  Amato lifted La Salle to state championship By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/19
As the last line of defense on the lacrosse field, one might think La Salle goalie Niko Amato might feel lonely in the cage.
Not exactly.
“We’re all family and we have this saying, ‘We have each other’s back.’
“We do this, especially in the huddle. I would look at (middie) Pete Schwartz and say, ‘Do you have my back? He’d then go out and score a goal and come back and say, ‘Do you have my back?’
“I’d come out and make a save. So that was our motto. “I have your back, do you have mine? ’ We’d all make a play for the team.”
In 2008, Amato and his teammates indeed made the plays for each other.
The Explorers, a team with few seniors, overcame the loss of their star midfielder and a late-season upset defeat to win the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA) and Keystone Cup championships.
Along the way, La Salle won 21 straight games, though none bigger or more memorable than its 7-6 overtime thriller over Haverford School in the EPSLA semifinals when it scored the game-tying and game-winning goals with dramatic buzzer-beaters.
After that, the Explorers shut down mighty Malvern Prep, 4-3, to win the EPSLA title and held off pesky Manheim Township, 7-5 for the last “true” state title before the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association takes over next year.
And behind the stingy defense that helped La Salle win its first state crown since 2004 was the smallish Amato, a junior with the propensity for a sharp wisecrack, a key defensive call and a gigantic save when it mattered most. Amato, who allowed just 3.63 goals per game and saved just over 70 percent of his shots, earned the EPSLA tournament MVP honor and All-American status. He was a first-team All-Catholic League pick and was selected to the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association All-Star team which will play the U.S. Under-19 team Saturday in an exhibition game.
And now, Amato is the Philylacrosse.com 2008 Player of the Year. (CONTINUE) All-Phillylacrosse.com Boys' Team for 2008 Phillylacrosse.com, posted 6/18
To recognize the many boys' athletes in the Philadelphia area that excelled on the lacrosse fields in 2008, the following list honors the first All-Phillylacrosse.com Boys'Team. The teams were chosen with input from area sports writers and coaches and they also were based on post-season honors. Congratulations to the athletes and their coaches from Phillylacrosse.com. First Team Attack
Owen Blye, Downingtown East, Sr.
US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American… Was league MVP for Suburban League champions, scoring 25 goals while dishing 28 assists…Last year was EPSLA tourney MVP while leading Cougars to state title... Signed with Maryland where he joins brother, Justin.
Kyle Quist, Central Bucks East, Sr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Scored 44 goals in leading the Patriots to the Suburban One Continental championship… Signed with Division III national champion Salisbury.
Colin Still, Penn Charter, Sr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Used size and strength to pile up 60 goals and 39 assists for Quakers, leading them into EPSLA semifinals… Member of PLA All-Star team... Signed with Yale. Midfield  Chris Layne, Malvern Prep, Sr.
US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American… Dangerous scorer (27 goals, 25 assists) who led Friars to Inter-Ac league title and berth in EPSLA finals… Signed with North Carolina.
Matt Mackrides, Malvern Prep, Sr.
US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American… Savvy ballhandler led Friars to Inter-Ac league title and berth in EPSLA finals… Had 51 goals and 28 assists, earning Inter-Ac MVP... Signed with Penn State. Peter Schwartz, La Salle, Jr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Offensive hero for Explorers with nine goals in EPSLA playoffs, helping team to title… Finished with 37 goals and 32 assists.
Specialist/Face-offs
Tyler Knarr, La Salle, Jr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Dominant midfield player won 79 percent of his face-offs until torn ACL ended his season in late April… Committed to Georgetown.
Long-stick Midfield
Peter Borror, Haverford School, Sr.
US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American… Ace defender led Fords to semifinals of EPSLA tourney… Scored five goals… Signed with Virginia.
Defense Tucker Durkin, La Salle, Jr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Backbone of Explorer defense that took team to EPSLA and state championships… Committed to Bucknell.
Alex Gannett, Downingtown East, Sr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Anchor of defense that led Cougars to Suburban League title and berth in EPSLA quarterfinals… Second on team in groundballs with 60… Signed with Penn State.
Ben Rossman, Haverford School, Sr.
US Lacrosse All-American… Leader of defense that led Fords to semifinals of EPSLA tourney… Signed with Dartmouth.
Goalie
Niko Amato, La Salle, Jr.
US Lacrosse All-American…Named MVP of EPSLA tournament, leading the Explorers to championship win over Malvern Prep, 4-3… Was key again in 7-5 state championship win over Manheim Township… Posted 3.63 goals against average and save percentage of 70.6… Committed to Maryland. (CLICK HERE FOR SECOND TEAM & HONORABLE MENTION PICKS) Barnes, Ellis helped Raiders win together By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/17
Radnor co-captains Kelly Barnes and Beth Ellis were confident that positive team chemis try would be a key to this year’s team.
“We didn’t really click well last year for whatever reason and we lost unexpectedly (in the first round of districts),” said Barnes. “We kind of used that as an example and took that anger into the season.”
“W e went out this year with a refuse-to-lose attitude. Our team chemistry grew every day and the friendships grew every day.”
With Barnes and Ellis leading the way, Radnor clearly did refuse to lose. The Red Raiders went 23-0 and capped their season by rallying from an early five-goal deficit to defeat Bayard Rustin, 15-11, for the District One Class AAA championship.
Barnes and Ellis each won a slew of honors in 2008, including first-team All-American honors as midfielders. But the only thing that mattered to the Phillylacrosse.com Girls' co-Players of the Year was helping the Raiders reach their goals.
Ellis said the team bonded together immediately when head coach Phyllis Kilgour and new assistant Brooke Fritz brought in a professional team morale builder to assist in the process.
“From the first day we stepped onto the turf for tryouts, we knew that we didn’t want to have what happened last year, happen again,” Ellis said. “Right from the start we came mentally prepared for the season.
“We had a man come and do activities with us about team building and team bonding. From the underclassmen on up, we felt so close to them and we knew every little thing about them. There was no separation on the team; it was complete unity.
“The talent was there – the talent was there last year.”
(CONTINUE) All-Phillylacrosse.com Girls' Team for 2008 Phillylacrosse.com, posted 6/16
To recognize the many girls’ athletes in the Philadelphia area that excelled on the lacrosse fields in 2008, the following list honors the first All-Phillylacrosse.com Girls' Team. The teams were chosen with input from area sports writers and coaches and they also were based on post-season honors. Congratulations to the athletes and their coaches from Phillylacrosse.com.
First Team Aly Adams, midfield, Springfield-Delco, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Defensive ace led the Cougars to their third straight District One Class AA championship… Had 22 goals and 48 draw controls... Signed with Penn State.
Kelly Barnes, midfield, Radnor, sr.
First-team US Lacrosse and Under Armour All-American…Led Red Raiders to perfect 23-0 record, Central League title and Class AAA championship… Had 54 goals, 50 assists, 75 groundballs, 60 draw controls, 40 caused turnovers, and 17 interceptions… Was MVP of Senior All Star game at the US Lacrosse National Tournament in Towson, MD… Signed with Georgetown.
Annie Brophy, midfield, Archbishop Carroll, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Led Patriots to eighth straight Catholic League championship… Had 36 goals and 18 assists… Signed with James Madison.
Beth Ellis, midfield, Radnor, Sr,
First-team US Lacrosse All-American…Led Red Raiders to perfect 23-0 record, Central League title and Class AAA championship… Had 60 goals, 26 assists, 49 groundballs, 62 draw controls, 17 caused turnovers, and 20 interceptions… Signed with North Carolina.
Emily Ellisen, midfield, Great Valley, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Led Patriots to berth in finals of District One Class AA tourney… Scored 99 goals while adding, 22 assists, 44 groundballs and 47 draw controls…Signed with George Mason.
Kelyn Freedman, defense, Radnor. Soph. First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Led Red Raiders to perfect 23-0 record, Central League title and Class AAA championship… Had 41 goals, 23 assists, 37 groundballs, 65 draw controls, 29 caused turnovers, and 25 interceptions… Member of Under Armour Underclassmen All-Star Team.
Emily Garrity, midfield, Strath Haven, Jr. First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Led Panthers to semifinals of District One Class AA tourney… Collected 110 goals, 66 assists, 127 groundballs, 76 caused turnovers, 60 draw controls and 22 interceptions… Already has 292 career goals and 165 assists… Has committed to North Carolina.
Amanda Jones, midfield, Germantown Academy, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Helped Patriots finish with five straight wins and a 12-8 record...Collected 67 goals, 47 assists, 56 groundballs, and 55 draw controls… Signed with Duke.
Maggie Tamasitis, midfield, Boyertown, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Paced Bears to Pioneer Athletic Conference and berth in District One Class AAA semifinals… Scored 92 goals and added 38 assists, 30 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers… Signed with Notre Dame.
Allison Tatios, midfield, Bayard Rustin, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Led Golden Knights to Ches-Mont American title and berth in District One Class AAA finals…Collected 62 goals and 50 assists to go with 100 groundballs and 57 draw controls... Committed to Division I National runner-up Penn.
Kim Wenger, midfield, Great Valley, Sr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American… Led Patriots to berth in District One Class AA finals…. Collected 57 goals and 64 assists to go with whopping 113 grounndballs and 67 draw controls…. Signed with Duke.
Alisha Aquilino, goalie, Abington, Jr.
First-team US Lacrosse All-American…Led Ghosts to share of Suburban One National Conference title and berth in quarterfinals of District One Class AAA tourney…Had 55 percent save percentage and 5.0 goals against average…Made Under Armour Underclassmen All-Star Team. (CLICK HERE FOR SECOND TEAM & HONORABLE MENTION) |