As you can see by the picture above of Scott Bruner of the Maryland RoughRiders going airborne to get this goal on Swashbucklers’ goalie Niko Morfogen, there was fantastic action at the Paradise Shootout last weekend in Naples.

Allow your mind to give this writer a little chronological freedom and think of three events circa the 1960’s which led to the gathering of lacrosse players from Missouri, Maryland, Illinois, Georgia and of course, Florida (apologies if I missed a state). A visit to the Cincinnati Zoo, of all places, reveals a graph showing the growth of the population in Florida directly tied to the beginning of the wide spread use of central air conditioning around 1965.  Boeing rolled out the 707 in 1958 and commercial jet travel has blossomed since.  Finally, the plastic head of the lacrosse stick was invented around 1964 and patented by STX in 1970.  Those three events surely go a long way to explaining the expansion of the national sport of Canada past traditional borders. Partial credit might even go to the interstate highway system which has a similar timeline.  

Elite Champions Swashbucklers

  It’s little wonder an easy (and inexpensive with a little planning) flight to Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa or Ft. Myers followed by a short ride on I-75 looked attractive to a group of talented northerners.  For the Florida folks, Naples is a favorite destination.  Toss in a chance to play a different group of teams to see where you match up in front of college coaches – well you get the idea.   The third year of the Paradise Shootout in Naples was once again a first class event.  The field conditions on natural grass at North Collier Regional Park were basically perfect.  Support for the players, from a plentiful supply of sideline drinks to professional trainers and swag for the winners was well executed.   Fifty teams competed in divisions ranging from U13 to High School Elite.  In Florida, many teams “play up” a division, so there were a number of very young future stars  in the mix.  Teams were comprised in different ways, from “tryout” to school specific dressed in club colors.  All the kids we saw can play.   Championship game results were as follows:

• U13 – Palm Beach Storm 9-4 over 22Prep

  

• U15 – 22Prep 9-6 over LB3

  

• JV – Maryland RoughRider 2016 8-6 over Palm Beach Storm
• Varsity – Buffalo Wild Wings Black 5-4 over New Wave Ion
• Elite – Florida Swashbucklers 8 – 5 over Maryland RoughRiders Elite

  Players FLN Noticed Florida Swashbucklers This true club team was comprised of a number of fine players.  Logan Masta (Wellington) and Niko Morfogen (Pope John Paul II) split the weekend in goal and excelled.  Masta, a senior, is an interesting “under the radar” player who is a converted baseball catcher who broke his thumb last spring against St. Andrew’s in the state play-offs.  His timing for summer recruiting could have been a tad bit better.  Currently uncommitted, we think he will find a home at the next level.  Morfogen, a junior, is just growing into his body and will attract attention in the near future.   Mount St. Mary’s commits Dawson Allen (Calvary Christian) and Mikey Urso (Pope John Paul II) were pleasures to watch, exhibiting creative shot making and toughness.  Defenseman Hunter Ramsay, also from Calvary, played well.

  Nick McCabe (Boca Raton), Patrick Oporto (Wellington), Troy Fischer (PJP II), Drew Minchew (PJPII), John McTurk (PJP II) and Jake Coleman (Vero Beach) all stood out. Maryland RoughRiders 2014/15 The RoughRiders were weighted with mostly 2015 players from a number of schools in the Baltimore area.   Winners of the semi-final against MadLax Florida, they lost to Swashbucklers in the championship game.  Standouts to this writer included defenseman Brady Kinner, midfielder Sam McCoy, Attackman Cody Ford and face-off specialist Ryan Lynch.  Maybe one of the best parts of the Paradise Shootout is the participation of the Corrigans’ RoughRiders teams.  These kids were skilled and a really nice bunch.  

Miami Raiders Two Gulliver prep sophomore standouts were CJ Hassan scoring the go ahead goal to set up the win versus Team 99 and Trevor Pelletier who excelled on offense, dishing a high number of assists.   Team99 Three players caught our attention, led by junior Stephano Mastro (Tampa Jesuit), an Attackman we have seen on the road playing for FCA National.  Mastro was obvious to the opposition, too, as he was constantly double and triple teamed.  Look for his college commitment soon.  Lefty junior midfielder Jackson Parisey (TJ) is quick both with his feet and his shot.   Senior Peyton Elliott (TJ) was another midfielder with quick hands.   Florida Generals This very young team coached by former Calverton School Head Coach Jonathan Montes featured solid play by three seniors.  Athletic lefty midfielder Tyler Baggett (Oak Hall) scored consitently and worked well with fellow Oak Hall lefty Attackman Jake Kirschner.  Trinity Catholic’s Braden Doyle (Florida Southern) looked like a third coach on the field, playing both LSM and close D.  The Gainesville area is one to watch in the years ahead as the youth programs are up and running.  Speaking of the Gainesville youth, keep an eye out for John Allen Willis (2021) who has not yet entered high school.  He’s a fearless, skilled attackman.  

South Florida Swordfish This new team, comprised primarily of St. Andrew’s players, lost to eventual champion Swashbucklers in the semi-final.  The defense looked strong across the board.  Senior LSM Dalton Davis (Bard) showed great stick skills, with one assist on Saturday which was one of the smoothest plays of the weekend.  The starting close unit of senior Thomas Lounsbury, junior Alex Heatzig and sophomore Parker Sargeant forced many turnovers and started the resultant fast breaks.  Goalie Connor Poetzinger (Connecticut College) was strong.  

Junior Alex Newhouse looked good at the face-off X and the attack unit of Zach Schwartz, Nate Low and Addison Lutes worked well together.  Senior midfielder Jake LeGates (Roanoke) was in constant motion.   Blue Devil Elite Danny Loftus and Nick O’Hara’s BDE team was short a number of regulars.  The obvious standout was junior Duke commit Connor Alexander.  While BDE did not make the play-offs, we are sure we will hear a lot more from this crew when the green jerseys of Jupiter High School are worn by a full roster this spring.   Lacrosse Club Orlando This was a talented team comprised of players from Lake Mary, Seminole, Boone, West Orange, Bishop Moore and The First Academy High Schools.  LCO was maybe the most physical team in the Elite division, but they barely missed the play-offs.

  MadLax Florida A southwest Florida organization which could have served as the host team, MadLax is stocked mostly with Barron Collier players.  Like LCO, this is a tough group of players who are game for any level of competition. MadLax lost in the semis to the Roughriders.   Stampede LC Coached by former Syracuse midfielder (and teammate of Liam Banks and Mikey Powell among others) Matt Sofarelli, Stampede was limited by a small roster.  Pedigreed coaches like Sofarelli and Montes who have moved to Florida are big reasons our players are continuing to gain respect nationwide.   St. Louis Samurai This organization is a great example of the future of the sport.  The Samurai is a building program which travels throughout the Midwest and has what appears to be great momentum.  We look to see the Samurai more in the years ahead.