For all my P-Town Folks......

[CP18]

.....that is Plano, TX.



The Plano West lacrosse team put the squeeze on Captain Shreve at Clark Field.

The Wolves (11-3-0) jumped out to an early lead, then used strong defense to win, 10-4, in the first round of the Texas High School Lacrosse League playoffs. The Wolves advance to the North District Division II semifinal game next Saturday at Clark Field against an opponent to be determined.



MELANIE BURFORD/DMN
Plano West's Kyle Bowman (right) chases the ball with Captain Shreve's Thomas Pernici during the second quarter. "Overall, our defense played really well today," said Plano West coach Dave Flick. "That's a pretty good team and we held them to just four goals. When a team gradually pulls away like we did, that's usually the result of good defense."

Justin Chinich, the Plano West goalkeeper, had 13 saves. Ridge Flick was the main cog on offense, scoring three goals with two assists. Robert Jones and D.J. Sprenger each contributed two goals and an assist. Matt Webb had two assists and one goal, while Brandon Pak and Stephen Frapart each scored a goal.

Plano West took a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, then upped it to 8-1 halftime. Captain Schreve, one of five Louisiana teams that play in the THSLL, scored three of its goals in the fourth quarter as the Wolves subbed freely.

Plano West took advantage of several penalties by Captain Shreve, scoring four goals when its opponents had a man in the penalty box.

"A big key to the game was that we had a lot of extra-man opportunities," Dave Flick said.

Plano East 17, Greenhill 0: Nicholas Brooks scored four goals and added four assists as Plano East fired up its offense in an easy win at Clark Field. Plano East advances to a North District DII semifinal game next Saturday.

Plano East (7-5-0) had beaten Greenhill, 10-7, earlier in the season when the team was struggling. Coach Colin Bathory changed many of Plano East's sets, making the team more aggressive. Also contributing to the lopsided win was that Greenhill played a Southwest Preparatory Conference game in Austin on Friday night.

"We were really focused this week at practice and really ready for some playoff lacrosse," Bathory said. "They came out today like they really wanted it."

Plano East was consistent, scoring four goals in each of the first, second and fourth quarters. In the third quarter, PESH scored five.

A big key was Brooks.

"Nicholas Brooks is the engine behind this offense," Bathory said.

Brooks had plenty of help, with eight other players also scoring goals. Brooks was one of seven Plano East players to have at least one goal and one assist. Jack Cavanaugh, Kyle Merino and Caleb Callahan each had two goals and one assist, while Alex Kroviak had one goal and two assists. Senior midfielder Dan Keown also scored two goals.

"You always want discipline on offense," Bathory said. "You just have to have it when you're in a set offense, no matter what style it is. We are an uptempo game and we do fast break."

[ACE]

Like the article says, St. Stephen's defeated Greenhill in an SPC game on Friday night in Austin. They probably didn't arrive back in Dallas until 2 am and had to play at 1 pm against Plano East. Also, unfortunately for Greenhill, their best offensive players suffered a knee injury late in our game and I suspect didn't play on Saturday.

Fortunately for us, we were able to bounce back the next morning, playing our Central quarterfinal game at 10:30 am. St. Stephen's defeated Cedar Park 18-3 and we move on to play last year's state runner-up St. Anthony's in the Central Semifinals on Wednesday night.

[jessexy]

i heard Hillcrest also won to advance. is this true?

[ACE]

According to Laxpower, they beat Caddo Magnet 6-4. So the north district D2 looks like this....

Hillcrest vs. Plano East
Coppell vs. Plano West

Central District D2 is..

St. Stephen's vs. St. Anthony's
Keystone vs. Bowie

And I know Central D1 is....
McNeil vs. St. Mary's Hall
Austin vs. Westlake

[TheBrad]

Go East!

*scratches head* what did i just say? What the he....wha...

I guess i can root for the lesser of two evils.
Me from Plano. Just plano.

[bste_lax]

Brad, you see Plano lost to West last week.....sad day in Plano Lacrosse history.

Plano played Jesuit tonight in the playoffs, still waiting to hear how they did.

[ACE]

Jesuit 11
Plano 4

[SFAlax14]

have you not figured out that this is Maryland's profile, not Drew's? pull it together or i'm gonna have to call INS

[benji]

GO EAST!

[mikeg123]

jesuit taken care of business as usual...

[shrekjr]

Like the article says, St. Stephen's defeated Greenhill in an SPC game on Friday night in Austin. They probably didn't arrive back in Dallas until 2 am and had to play at 1 pm against Plano East. Also, unfortunately for Greenhill, their best offensive players suffered a knee injury late in our game and I suspect didn't play on Saturday.

Greenhill knew before the season started they would have to play on Saturday if they made the playoffs. So why did they schedule a game in Austin on Friday night!?!?!? I hear their star defenseman was ejected from a game on Tuesday night and sat out the Friday game, but did play Saturday. I'm sorry to hear one of their other players was injured Friday night and I hope he is okay. But they lost Saturday 17-0. I really don't think there are any valid excuses other than they got spanked!!!

I think the Plano East/Hillcrest game will be the key matchup of the weekend and the winner of that game, along with Plano West, will get the invite to the state tournament in Houston, and I'm sure one of those 3 teams will win state.

In DI, like DII, it looks like ALL the strength this year is in the north. Probably the top 4-5 teams in the north should beat the top team from the other areas. But that is why you play the game. Should be an exciting Mother's Day in Houston.

[CP18]

Lacrosse players ready to complete what they started

Highland Park knows there's work left to defend state title


11:15 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 26, 2005


By MATT McKAY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News


During Sunday's practice, Highland Park coach Derek Thomson urged his attacking players to move the ball with intention and pace. The moment the ball stopped, he barked, "Keep it hot!"

While he wanted offensive movement at the time, his encouragement could also be taken in an overall context. After a 12-0 regular season, the playoffs are no time for the defending state champion Scots to cool off.

As the top seed in the Dallas region, Highland Park had a first-round bye when the playoffs began Monday. The Scots will join the fray tonight at Highlander Stadium at 7:30, where they face the winner of Monday's Plano-Jesuit game.

A win in that game would put them in the regional final at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Highlander Stadium. A victory in that game would give Highland Park a chance to defend its state crown at the Texas High School Lacrosse League Final Four on May 6-7 in Houston.

Thomson, a former player at Duke and former coach at St. Mark's, has been in charge of the Highland Park program for two seasons. Along with his brother Ross, another former Duke player now teaching at The Winston School, Thomson has molded Highland Park into the team to beat in the North Texas area.

But Thomson is quick to defer credit to the players, particularly the senior class. Many started playing seven years ago, and that experience and desire has helped to take Highland Park from an upstart club to a championship-caliber program.

All three of this year's team captains – seniors Bradi Covert, Matthew Fritts and Tommy Shuey – have signed to play lacrosse with college programs. Fritts, the only returning All-America player from the state of Texas this year, will play at Villanova next year. Covert will play at Swarthmore, and Shuey will join the Hofstra team.

"It's definitely helped that players are starting younger. By the time they get to high school, they're ready," said Fritts, who began playing lacrosse in seventh grade and also played on the Highland Park basketball team.

----------------------------------------

Plano falls to Jesuit in playoffs, 9-4

12:57 AM CDT on Tuesday, April 26, 2005


By MARK ZESKE / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News


The Plano lacrosse team ended its season on a down note Monday night in a 9-4 loss to Jesuit in the Texas High School Lacrosse League playoffs.

Jesuit led, 5-2, at the end of the first quarter of the North District Division I game, and Plano never threatened. Adam Hinshaw and Sam Wootan each scored three goals for Jesuit.

Robbie Rice scored two goals for Plano (9-7); James MacGibbon and Bryce Wolf each scored one.

Plano spent much of its time playing defense as a number of penalties kept players in the box, giving Jesuit ample extra-man opportunities.

"We played way too much a man down," Plano coach Chris Braceland said. "They were just able to keep the ball then. As good as a lacrosse team as they are, you just can't be on defense that long. If you are, you are going to give up a lot of goals.

Braceland said that Matt Oravetz played great in the man-down defense. MacGibbon, Matt Nicholson and Nick Pirro also played well. The star of the game for Plano was goalie Tom Palesky, who made 22 saves.

"He just played fantastic," Braceland said. "He made a lot of saves that he had no business making."

[Anderson]

Braceland said. "He made a lot of saves that he had no business making."

Thats just a great quote. Nuff said.

[benji]

Plano down. East! and West up.

Gonna be interesting when East and West move up to Div. 1 ball. Plano better get their you know what together if they're gonna be any sort of force in the North region.

[bste_lax]

Plano down. East! and West up.

When's the last time East beat Plano in a Varisty game?

I remember how much it sucked playing defense in that game as we were standing at the midfield line the whole game with the occasional ball come rolling out only to be kicked/hit back to our midfield. I miss scores of 26-3.