coaches at Suffern!, why not have Town and JJ coach!!
Casual
I do not know if you saw the tryouts and games but if you went in as a casual observer you would have said the coaches made the right choices for the most part.They picked the kids who showed up in tryouts not what they did this past season with their HS teams.The reason is that they need scoring because they have limited practice time. If you see the offensive players picked they all can go hard to the cage and finish.
How that kid KI from Yorktown didn't make the team is 100% mystery. The entire process needs to be looked at. Good luck to the team.
its just hard to belive that after a minth long tryout process these kids didn't show the same abliltiy they showed during the season. if it was only a couple of tryouts then id say ok they must have had a bad tryout but your trying to tell me that they ahd an entire bad month? thats hard to believe espically when trizno had two goals vs. I u-19 so if they did take the best from the tryouts how did he not make it? there goes your theory.
Casual Observer, how do you get three AA's as alternates when JoJo and Ranagan are on the team?
Go HV! How tough is Central this Year?
It is called a TRY-OUT. Just because a player is AA doesn't give him a spot on the team. Hard work not reputation get you a spot. In the past people have complained about some AAs who did make the team. Congrats and Good Luck to the kids who made the roster, starters and alternates.
moffa, trizano, and o'hagen (and i didnt include JD who would have been the fourth)
Who of you were at all the tryouts? Did you guys see KI keep his head down and try to back everyone in and get triple teamed more than once? He is a great player and will be a stud, looks like coaches thought that he will be that guy next year and not this summer. How many lefty attack can you have on one team? All 3???
As far as JD goes, another poor try out… Team chemistry wasn't on his side. What's more important, one kid or 20 that get along?
Who has it out for Town? Last time I checked there were 4 Town kids on the roster.
Anybody remember when there were none? How did Town do that year? Did the coaches play that one correctly? How about JJ this year? Not represented well? They don't have the same talent they did last year and the year before. Ebbs and flows gentlemen, ebbs and flows…
Not one coach in the area is selfless enough to step up and do this job whereas the cream of the crop used to do it. Who wants to give up a summer of elite teams and camps to fight for the valley?
Stop complaining for once in your pathetic lives and do something positive about it.
For anyone to say this is political is terribly ignorant. Who has what to gain? What would the motives be? A secret alliance against Town eminating from Suffern through McNally in order to dominate the Section I lax world? He gives up his time and gas money every summer. Have others step up and I'm sure they'll be welcomed.
... Casual Observer… and where are they listed as All Americans?
HV EMps – couldn't have said it better!
None of the catholic school AA's did much at tryouts
Congrats to Litwak and Katchis representing Greeley. The Quakers Defense will be even more untouchable next year.
Heard Coach Mcnally wont step down..He appoints himself as coach since he is the coordinator of the ESG team…others have requested in but he wants coaches to coach under him first until he steps down…sounds like a wonderful process!!
Moffa not making is not political. Haggerty is the better goalie and shot stopper and stepped up and showed it at every single tryout.
HVemps,
how can you say that when trizano was tied for the leading scorer in the Iu-19 game
and brewster hv parent,
there NYC all americans not section one
casual observer, did you wathc Iroquois game? Yea Nick had 2 goals but how about the 3 passes he had knocked down 2 of which were a man up! And I can't even count how many times he feel over his own feet during the tryouts process. Him not making it is NOT polictical
I`ll pay back gas $ to isiah mcnally to stay in rockland
Ok, casual observer, I stand corrected. Didn't know anything about NYC AA's on the HV team. Sorry.
no worries brew hv parent.
and lax5. no i did not see that game but based on the box score and what i heard from people who did see the game and what i know about trizano's skill set it seemed as if he was having a pretty good tryout. like i said i was not there just have secondhand acounts so ill have to take your word for it.
Whether or not it is political next to Jojo and possibly Ranagan, JD and KI are the two best offensive players in the section and they should not have been cut. Just because it isn't political doesn't mean it wasn't a mistake.
Laxin, that is a good point. We'll have to see how it plays out. I'm not arguing for or against just that it's obvious that they didn't take those kids for a specific reason and that reason isn't political.
Casual observer, looks like you should get less casual and show up before you start barking on blogs…
Trizano did very well this year and made a few plays but his tryouts were lack luster at best.
Aren't try outs based on tryouts and not the past year? KI and JD could have played better and NT wasn't a factor.
I am actually most surprised about Connor Brown getting the nod over Mike O'Hagan and some of the other middies that showed up. Don't get me wrong Brown is a good middie I just think there are others who bring a bit more to the table.
sorry hvemps,
i have a family, a life and a job. i didnt go to the game in Oneonta but i did go to a good number of the tryouts and it seemed like trizano was well on his way to making the team i missed the past few tryouts but the ones before that it seemd like trizano was playing welland thats why i am expressing my shock in him being cut. it seems like you should be a little bit less partial in judging players because if you think nick trizano was a non-factor throughout this whole process then your either ignorant or just have something against the kid.
For KI not to make it is just stupid. Look at the teams he scored against: 3 goals JJ, 3 Goals ST A, 3 goals Lakeland, 3 goals nisky, 2 goals Chaminade, Should I go on. This kids can flat out score. Who cares if he can go one on one. Stockel from JJ did well just scoring. Mcnally you will see when you play the top competition. This is not Rockland county get with it.
With no criticism of the current HV Empire team intended, it seems clear that there are deep-rooted issues in Section 1 lax involved here that are worthy of debate. I submit as fact that there is generally less quality coaching available to the Section 1 programs/lax communities, as compared for example to those in Sections 11 and 8. Not that there aren't quality people currently in coaching jobs (youth and HS)or otherwise available in the Section 1 lax communities, because there are. The problem is that many more quality people are put off from getting involved (or staying involved) because of the highly-charged (and often lacking in any lax knowledge/experience) critical environment in many of our communities, and the established HV power base that tends to exclude "new blood" and those coming from outside the section, perpetuates the status quo and hinders improvement/progress in the performance of Section 1 overall. A few individual programs obviously have risen above the issues (some for many years and some only recently) and have found and held onto outstanding HS coaches, have established excellent local lax cultures, youth programs and HS teams year in and year out. They should be applauded, because it is a local community effort that takes trust and belief in people and their individual approach/system, and a ton of hard work by those so intrusted. Again, with no specific critical intent in mind, the coaches from the very best performing programs do seem to stay clear of the Section 1/HV programs (including Empire team as well as 13-U and 15-U "select" teams), and that is an outright shame. We now have situation where the best 13-U and 15-U players do not even bother with the HV "select" teams, because the private clubs offer far better coaching, truly merit-based selection and more all-around fun/challenging experiences. We cannot let that happen at the HV Empires level. Some may suggest it is purely the draw of financial gain from camps that is keeping the best coaching talent away from these programs. I think it may involve some of that, but is more fundamentally related to the deep-rooted Section 1 issues. For consideration: Why not bring the true "honor" back to the HV Empire head coaching role, and make the designation each year part and parcel of being named Section 1 "coach of the year"? Section 1 could have a knowledgeable group handling the basic infrastructure/logistics of the year's HV Empire participation, and then slot in the best head coach when that is decided, based on performance. No HV Empire coach should have to come out of pocket to accept this honor, and Section 1 needs to figure out how to fund it though dues or whatever. If the proposed head coach recipient cannot/will not commit to the Empire team, move on to the next "coach of the year" candidate. If the timing for this idea/approach simply cannot work on a current year basis, then maybe make the designation for the following summer's HV Empire team. Similarly, as part of the "honor" of getting HS AA designation in Section 1, I do think that the year's AA player designees should get automatic positions (barring injury/unavailability) on the Empire team. It is frankly a little embarrassing all-around to have an AA player not make the team in a tryout situation, and maybe says something about how that process is handled currently by Section 1 – for example (without suggesting this has any role in the current situation), does the fact that Section 1 gets "X" number of AA slots (something that strangely could not be figured out by Section 1 until after naming the wrong number this year) necessarily mean that "X" kids get the honor? I personnally don't think that should be the case, and that AA should only be given to those who clearly deserve it, and are pretty easy to spot in any section. My two cents. Got to fire up the BBQ.
Brendan Synan is a defender not a midfielder.
The fact is KI and JD play against the best competition all year and still put up ridiculous numbers..Now when they play against LI and Central and other great players, they would have been ready, but genius Mcnally neglected that fact. Yea, its a no win situation, but when you have the top recruit and an AA getting cut who played against these kids…its somewhat absurd.
do us all a favor if something is already written on the blog dont repeat a hundred times. thanks. and branofino is weak at best, and this is something new on this blog i didnt think ki was very good but jd was outstanding which has already been said.
fD1Laxer
Agree whole-heartedly with 99% of what you said – still don't agree that AA's should get automatic slot, no matter how many Section 1 gets….it's human nature to rest on ones accolades…..let these boys work to win their spot on the Empire team…..now I gotta go check the ribs and shuck the corn! Happy 4th!
The number of goals or points a player scores during the season is irrelevant taking out of league context. The Iona record breaking numbers only reflect the league they play in where 22 – 4 games are not uncommon. This team have improved tremendously since last year when they (undefeated )played, and lost to Nyack – not a very good team as I recall.
the attack line is all 5'7 or less, and bradifino should be playing middie.
Let me give you the real opinion on this team…
The attack consists of Joe Marascoe who should be playing middie. If joe was playing middie it would be more realistic like he played that at nike blue chip camp. Tyler perrelle is a good player. Santangelo is strictly a crease player and everyone knows that. Brandofino big kid with a big shot, but being he favors his right hand so much he may be shut down. So this attack line is Joe 5'7, Perrelle 5'6, and Santangelo 5'4. and brandofino.
The real attack line should be. Kevin Interlecchio, Jack Doerty, Tyler Perrelle, Nick Triziano. Say what you want about having bad tryouts, but they should really look at the course of the year more, and focus less on tryouts, bc a bad week of tryouts is unfair. You can sit here and tell me JD, KI, and Trizaino wouldnt be the most lethal attack unit in HV in awhile.
Middies: Will Stewart, John Rannagan, and Garret Virtue. Are all legit. Joe Marascoe should be on the line too. The two rye middies couldnt even score 10 goals this year? How can they have such a good tryout, they cant produce during the season, why can they produce vs LI empires. Shawn Hannovich is an average player. JP Garry is a good player.
The Middies should of been.. Stewart, Marascore, Ranagan, Virtue, JP Garry, Shane Warner.
Defense was the only thing they got right and goalies.
Would you rather have a team of
A:Kevin Interlechhio
A:Jack Dohrety
A:Nick Triziano
A:Tyler Perrelle.
M: John Ranagan
M: Joe Marascoe
M: WIll Stewar
M:Garret Virtue
M: JP GArry.
M: Shane Warner
D: John Fennesy.
D: Don Keough
D:Derek Katchis
LSm: Ethan Fox
Goalie: Mike B.
I think haggerty and mike b were the right choices for goalies. And along witht them, a really good def. Offence looked like they were struggling but we will see…
Moffa not making it such a mistake. He made alt as a sophmore and got AA this year. Haggerty making it is an outrage over chris.
12
Attack line middies and d will be fine. Your roster is good but if you saw tryouts you would agree with picks. Lets just see how they play and wish them luck.
Hope WestRock Picks up Brunnelle, and Interlicchio, Warner. Would be good additions to an allready decent team.
Heard Doherty wasnt real motivated to tryout for Emps in the first place, because he had allready committed to the CT Hurricanes?
12 u must be 5'2". u should be empire coach or at least get a JOB!
Fordham 44, while I think Moffa is a good goalie, I respectfully disagree that Haggarty making it over him is an outrage.
If you saw both play, especially against the Iroquois, you wouldn't be able to argue with the coaches.
Orange Crush, interesting theory, which may be true. According to the Hurricanes website, Jack has been a part of that team since at least July 1, which was the day before the final cut where he was named alternate and declined the offer
12- there was almost a month of tryouts and while Trizano put up some amazing numbers, if you watched him during the tryouts, he had a tough time going against some of the best and some of the average poles in the section. I can't even count on both hands and feet the number of times that he tripped over his own feet and don't get me started on the number of passes that he had knocked down.
12-
In reference to the RYE middies, Cole is a FOGO for empires and O'Callaghan is a D-Middie. Lacrosse isn't all about scoring… you need some short sticks to stop the other team from scoring too
IF this ct hurricanes theory is true….people on this website should start eating some crow. Rip a coaching staff for not tkaing a player who may not want to be there. Probably was pushed into the process. I feel for him, not b/c he was cut but b/c people are putting him in uncomfortable situation (it seems). Not wanting to play emps is an individual decision and its cool if the player doesn't want to, but don't come out then….
busey-
busey-
i agree with your statements about the rye middies, cole and patrick do not need to have monster numbers because they are very solid as role players, a reliable fogo and d middie will help the HV team compete
Despite the negativity i think this team will have a great year and i see a medal coming this year at binghmton.
As or KI and JD they both have hadgreat seasons but certainly did not impress at tryouts which is how the selectin process works. If we were to give kids with poor tryouts spots i know this blog woud be screaming about that. JD did have a lackluster effort and idk if hes playing hurricanes (thought that was only for CT players) or not but if his attitude was poor then he shouldn't be on the team. KI is a good player and a great scorer but i just didnt see anything from him at tryouts but still probably would have put him on the team.
Also whn talking about all of these assists that the players had who were cut… durring tryouts having both been through them and seen the this year, kids like to go to the net to show what they can do, and there certainly isnt alot of kids looking to dish off the ball. I'm sure if there was a kids rcking up assists then he would have certainly made the team.
Overall i think this years team has a great shot at medaling and i will call it right now and say they get silver.
Guys
Finally positive comments. Lets get behind the kids who made the team and support them.They are all good players and have put their heart and soul into making the team.Lets root them on in Binghamton and lets see them bring home a medal to the Hudson Valley.
Word is there are 2 scrimmages set up against the CT Chargers, a club team out of Fairfield County.Tuesday the 8th and Tuesday the 15th at Greenwich High School..6pm. Good luck to the Empires in their quest for gold!!
for all the previous talk about how tryouts are political and the team should be picked based on tryout performance and not name recognition, this blog has suddenly changed its mind and decided that instead it should be if you had a good season and not how you played with other players, in the system, ect.
MAKE UP YOUR MIND GUYS
Yeah I find it pretty funny that before people here were arguing that it was all political and the team was already picked before tryouts and some kids didn't have a chance at making it over kids who had a good season but now people are arguing the other way and saying that kids who may have had better tryouts shouldn't make it over kids such as KI or JD.
Good point LAX. So true
Every one talks about how people have to make up their minds whether past seasons or tryouts should be all that matters but there is no reason to pick just one. Both should be taken in to account and sometimes played against each other. A player like KI doesn't have a good tryout because he is a big game player. You see a kid play his best games in the biggest games and then wonder why he is less than spectacular in tryouts. I would rather have a player like that than a practice all star who is not going to step up in big games.
so why doesnt KI play as if it were a big game?? your logic simply doesnt make sense with KI. However, i agree that ther should be some consideration to a players past performances but not to an extent where it overshadows the tryout
what is considerd opinion on whether AA's should auto make the HV. At first I thought not (tryouts) but now I've come around to thinking if people are generally comfortable with the AA choices then it really becomes demeaning, tarnishes the award and efforts of the kid who makes AA not to make HV. I liken it in a way to why colleges put more emphasis on grades then a 3 hr SAT because grades reflect "a longer look" or performance over the semester. I realize that HV tryouts are def more then just one practice. Also it only involves a few kids as most AA's are seniors.
I'm unsure about the AA should get an automatic bid. If that were the case you would have a miserable kid on the empire team. He wants to play for someone else its his discresion. He would have been pressured into playing emps. not cool for a 17 yr old. If he wanted to be on emps im sure he would of been. Maybe an AA should commit to playing emps and then be given a free pass on tryout process. It is very important for them to tryout as hard as they can. Other players will be looked at how they compete against an AA.
just a thought,
Good points.
Yeah, an AA should really want to be on the HV team. Hopefully that decision could be made before try-outs.If he wants out, then fine. If an AA really wants to play HV then he should be part of tryouts at least to get used to playing with the othetr kids. You'd hope best case he'd play like he "belongs" if the AA award means anything. Also I'd think the AA would want to show why he's an AA, not wanting to embarrass himself, and KNOWING that other kids are gonna try and show him up. If some other kid(s) play better at times it should only help them make the team. But even in this case the AA keeps his spot.
Busey,
First of all KI was just an example. Also if you have ever played sports you know that there is much more at stake in a big game where you get one shot than a month long tryout that you are expecting to make, and it is hard to make yourself replicate that intensity for a whole month in a tryout format. Also it is very different trying out when you are the only one that has anything to lose than playing in a big game where your whole team and a whole crowd is riding on you.
sprocket,
I also have HV playing Lurkers at PValley on 16th (8:15), 18th vs CT Hurricaines (time/place?)and then Albany tournament on 19th
Kevin Interlicchio and Jack Doherty are 2 of the best attackman sec 1 has seen is a while…Doherty=Led LP all year, and was a JR AA… Interlicchio= Leading scorer, all section, captain for YORKTOWN for next year, unstoppable in big time games….Thats an embarrassment for HV not to have those top guns on their roster…
So you guys are saying you would rather have KI and JD on the left side than Perrelle and Marasco. Just because they played well with Ytown and LP. The other kids play well with the Empire team. Isn't that what they are supposed to do PLAY WELL WITH THE EMPIRE TEAM not with kids who not even here. Let it rest.
Where were their coaches to say they were big game players all through try outs??? Isn't that then their coaches job? Did either show up? Does Lindsey even coach LLP? has Marr ever even coached at Town? A few year ago he didn't even say a positive word for Kyle Vercruz and people exploded when he didn't get AA. It's the coaches job to come and stick up for his guys!
O'Hagan was going to get cut much earlier but his coach was ther eand stepped in for him. Catholic/NYC AA's are not nearly at Section I level nor are they in the same world as LI.
Section 1-
PLAY US! Iona Prep went 2-1 against section 1 teams this year (beating LP and Somers, losing to Rye in the closing minutes). And to tell you the truth three games are not really enough to give a complete judgment. It is however enough that you can say they are serious competitors and are able to compete with section 1 teams. If you want a good measure of their skills stop denying them and play them.
CHSAA-
you must admit, your players numbers are ridiculously inflated. i don't know how triziano has those numbers, especially since it was evident in the game against rye that gillespie is iona's best attackman.
and for anyone who is critical of pat o callaghan being picked for empires, he is more valuable than a lot of these guys. an O middie might score a couple goals in a game and have an assist, but pat can keep a defense together, and he was the leader of the defense who let in the fewest goals this season. he was a year younger than most of the guys on the defense as well, which says a lot about how much trust they had in him.
What about moffa though. He had an amazing season and I feel as if he got robbed. IM not sure how good haggerty is but he must have had a hell of a season/tryout to beat moffa out.
KI was not Yorktown's leading scorer sec12o2, Kurpis finished with 2 more goals and 13 more assists than KI on 18 less shots, don't know why I barely heard his name on this blog when he had Town's most points by 15 over #2 KI. Just pointing that out, but I think KI should have made it but it's mostly about how good they do in tryouts. Those 4 attackmen though are all as capable as him.
Wasn't at the tryouts but I hear moffa got outplayed by haggerty and haggerty was the better ball stopper. I know Clarkstown South isn't very good but haggerty keeps them in games, I thought he should have made it over Moffa from what I heard plus he had about a 66% save percentage for the season.
laxin- im not looking to do battle on this blog but i HAVE played numerous sports in high school, actually 3. And i agreee that Gillespie was IP's best attackman as he gave our Garnets the most trouble with his dodging abilities. Also, right on teh nose with O'callaghan, this kid has a special ability to lead a team even though he may be a year younger with less publicity, he earns the respect of his teammates and knows what the hell he is doing unlike too many defenders i've seen. He will prove to be a valuable addition to HV empire team. GO HUDSON VALLEY
If you want to bash someone because somebody didn't make the team, FINE. But don't bash the kids who did make the team. They apparantly worked harder than the others. Every year some kids get left off. And every year some kids don't make AA. And every year there are people complaining. It's not the system, it's real life.
CATH- Haggerty is argubly the best goalie in the section with mikeb. Him making it was not a mistake and he and mikeb were the right choices for the team.
Side note- This year could be the year fellas. Stop bickering and aruging for no reason. The tryouts and over with and done. Lets support the kids now through the empire games.
I foud this on the LI forum on laxpower. Thought it was intersting b/c of everyone in Section 1 who thought it was unfair that the kids didn't know who was on the top 20 and who was alternate until the other day."The final 20 is not listed- the coaches may know but no one else does. All 30 players will continue to receive equal time until the actual Empire torunament."
Lets be real now…..
Attack: Joe Marascoe, Tyler Perrelle, Rob Santangelo
VS
Attack: Kevin Interlechhio, Jack Dohrety, Nick Triziano
I would take the second one any day, big mistake HV coaches.
1444- thats totally wrong the first attack is much better.
Lets first compare the lefties- JOJO is the best player in the section and was arguable better then bocklet last year, so having him is obviously a huge boost and he is claerly better then KI or JD. Perelle (having played and seen all three) is better then both KI and JD. KI and JD are one dimentional dodgers and love a strong lefty rush, while Perelle on the other hand exhibits much more quickness and explosiveness (even on a bum knee all season).
Between rob and nick, rob is a better player because nick doesnt have the pure athletic ability to facilitate his style of play, which is a dodging style while rob on the otherhand plays within his skill set. Nick is a great player but all the points he had were against a JV league.
I think it would have been great to have JD and KI on the team but the kids selected were better reguardless of the points or regular season acolades. Let me also mention that KI and JD are both huge players in section 1 and will both have great college careers and are both amazing players.
I may be wrong on the times of the scrimmages, I'm hearing they may start at 5pm. Maybe someone on the team can clarify for us… They should be good tests for this team. All the negativity on this blog is boring. Move on and take a look at your competition. Everyone wants little Johnny to make the team and last time I checked the tryouts were posted. Everyone knew when to start playing, some didn't answer the bell, they don't belong, period. GET OFF THE CROSS, WE NEED THE WOOD. Good luck to those that made it.
Does anyone know when the next scrimage or game is for this team?
Lets be honest here people. Section 1 Lacrosse has fallen off each year. 9 All Americans.. please.. And it shows.. Jack Doherty All American – doesnt make the empire team. That just shows how pathetic being an All – American really is these days. Section 1 gets 9 AA's, Now go look at Long Island. They have about 8 for the whole Island. Go Compare Section 1 AA's to Long Island or Central AA's. Not even close. Being an AA means nothing coming from Section 1. As for the Empire Team.. Its a Joke.. Empire State Games used to be the BIGGEST recruiting event for lacrosse. Now you'll be lucky enough to see more than 20 D-1 coaches there. The best players no longer try out for their respected region teams b/c its a waste of time. Its exposure to D-3 and D-2 schools. McNally as the empire coach = no good. No good coach wants to take it because all the good coaches know its a complete waste of time. THe kids arent as good as back in the day. Times have changed. Medals for lacrosse were won when NO Rockland Kids were on the team. Golds and SIlvers and bronze were won when the kids from Section 1 powerhouses were on the team (Y-town, JJ, Lakeland, Brewster). Taking kids from bronxville iona prep fordham prep, lets be serious. These kids come from terrible programs, kids that dont know what competition is. Seeing HV being embarresed each year will continue. The 07 seniors that won bronze, congrats, you'll go down in history as the last medal HV will win
07 did not win the bronze.
HVLAXRAT,
Wow!! How proud YOU must have been "back then". Imagine an HV team that won medals without even having to "bother" about Rockland County. Wait nor even LOWER Westchester or IP, FP. How "pure". Just Town, JJ, Brewster,LP. It must have made YOU feel real good, even proud!
It must be so very tough for you to deal with all this!! I'd just crawl back into your hole hvlaxRAT until the games are over!
Thats a scrumbag thing to say. There is one 1 rockland kid and thats haggarty and he is an amazing goalie who deserves to be on the team. Then you have connor who has a very good shot and also deservers to be on the team. Like you said times of changed and better people are starting to come from all over.
Ragu,
Thanks for seriously responding with SANITY to 1444.
Jo Jo not fit for attack!!!! O000000kay 1444, keep rockin!!
LAX$,
At least HVLAXRAT brought a NEW level sleaze to all the the HV bashing. First it was bashing kids. Now we've moved to bashing WHOLE counties, partial counties and individual schools!!
By the way aside from haggerty,( Connor the kid you mentioned)I think Warner is really tough and FULLY expected that he'd have as good a shot as anyone to make the team.
Doesn't everyone just want to win to show up HVLAXRAT – so now it means nothing to be selected as an HV Empire player OR even an All American – good thing this blog is for opinions only.
HV lax rat
iona prep is a terrible program? wake the !@#% up man lacrosse is evening up throughout section one. you still have y'town on the top (this year along with JJ and RYE)but the whole map of section one changes from year to year now. it's not as predictable. sorry its not the good old days where everyone knew what any teams record was going to be just by looking at the schedule but live in the present, these are the days where all you can do it sit behind your computer, bash kids, and try and rember how good it was "back then". joe and fellow bloggers i apoligize if i have offended anyone with my choice of words but this is one of the few times i get this worked up about garbage like this.
Slacorsse – anytime … go RYE!!!!!!!
Casual Observer
Don't bother getting worked up – it's not worth getting high blood pressure over – I haven't read so much crap in one place in a very long time – wasn't worth the the 10 seconds of my life that it took to read it. What a waste of time and space. "Let's go Greeeeeeeeeeeen"!
I'll admit it; I'm a Empire mom, and have kept out of the fray, but Hvlaxrat really went overboard with ugly, bitter, "sour grapes" comments, not to mention an old school, laughably wannabe elitist attitude. Times have changed: lax has become very big and there's a lot more talent in a lot more towns and many more choices out there for showcasing talent. That shouldn't take anything way from the ESG, which remains a big time goal for most HS lax players. Coaching ESG is a "complete waste of time"? Sounds like wishful thinking. ESG is going through growing pains, but will continue to be a meaningful, honorable way for elite HS players and coaches to get out there and show what they've got!
Everyone putting WAY TOO much emphasis on HV Emps selection. Testament to the growth of Sec 1 Lax is the options kids have to showcase their talents during the summer; Empires, Camps, Select travel teams – none of these kids will 'miss' being seen by a college coach.
The Empire games are about having the opportunity to compete and share in the experience. If they win a medal, great; if not, move on. Fact is LONG Island and Central usually have more talent on their squads. We should compete for bronze every year against Adirondack, Western and NYC.
If Long Island has a total of 8 AA's, Sec 1 should have 4. This mentality seeps into every aspect of the post-season award 'inflation' – All-Section, All-League, All-County. I've heard the arguments – "don't fault the kids for receiving the awards", "they are all deserving", "what's the damage", blah, blah, blah The Section coaches need to show some courage and select just the top players and bring some sanity to the process. Value is a measure of quality, not quantity.
Brewster HV Parent,
Good comment follow-up on HVLAXRAT.
Hey but at least Brewster was one of the "chosen few" inside HVLAXRAT's inner sanctum of lacrosse schools worthy to put on the HV jersey!!
2008 LI All Americans
New York – Nassau Co. Keenan Ochwat Farmingdale Senior Defense Ohio State
New York – Nassau Co. Jeff Cohen Syosset Senior Attack Harvard
New York – Nassau Co. Mike DeNapoli Lynbrook Senior Midfield Hofstra
New York – Nassau Co. Nick O'Reilly South Side Junior Attack
New York – Nassau Co. Paul Pate Manhasset Senior Defense Harvard
New York – Nassau Co. Connor English Manhasset Junior Attack
New York – Nassau Co. Will Manning Garden City Senior Defense
New York – Nassau Co. Max Weisenberg Long Beach Senior Midfield
New York – Nassau Co. Alex DelBalso Cold Spring Harbor Senior Midfield Dartmouth
New York – Nassau Co. Gavin Crisafulli Garden City Senior Defense Johns Hopkins
New York – Suffolk Co. Zach Pall Ward Melville Senior Midfield
New York – Suffolk Co. Steve Rastivo Ward Melville Senior Goalie
New York – Suffolk Co. Nick Galasso West Islip Soph Attack
New York – Suffolk Co. John Conneely Half Hollow Hills West Senior Attack
New York – Suffolk Co. Daniel DiMaria Half Hollow Hills West Senior Defense
New York – Suffolk Co. Thomas Palasek Rocky Point Senior Attack
New York – Suffolk Co. Justin Annunziato Rocky Point Senior Defense
New York – Suffolk Co. John DeChiaro Comsewogue Senior Attack
Sec I Lax Fan,
I like your comment on controlling the quality of the AA's. Not sure there should be an artificial # from HV but seems to make sense that IF this award is the HIGHEST accolade a kid can get then AT LEAST the selectivity should be at the VERY HIGHEST LEVEL. If there aren't 8 kids that meet the highest standards, so be it and just go with the right kids.
3 mistakes I see in this process
Not taking 2 AA is the most ubsurd thing I have ever heard.
Jack and Moffa should have made it and as well as Kevin
aa,
Yes I pretty much feel that AA's should make the team (but must WANT to play in the try-outs).
My main point was that if there are ONLY, lets say 2-3 kids that REALLY are "worthy" of AA, then just go with 2-3.
aa,
I meant above to WANT to play on the HV team (and play in the tryouts)
For everyone who is wondering what ever happened to Andrew Lohrfink of Byram Hills, from what I've been told he made the ESG team, was offered a spot in the top 20, but had to decline due to family reasons…what a shame, they would've gotten a great middie
hvtaxRAT made point that in "good old day's" didn't have to "bother" with schools, counties, etc outside of Town, JJ, LP and Brewster and that if LI only had 8 AA's how could HV have 8 as well (or maybe how could HV have ANY AA's).
Much to his disappointment lacrosse IS spreading and getting deeper in Westchester AND even LI, and nationally. For example Recruits coming in and their states:
Princeton: CA
Loyola: NC
Cornell: Texas
Cuse: Arizona
Maryland: Arizona
UVA: Fla and MNAs just 1 example from a national
AA's from LI. There are 16, not 8 (8 each from Nassau/Suffolk). Of the 18 AA's 7 are from schools that haven't figured in State chanmpionships in the recent past—or maybe NEVER for that matter (Rocky Point, Comsequogue, Long Beach, etc).
In the HV 30, I see kids from 13 schools (Carey, Syosset,Plainedge, Baldwin) that have not been major players in state championships.
Go ALL of Section 1 !! Go HV!!!
AA- Jack prob should have made it, but i was at almost all the tryouts/games and he just didnt do anything. He went through the motions like he had a spot on the team weather he did anything.
Moffa also didnt do anything at the tryouts. I think Haggerty deserved to make it. He had a very good game against the u-19 team and just flat out had outplayed moffa
Kevin not making is something Im going to aggree with you though. He did not go through the motions and had a pretty decent tryout.
I agree about kids having other chances to get seen by college coaches but I do want to add one thing about the games, a lot of peole say that most of the big name college coaches don't attend the games. I have to say this is untrue. Last year at Iona in one row you had the following guys: Urick-G'twon, Desko-SU, Dave Slakosfsky-MD, Seamen-Towson, and Starsia/VanArsdale-UVA, Pressler-Bryant and Kevin Cassese-Lehigh. I would say those are big name coaches, this is in addition to the smaller D-1 schools as well as D-2 and 3. I think what a lot of spectators don't realize is these guys all pick one day to go to the games, usually the 2nd day, then head out for the weekend to other recruiting camps. Last year, on Friday, there was at least 50-60 college coaches. Guess that blows your theory up huh laxrat? I don't know you, but I'm actually embarassed to know someone so close minded lives in the same geographic region as I do. I think it is great to see kids from all differnt programs represented not just the big boys.
Also, if no college coaches of note attend, explain why the latest edition of indside lacrosse had the games mentioned as one of the hot spots for summer lax?
AA-
While Moffa is, I am sure, a great kid. He was outplayed by Haggarty and Mikey B. Doherty….well he clearly didn't want to play and that was shown by the fact that he had comitted to play with the Ct. Hurricanes. And that is ok, I am sure the team wishes him the best and he will be fine in the end.
I think this team will be ok and come home with a medal. I think they are all very talented and what I have seen so far is that 1) the kids already seem to be gelling as a team and 2) they are playing within themselves, not trying to do superhuman things. Those are two keys to being successful at the games.
2 points, I also heard that Doherty didn't make the greatest effort during tryouts, which surprises me because he really impressed me in the 2007 tryouts, and regardless of who made it, does anyone really think that any coach was going to take 4 lefty's. McNally took 2 and 2 last year and this year, and if memory serves me right, in 2006 also. Now argue who the best 2 lefty's were and see where you get.
The 07 seniors did win bronze. They participated in the 06 Games in Rochester. I've heard that many of the kids on the team that they should have won silver, but the lack of coaching didnt help them. There was no game plan no nothing. And all you rockland people face it. Your lacrosse programs just arent that good. Go through all the AA's in the recent years. How many from Rockland? One, Two at the most. The Rockland teams all look good because they dont play real competition. They dont go out of their way to play good teams from LI or Upstate. The kids from Iona Prep have 200 points because they play terrible teams, and their coaches leave them in the whole game to rack up their points. I mean if I played the school of the blind I'd have 8 goals a game too. All you people can cry and call me a scumbag, but you just got to face the facts. So go run off to your happy place where you think everything has to be equal in this world and kids all have to be given an equal chance. Life isnt anything like your little happy place world so get over it. I am rooting for HV to succeed, but only the kids who deserve to be there. (Which isnt everyone who made it this year)
LaxRat,
I would be curious to know who you talked to, I obviously don't expect you to post them here…..if you watched the '06 game in Rochester, against Western, you will see 2 things. 1) the kids knew win or lose they were walking out of there with a medal. 2) they actually played very tight almost like they were playing not to lose rather than playing to win. So were you at the '06 games or not? Because I was and there was most certainly a game plan.
I'm not going to even comment on your other absoutly ridiculous comments. They are so far out there…do me a favor and go back to your cave.
LAX5,
You're right. Not even worth commenting on some of laxhvRAT's comments.
I dont know waht the right adjective is (at least a civil one) to describe him!
Let me see: HE IS ROOTING for HV BUT ONLY FOR THE KIDS THAT DESERVE TO BE THERE!!
Is this year's format different than last? I remember no 'medal' games last year. Big opening day for HV with games v. Adirondack and Long Island…
Empire Games Lacrosse Schedule
Thursday, July 24, 2008
9:00AM CN vs NY
11:00AM AD vs HV
1:00PM LI vs WN
4:00PM CN vs AD
6:00PM HV vs LI
8:00PM NY vs WN
Friday, July 25, 2008
9:00AM NY vs HV
11:00AM CN vs WN
1:00PM AD vs LI
4:00PM HV vs WN
6:00PM AD vs NY
8:00PM LI vs CN
Saturday, July 26, 2008
3:00PM AD vs WN
5:00PM NY vs LI
7:00PM CN vs HV
Sunday, July 27, 2008
9:00AM Bronze Medal Game
11:00AM Gold Medal Game
http://www.empirestategames.org/summer/sched/schedule.asp?sport=LA&gender=M&clean=0
This is bs. To say that a AA and a future AA who is easily going to a top ten d1 school can't make empires. KI is the best attackman in the section.
Strongisland
Sense some bitterness there. KI is great but to say the best in the section. Better than JOJO ,Perrelle, Doherty , ? You have got to be kidding. You should get out of your green suit and see the rest of Div1 without green eyeglasses. Maybe next year as the lefty but too much competition this year.
Strongisland
You have got to be kidding.The best in Sec 1.Better than JOJO, Perrelle,Doherty! Maybe next year as the lefty.He is only a sophmore.Let it go alternate is still good.
Hv lax rat
iona does come from a terrible leauge but they played a great schedule out of leauge so to say they only get pints cuz of a bad leauge is dumb. it does help but its not like there putting up 20 gs apiece in leauge and gettin shut out by every out of leauge team.
plus how dare you decide that your only gonna root for half a team. who the hell are you? why do you get to decide who deserves to be there? if your so great and want it to be the old days why don't you go coach. i might not agree with mcnally on everything and i may questions some of his picks but i have the upmost respect for him and the other coaches who gove up thier time and energy to this team.
I know this would never be done, but hear me out.
If Jack Doherty wasn't motivated to try out for Emps (who really knows if that is true), does anyone think that maybe the coaching staff should pull him aside and say straight out, "Is your heart in this? Because if not, don't waste our time." That way you put the onus on the player to step up and show he wants to be there immediately, not after two weeks of practices. You'd know within the first 20 seconds of the next practice.
Look, no one should get special treatment, but as a coach McNally has to say to himself Doherty is arguably the second-best attackman in Section I (Jo-Jo being No. 1 in my eyes and leaving Interlicchio out). I need to know where this kid's head is right quick, or else him being here is a big waste of time. Because a Doherty firing on all cylindars is a scary proposition.
If you have six Dohertys you don't worry so much about the seventh having his head elsewhere, but truth be told this team doesn't have seven Dohertys. It has Joe Marasco and a bunch of really, really good players (again, leaving Interlicchio out). All I'm saying is maybe a coach should have asked the kid if he wanted to be there because HV with motivated Doherty is better than HV without him.
I keep omitting Interlicchio because no matter how much I try to analyze this, I just don't see the logic in not having this kid not only on the team but in the top 4 rotation on attack. Is it political? Did the kid just totally botch tryouts? I just don't understand it.
No one player will make or break whether HV wins a gold or silver, but two on attack that many believe should be STARTING let alone as an alternate and cut, could very well make a huge difference.
I know I will catch hell for this, but if I'm the coach I put together a "wish list." And I battle like crazy to make sure every kid on that wish list during tryouts busts his ass more than the borderline guys. That way, when the political roundtable meets to actually pick the final team no arguments can be made against the guys on my "wish list," provided they responded. I would make damn sure they responded. That way I as a coach would know I did everything in my power to prepare these guys for a spot on the final roster.
I think this HV team is pretty good. But we've had really good individual talents on the team before and came home with nothing. I hope HV comes out quick and makes a statement, but if that offense struggles at all in the first two games, there will be the inevitable second-guessing and you will hear the names Doherty and Interlicchio until the cows come home.
It's one thing to ride a player to get the best out of him, but it's something else when you don't. Never assume anything with high school players. If winning the gold is your ultimate goal, you cannot afford to let them just be themselves and pray for the best. You have to put the fear of God into them on occasion, especially when it comes to HV emps because our track record is ridiculously weak considering the talent we put out there yearly.
Theres no need wasting my time on coaching empires. I have my own work to do recruiting for a D-1 Program. All you people who think you know lacrosse rant and rave over my comments, but their all true. I know lacrosse and I know many of the players in Section 1. The talent has fallen. Hudson Valley produces 2-3 kids that will have a true impact in college. When back in the day it use to be 15-20. I coach lacrosse at the highest level. So to say I dont know what I'm talking about then so be it. My life still goes on and my team continues to win games. So all you parents get over yourselves, all you coaches who think you have great programs (Rockland Schools, Iona Prep, Fordham Prep, Bronxville). There nothing compared to the JJ's Yorktowns Lakelands Mahopacs and SOmers. To take a Bronxville kid over a Lakeland and Yorktown Kid. Pathetic. I will bet all my money that Jack Doherty and KI will go to better D-1 Programs than any kids on this years Empire team (Besides JOJO and Raneagan). Mark my words. And I do agree with SYRACUSE. If McNally really knew what he was doing he'd go out of his way and tell Jack to step it up, or tell kids what their doing wrong, so they will have a better impact and make the team. Poor coaching, thats what it comes down too. And all you people who think they know lacrosse who are posting on this blog, may think im wrong, but iv coached with the best and coached the best kids in the country. So tell me I'm wrong. I will simply laugh at you and wish you luck in your lacrosse life. Because I know my lacrosse knowledge and I know I'm pretty damn good. Enough said.
I was under the impression that jojo would be running some middie and attack. KI an dougherty are straight attack. I would bet a lot that KI goes to a top d1 school and plays. For him not to be on this team is just wrong. The HVEmps is absolutely flawed. We haven't won a gold medal in 16 years. HV should most of the time win silver or gold. It isn't that the players are worse, it is that the right players aren't there. Don't get me wrong, a lot of the kids that made it should have but some of the kids who got cut are much better then some who made it.
HVLAXRAT
Wowwwwwww…with all that knowledge & expertise, it's a pity you're so damn insecure….something must have gone very wrong in your childhood to make you so insecure as an adult. Try therapy so you don't have to toot so loud to be heard.
Strong
Guess that is your opinion. Lets see what happens at the games before judging.A lot of opinions you have had on these blogs this year hold no water anyway.
Amen Rye ma
Rye Ma
You go girl! Maybe Strong and Rat should get together
I've been reading this blog all season (great job Joe) and this is the first time I have felt compelled to write. The reason is not to blast a chosen player or coach, or complain about a percieved slight toward another, I'm sure there was plenty of talent at the tryouts as I know some of these players, and the decisions had to be very tough.
What I am amazed at is some of the things HVLAXRAT has said especially considering the fact that he says he coaches at the DI level. To categorize all Rockland, Catholic, and newer program players as inferior and a waste of time to recruit is doing whatever school you represent a great disservice. I truly hope all DI coaches don't feel this way and ignore the ever increasing talent pool that is out there. I played at a top LI program a long time ago and I realize that remains fertile ground however I would be lying to myself if I said that Section I and the Catholic leagues did not have talented players. Is the pool as deep, of course not, however great players are turning up everywhere as this sport grows and for a coach not to recognize that is foolish. If you feel an athletic kid who flashes is not worth your time to develop at the higher level because he comes from "inferior coaching" that says more about your abilities than whoever coached the player previously. Think about what a good coach could do with one of those kids.
OK, off my soapbox, best of luck to this team and its alternates, they should be proud.
Cuse,
Agree with handling of JD. As said before, think all undergrad AA auto entitled to be on team -
if AA REALLY means something. BUT THEY NEED TO PRESSED AS TO WHETHER THEY WANT TO BE ON TEAM-before the try-outs.Can see why one thing you said you felt would be controversial on "making sure" that the "wish list" kids are made to particularly bust their butts more then the borderline kids . That concept doesn't sit right with me.
It's kind of IRONIC, sad, unfair, unfortunate, wahtever the word is, that the "Wish List" kids would NEED this push. It's kind of embarrassing. Do these "WL" kids have the positive edge or not? They should have? Or maybe they shouldn't be on the "WL" to start with?
Syracuse-
I agree with your points however, I will say that I know with 100% certianty that McNally did travel the road to find out if Doherty wanted to be there and how to get him motivated. All his attempts were either rebuffed or unheard.
HVLAXRAT=Petro???? Maybe Tierney? Desko? Joe this should be your next poll.
hvlaxRAT,
No way you're a D1 coach. If you were you'd be "bigger" and not made your commnets.
But if you are who the hell would want you as an HV coach anyway and if I was a parent I'd think twice about letting you coach my kid. Yeah winning at D1 level is PRIMARY but seems like the best coaches also combine this with teaching character and maturity(which hasn't fully developed in high school). I got a feeling that may not be your long suit (Yeah I know lots of people wouldn't care about the character/maturity stuff. Winning in any manner is all that counts).
You make the amazing comment that coaches of Rockland, Bronxville, Catholic schools "think you have great programs". NO ONE HAS SAID THAT. All people are saying is that these (and other)programs are developing and kids from these programs should be given a fair look and chance to succeeed. Yes, even make the HV team if they are good enough. Like the kids that come from the not well known LI lacrosse programs. Who the hell really heard of Mt. Sinai (maybe because of the coach) and Rocky Point before this season.
Let me try agian to point out how kids have been going to top D1 teams from other "inferior" parts of the country. I've added to my previous list as noted by *
Princeton: CA
Loyola: NC
Cornell: Texas
Cuse: Arizona
Maryland: Arizona
UVA: Fla and MN
Navy: CO, AL, MN,CA*
U Mass: ga, Maine*
Nor Car:TX, Maine*
Colgate: FLA*
NotreDame:TX, GA*
Penn State: COL*
You cant be coaching any of the above teams. Otherwise none of the kids from the "inferior" states would have been recruited.
Hey bad news Brewster. You've dropped out of THE LIST but congrats to Somers who is now in THE LIST.
Slacrosse, I noticed Brewster is off the list. Guess it's a good thing HVLAXRAT had nothing to do with recruiting my son, or he wouldn't be going to a D1 school either!
Vin D'Andraia,
Vin,got a feeling guys like you, Cuse and others know the D1 coaches. I certainly dont.
Seriously do you (or others) really think this guy is a D1 coach?
hv parent
Dont worry, Brewster will probably get back on his list and anyway seems like the "traditional" northern westchester lacrosse schools "get a pass" from him anyway.
Poor me,I'm from southern westchester. No chance at all with this guy (still think he cant be a D1 coach)!!
Good luck with your kid in the college recruiting!!
Slacrosse, no worries about Brewster, and thanks for your good wishes… my son starts his D1 career next month!
Watch for this guy at the Empire Games (prob wont be there).
He'll be easy to pick out. Look for the guy whose stat sheet for HV only lists the kids from northern westchester or maybe the one where any goals, assists, ground balls, face-off wins are scratched out for the southern westchester kids.
hv parent,
Hey Congrats whoever your kid is. If its Badaluco great D guy whose talent obviusly stood out. Loved the way he usually dominated the face-offs, long stick and all!
Slacrosse, thank you so much! It's so nice to just read these blogs and have all this over with… I wish the team all the best!
Can someone please tell me what time the scrim is I read 6pm and then heard 5pm which is correct
Believe 5PM is correct
Thanks
Slacrosse & others,
I think HVLAXRAT's angst comes from a good place. He said a lot of things I think a lot of people agree with but would NEVER, under any circumstances, admit. On some level that's commendable. However, in a situation such as this, a "hometown" or "traditional power" mentality doesn't work because "Hudson Valley" is Hudson Valley. It's not the "Yorktown/Power League All-Stars."
Granted, in the past it was. The only real chance HV had back in the late 1980s and throughout most of the 1990s was to load up the roster with every conceivable Yorktown, Lakeland, Mahopac and John Jay player the coaching staff could find and pray for the best.
Now, however, there are individual talents on 75 percent of the teams in Section I that rival the top individual talents on the Yorktown's and John Jays of the world. Yes, politics plays a role. You have a really good player on Clarkstown South (for example) you are almost obligated as a coach to get that player on the team, maybe at the expense of a traditional power's player, because your goal, besides winning games, is to be representative.
The more I think about it, the more I think McNally is in an absolutely impossible spot. That's why there is a political roundtable and influences coming from all over the region as to who should go and stay. It's probably very overwhelming for McNally. It's definitely a thankless job, so on many levels we should thank him for at least trying to put out there the most talented and representative team he can. Of course people are going to snarl and bitch about cuts and selections. It's like that at any level of All-Star selection. Why does ESPN do two features a night on SportsCenter with Buster Olney talking about the AL and NL's biggest snubs for the All-Star game? This is the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale.
Only 20-30 win, countless hundreds lose. It's the way things are.
Now, getting back to HVLAXRAT. I do not know if he's a D-I coach, but I will say this: He is used to winning. And to some, the idea of a Bronxville or North Rockland kid taking an Emps spot from a traditional power kid seems alien to him. He is not alone. As I said before, many, many people feel that way but would never speak up. I'm not saying he is right in his thinking, but I am saying it's hard to argue that a team made up of the aforementioned players from the power league schools wouldn't do better.
This whole tournament is about coaching, coaching, coaching. I don't want to kill McNally's coaching ability because there are many out there who think he does a fine job with Suffern, considering the Mounties are rarely at the talent level of the Section I elite.
I just don't know if he's the right guy to be coaching an All-Star team, especially one that has so much baggage in the form of parents, fans and fellow coaches' expectations. For many kids Emps is a make or break proposition for them going to that tier 1 or 2 college. Whomever is in the saddle has to be LEADING the caravan, not riding shotgun and succumbing to diplomacy. I'm not saying McNally is immersed in the latter, but I can't imagine that he does everything he wants.
Then again, we can all throw names out there of people we'd rather see coach HV. That doesn't mean they'd be interested/available.
Ultimately, because the talent is there, McNally will be judged on results during the show, not his actions during the pregame show.
Syracuse
If you think that jerk has a valid point or two, I will respect that, as I have much admired your commentary over the last several months, and respect your opinion. HOWEVER, he needs a sensitivity check at the very least, and a huge lesson on compassion & respect. Never in a million years do I believe a reputable D1 program would have him among their ranks. I kinda hope he was just being an a-hole to get a rise out of us, and that he doesn't really live his life being as miserable a human being as he is portraying himself.
Will you be a Greenwich this afternoon?? (my guess that "he" won't be, 'cuz it might actually make him acknowledge that perhaps he had been a little judgemental, and crow tastes alot better at the end of July than it does at the beginning!)
You have a really good player on Clarkstown South (for example) you are almost obligated as a coach to get that player on the team, maybe at the expense of a traditional power's player, because your goal, besides winning games, is to be representative
Syracuse
so what i think you are saying is they took haggarty because he is from rockland you got to be joking one of the top goalies in section one out played everyone @ the try outs and you say hes from rockland and thats why he was selected i am from westchester watch him play for years at westrock don.t degrade him or anybody else because were he is from they should be thankful he is on the team.
Cuse,
THE KEY. Absolutely find a way, system, WHATEVER,to get the BEST coach available ( not saying or not saying it's McNally). the coach could come from In or OUT of Section 1, a college coach!!! Obviously this coach must be an EXTREMELEY QUICK STUDY in ability as he may not know the players or know them well. Fine, let him get educated as to who are were considered to be the best players, strongest teams, etc. so he has some familiarity
2) Be EXTREMELY choosy in picking AA's as they should automatically make the team (but vet them as to whether they want to play?)
3)Then let the coach do his job. He picks STRICTLY on ABILITY, CONTRIBUTION to the TEAM. Let the chips fall where they may. No one from any high school or county gets picked or cut based upon where he went to school. If a non AA but "well know kid" like KI doesn't have a great try-out its the coaches call,either way. This coach (and his assistants) MUST be able to pick out talent. Period!!
The HV team is meant to represent the BEST team that HV can put on the field. Its not a showcase to show kids from different parts of Section 1 that are not good enough to make the team.
Repeat. THE COACH IS THE KEY!!
You can not have a college coach coaching the HV team, it is a clear violation of NCAA rules.