Down The Home Stretch

By Coach Tierney

Wow, what a year this is turning out to be for Tri City Lacrosse. The season is 2/3 completed and all the horses are still bunched together jockeying for position. Thursday's games will have big playoff implications.

Just when it looked like a four team race, Team 5 upset 12 North to close in on the Rhinos. They meet Thursday with the winner claiming the tie breaker in a race for the playoffs. Tony's Pizza and Estate Homes face off in a game that will put the winner in the drivers seat for the top spot heading into the playoffs. 12 North sits alone in 3rd place but they could finish 1st or 5th if they put together a winning or losing streak.

Lets take a look at the coaches findings through 8 games:

Tony's Pizza - After a red hot start, things have slowed down a little for the doughboys. They bickered their way to a 2-2 record in round 2. Jason Semo, Sean Temple, and Marc O'Shea are putting points up. The defense is outstanding and Matt Semo has been solid in goal. The middies are sucking up ground balls at a league leading rate. There is more to like than hate here. Mark Semo has been a big surprise, providing more quality minutes than he has been able to offer in recent years. The coach hears that Mark has been wearing his old Michael Jackson zipper jacket to the games and he's feeling 20 years younger.

Estate Homes - They finally got the rust off and ran the table in round 2. Matt Chapple & Pete Colburn continue to amaze. Dan Spinella has joined Andy Farrell to dominate on the face offs. The defense has been nasty of late. There is a rumor that Scotty Carlson has been working under cover to learn the secrets of the doughboys. These guys like to eat, if they get a sandwich it could be all over.

12 North - Losing to team 5 puts a dent in the plan to take 1st. Long Gu leads the league in saves. Doug Closinski will help an already loaded offense. Brandon Davis dishing the ball nicely. Tim Dobs has improved on the draw. The defense could use Dan Caitlin back.

Rome Sign - The Rhinos have not been feeding anybody the horn of late. Jeff French has been throwing heat. Torey Rutledge, Bill Fahy, and Liam Dwyer may be the most under rated defense in the league. Ben Mack has been reported missing, he was last seen before the rhino roast at Bob Dicks' house over a week ago to celebrate Bob's 40th birthday.

Team 5- Dan Hoeffler continues to play well. Kiel Adams is starting to distribute well. John LaRock scores the goal that could lead the new kids to the promised land. Harter has been huge in goal. Tom Arcuri is also making his mark. Chad Schnieder and Dave Closinski are huckin' heat. They may make a run.

The coach wants to clue his readers in to some fine summer reading. Use the league's link to amazon.com and order "Ten Bears". It is the true story about Morgan State's now defunct lacrosse program. Morgan State was the only black college to ever field an N.C.A.A. Lacrosse program...and they were good!

Morgan St. lax started in the sixties during the civil rights era. They made the N.C.A.A. Playoffs in the early 1970's and shocked #1 Washington & Lee in the deep south during a period of racial tension. Trust me, you will be riveted by this inspiring book.

Best of luck down the homestretch fellas. See you on the bus to Rochester.

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