FHSAA 2015 Preseason Preview – Districts 29 & 30
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
See Districts 1 & 2, See Districts 3 & 4, See Districts 5 & 6, see Districts 7 & 8, See Districts 9 & 10, See Districts 11 & 12, See Districts 13 & 14. See District 15. See District 16. See District 17. See District 18. See District 19. See District 20. See District 23. See District 24. See Districts 25 & 26. See Districts 27 & 28.
District 29
District 29 was all about a loaded St. Thomas Aquinas and an up and coming program in University School. STA turned red hot at the right time and blew through the districts, following that up with two huge wins in the FHSAA playoffs before a stunningly exciting road win over Barron Collier in the Final 8, as they overcame losing a two-goal lead in the final two minutes of regulation before taking the overtime win to punch their ticket to Bradenton. Unfortunately they ran into a team just as hot as they were and fell in the semifinals to Benjamin. Still a heck of a run and now they are starting to see their district heat up as well.
STA Head Coach Terry Crowley might well have has his best season as coach last season. A relatively easy start to the season was a godsend since STA was playing without most of its’ offensive firepower due to injuries. Then the middle of the season kicked in and that meant playing four Final 8 teams PLUS nationally ranked McDonogh and before you knew it STA was 6-5, with a number of tough games coming up. But STA reached down and took flight, handling Columbus Catholic (a rematch of the bitterly fought 2013 playoff game), University, Milton (Ga.) and Jupiter and when the dust settled no one was better prepared for the playoffs. Blowouts of Cypress Bay and CC set up the rematch of the regular season loss at Barron Collier. The team had gotten healthy for the most part and had found a new star on attack.
Then RJ Curtin stuck a dagger in the city of Naples and Coach Crowley’s Raiders were Bradenton-bound. Heck of a run. With a lot of the same players coming back, and one very big piece that missed all last season . . . That potential Final 8 game might be even better this year . . . and area fans might want to circle March 13th, when they meet in Davie in the regular season.
STA returns a number of players from last season and there was no more surprising breakout star last year than Louie Yovino (Furman), who would have been far less of a factor if the injuries had not happened but he took advantage of the playing time to play so effectively that he ended up making All-American. Coupled with the return of senior JP Crowley (Towson) from a season-ending injury and middie Alex Tuminello (Maryland) and this offense will continue to put up goals. Underrated FOGO/middie Alec Cumella (Rollins) returns to provide two-way play. On defense STA returns Evan Schimek (Rollins) and Joey Casolaro (Eastern), while Michael Adler finally gets the cage all to himself going forward. Coach Crowley will pray that his goalie stays out of the water over the next few months . . .
One of the true up and coming programs is University School, led by Jan Northrup. The Suns finished 13-4 last season and garnered victories over Stoneman Douglas, Ransom and Cypress Bay, all teams that had good seasons last year. As the program continues to grow there will be looming the eventuality that all roads lead through STA, but that could have been said some years ago about Boca and SA too, so let’s see how the gap narrows.
Coach Northrup is in his fourth season so this is his first full senior class and they have the distinction of starting the program back then. University will be doing ‘good’ off the field too as they have scheduled two dates to teach kids with Autism how to play the sport. For those interested in getting involved the dates are 2/28 and 3/21.
Returning to help the cause is All-American defenseman Raul Mendy (Tufts) while the midfield returns seniors Cole Bianco and Blaine Preston (Florida Southern). Senior Danny Eisdorfer, who put up 62 goals last year leads the attack. Now it’s time to narrow that gap.
Western-Davie finished 7-11 overall last year and 3-3 in the district. Coach Emilio Loeza’s program currently falls within the middle of the pack as they were able to handle the teams they needed to but struggled against the better programs. Cutting down against the goals against will help them get to the next level. Keep and eye on Alec Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a sophomore attackman who scored twice on STA. Also on attack watch out for Josh Cimerberg. Cimerberg was hurt but will be a threat to some defenses this season. Defensively look for Tyler Annis, a D-pole with the potential to play at the next level and a new goalie in the cage for the Wildcats this year is Rob Rodriguez.
American Heritage/Plantation went 4-13 overall and 2-4 in conference with a double OT loss to Archbishop McCarthy and a nice win over Coral Reef being the highlights of the season.
Coach Chad Moore will look to Goalie Joe Weisberg, Long poles Jason Brown and Connor Martin, FOGO Matt Kirchmeir and Attackman Jarett Alfero to lead the team. They will be playing in the Gerry Mayen Memorial Lacrosse Tournament at Archbishop McCarthy.
Plantation is very new to the sport and went 0-6. The schedule expands some this year to 10 games and I hope to see one of them.
District 30
Cypress Bay ran away with the district, even in the face of many injuries. They took the district title from Archbishop McCarthy, gaining a measure of revenge for 2013’s district final upset. Unfortunately Cypress had to face a red hot STA in the first round and fell 19-4.
Coach Geoff Swinerton has put a solid program in place at Cypress Bay and the pipeline is starting to pay dividends. The only regular season losses were by one goal to Spanish River, a 6-1 loss to Stoneman Douglas and a 3-goal loss to University and they put up a nice win on the road at Pine Crest in a game we covered last year (http://fln.mattplu.com/cypress-bay-stuns-pine-crest-8-7/).
The team started off 5-1 but ran into a scheduling buzzsaw in mid-season, losing to Calvary Christian, University, Ransom, Cypress Bay, Spanish River and Columbus Catholic. Coach Brent Hilsabeck certainly didn’t take the easy road and the team finished 3-1 and the tough schedule prepared them for districts, where they give a competitive game to CB. The schedule has been downgraded a little bit but Belen Jesuit has been added.
Flanagan recorded a nice record of 10-6 with 5-4 in district. The program is still young, going into its’ 4th year and Coach Philip Garza noted to FLN that none of his players in his senior class had any lacrosse experience until they got to high school. He wanted to give credit to US Lacrosse and the Florida Youth Lacrosse League for their help in building the program.
(via South Dade News Leader)
West Broward finished 5-8 and 2-4 in district and their 7-6 win over Cooper City gave them the final district slot, where they lost to Cypress Bay. Their head coach is Craig Bottingino.
Pembroke Pines Charter finished 0-7 and struggles to find footing in the program.
STA returns a number of players from last season and there was no more surprising breakout star last year than Louie Yovino (Furman), who would have been far less of a factor if the injuries had not happened but he took advantage of the playing time to play so effectively that he ended up making All-American. Coupled with the return of senior JP Crowley (Towson) from a season-ending injury and middie Alex Tuminello (Maryland) and this offense will continue to put up goals. Underrated FOGO/middie Alec Cumella (Rollins) returns to provide two-way play. On defense STA returns Evan Schimek (Rollins) and Joey Casolaro (Eastern), while Michael Adler finally gets the cage all to himself going forward. Coach Crowley will pray that his goalie stays out of the water over the next few months . . .
One of the true up and coming programs is University School, led by Jan Northrup. The Suns finished 13-4 last season and garnered victories over Stoneman Douglas, Ransom and Cypress Bay, all teams that had good seasons last year. As the program continues to grow there will be looming the eventuality that all roads lead through STA, but that could have been said some years ago about Boca and SA too, so let’s see how the gap narrows.
Coach Northrup is in his fourth season so this is his first full senior class and they have the distinction of starting the program back then. University will be doing ‘good’ off the field too as they have scheduled two dates to teach kids with Autism how to play the sport. For those interested in getting involved the dates are 2/28 and 3/21.
Returning to help the cause is All-American defenseman Raul Mendy (Tufts) while the midfield returns seniors Cole Bianco and Blaine Preston (Florida Southern). Senior Danny Eisdorfer, who put up 62 goals last year leads the attack. Now it’s time to narrow that gap.
Western-Davie finished 7-11 overall last year and 3-3 in the district. Coach Emilio Loeza’s program currently falls within the middle of the pack as they were able to handle the teams they needed to but struggled against the better programs. Cutting down against the goals against will help them get to the next level. Keep and eye on Alec Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a sophomore attackman who scored twice on STA. Also on attack watch out for Josh Cimerberg. Cimerberg was hurt but will be a threat to some defenses this season. Defensively look for Tyler Annis, a D-pole with the potential to play at the next level and a new goalie in the cage for the Wildcats this year is Rob Rodriguez.
American Heritage/Plantation went 4-13 overall and 2-4 in conference with a double OT loss to Archbishop McCarthy and a nice win over Coral Reef being the highlights of the season.
Coach Chad Moore will look to Goalie Joe Weisberg, Long poles Jason Brown and Connor Martin, FOGO Matt Kirchmeir and Attackman Jarett Alfero to lead the team. They will be playing in the Gerry Mayen Memorial Lacrosse Tournament at Archbishop McCarthy.
Plantation is very new to the sport and went 0-6. The schedule expands some this year to 10 games and I hope to see one of them.
District 30
Cypress Bay ran away with the district, even in the face of many injuries. They took the district title from Archbishop McCarthy, gaining a measure of revenge for 2013’s district final upset. Unfortunately Cypress had to face a red hot STA in the first round and fell 19-4.
Coach Geoff Swinerton has put a solid program in place at Cypress Bay and the pipeline is starting to pay dividends. The only regular season losses were by one goal to Spanish River, a 6-1 loss to Stoneman Douglas and a 3-goal loss to University and they put up a nice win on the road at Pine Crest in a game we covered last year (http://fln.mattplu.com/cypress-bay-stuns-pine-crest-8-7/).
The team started off 5-1 but ran into a scheduling buzzsaw in mid-season, losing to Calvary Christian, University, Ransom, Cypress Bay, Spanish River and Columbus Catholic. Coach Brent Hilsabeck certainly didn’t take the easy road and the team finished 3-1 and the tough schedule prepared them for districts, where they give a competitive game to CB. The schedule has been downgraded a little bit but Belen Jesuit has been added.
Flanagan recorded a nice record of 10-6 with 5-4 in district. The program is still young, going into its’ 4th year and Coach Philip Garza noted to FLN that none of his players in his senior class had any lacrosse experience until they got to high school. He wanted to give credit to US Lacrosse and the Florida Youth Lacrosse League for their help in building the program.
(via Hudl.com)
This season will be fun to watch for Flanagan as most of the starters are seniors. On attack will be Michael Francis, Mark Bouza and Cecil Cordoba. Middies will be Gabriel Vargas, Nicoli McCarthy and Graham Hertzbach while Julian wright, Deandre Hampton and junior Alcino Donadel will start on defense. Senior Alejandro Gil starts in goal. Coach Garza indicated that a number of his players are looking at playing at the next level, which is a nice boost for continuing the progress.
Cooper City finished 6-7 last year and 2-4 in district but missed the playoffs. The team has added some more games this season and will be led by Coach Rick Nash.
(via South Dade News Leader)
West Broward finished 5-8 and 2-4 in district and their 7-6 win over Cooper City gave them the final district slot, where they lost to Cypress Bay. Their head coach is Craig Bottingino.
Pembroke Pines Charter finished 0-7 and struggles to find footing in the program.
