Top Lax Recruits
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By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/21/17
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Carolina has been perhaps one of the surprise teams in the Boys’ High School division of the Brine National Lacrosse Classic here at the River City Sportsplex.
But on Thursday Carolina defeated one playoff team, Maryland, 9-6, and 2015 champion Ohio, 9-5, to finish 4-0 and claim the Pool D title while earning a trip to this morning’s quarterfinals. Carolina will meet Pool C runner-up Virginia at 9 a.m.
Also Thursday four members of the Carolina team – 2018 attackman Sean Goldsmith (Northwest Guilford-NC), 2019 LSM/defenseman Justin Lively (Oceanside Collegiate Academy-SC), 2018 midfielder Dawson Byerly (Northwest Guilford) and 2019 defenseman Austin Rohweder (Broughton-NC) – were named to the All-Star Team (click here for full list).
Goldsmith, who recently committed to Mercer, said the team jelled quickly.
“There are a lot of small groups of us that have played together before; that’s where the chemistry started,” he said. “Since then we have built off that and put together a few wins.”
Goldsmith said the All-Star Game – played in 100-degree heat just after the final pool games – was well played. “The Competition was great; obviously it’s all the best players in the tournament. I think we were all really tired so those who could hustle and put in the extra effort were successful.”
Lively, who starred at Bishop England in South Carolina before transferring to Oceanside Collegiate, said the Carolina team keeps the ball moving.
“I think we are working well together and that there is a lot of communication on the defensive and offensive sides,” he said. “As our coach says, let the ball do the work instead of your feet. That is allowing all of us to get runs in.”
How was the All-Star Game? “The competition is probably the best I have ever seen as a lacrosse player The reason for doing so well was communication on defense and learning each other’s names and talking.”
Byerly – who committed last week to Berry College – said the Carolina team has learned to trust each other. “We have determination and honestly we trust throughout the team,” he said. “We aren’t afraid to pass on anyone on the team and we know if anything is wrong we’ll be able to recover from it. I am not surprised whatsoever how we’re doing.
Rohweder is not surprised that Carolina is in the title hunt.
“It just feels like we all know each other even thought it’s the first time playing together,” he said. “I felt pretty strongly when we practiced.”
How was the All-Star game competition? “It’s hot but it’s fun.”
Rochester goes 4-0, wins Pool A
Rochester also went 4-0 in pool play and was the No. 1 seed from Pool A. Rochester closed out its pool games with a 7-5 win over Michigan and a 5-2 conquest of California – also a playoff team. Rochester will meet Maryland at 9 a.m. in the quarterfinals.
In the win over California, Rochester led 4-0 at halftime and was never threatened as five different players, Kelly, Austin Blumbergs, Cameron Kremer, Eddie Baker and Phillip Barilla scored. Matthew Holowka Patrick Cuddihy handled the goaltending chores.
Why has Rochester been successful?
“A lot of unselfish play and a lot of hard work,” said 2018 middie/attackman John Mozrall (Pittsford Sutherland), who was named an All-Star. “Usually we are playing against each other but coming together and being one team is a good thing.”
“Honestly, it’s just all of us working together,” added LSM Sam Latorre of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute.
Casey added: “It’s been our unselfishness. We all bring something different to the table and we all work hard to achieve one goal – to win.”
What will it take to win in the near-100 degree temperatures? “A lot of water, a lot of sweat, a lot of heart,” said Mozrall.
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