By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/27/16
Axell Beskar says playing box lacrosse has helped his skills as a goalie in many ways.
“I went to a couple Wings games and saw how big the goalies were,” said the 2019 netminder from Souderton High who will play for the Penn*Lax All-Stars today and tomorrow in the USBoxLa Northeast Regionals at the XL Sports World BucksMont Indoor Sports center in Hatfield. “It looked intriguing. It makes me not fear the ball anymore. It’s improved my reaction time, the shots are so much closer you have to be faster.”
Penn*Lax looks to contend at the USBoxLa Regionals
Beskar has played foru years of box lacrosse and last year competed for Team USA in the National championships in Vancouver. He expects Penn*Lax – comprised of many top Division I commits from the Philly region and South Jersey – to compete for a Varsity title.
“I think Penn*Lax will do really well,” he said. “We have a lot of good shooters. we need to trust the defense a lot. Our coach always say we may not be as talented in box, but we can physically outmatch them with speed and strength and endurance.”
Indeed, competing against transitional box powers like Team 91 (Long Island) will be a challenge.
Penn*Lax’s Connor Reese (left), Ryan Raftery, Scott White and Jack Traynor
“I know we’ll get really good competition; but we’re all really good outdoor players and we are transferring our game to box,” said Haverford School 2017 John Nostrant, a Penn State signee. “It will be very competitive and fun.”
Nostrant said he never played box before coming out for Penn*Lax. “It really kind of helps you focus in on your sticks skills a lot,” he said. “It helps your game outside by helping you work in tight spaces. And it’s fun to play box as well.”
Penn*Lax features a highly-regarded group of coaches led by Adam Mueller, who played pro box lacrosse for 11 years and was head coach of the Wings, Minnesota Swarm, and NY Titans
and was NLL Coach of the Year in 2008. The varsity team also includes current MLL standout Kevin Crowley and former Wing Eric Hoffman.
“Coach Mueller is helping us out with different offenses and helping us learn where to go on fast breaks,” said Malvern Prep 2018 Quinn McCahon, committed to the admissions process at Penn. “We are all great players; the best of the best trying to play box.
“It helps your outdoor game by (teaching you to play) in tight spaces. The goalie is bigger and you have to be precise with your shots. We use a lot of picks and pick and rolls. It’s very physical; you have to be tough and crafty. Some of the best players are real crafty and they definitely bring the game to the next level.”
Penn*Lax’s John Nostrant (left) and Quinn McCahon
Connor Reese, a 2018 goalie from Owen J. Roberts, found box lacrosse appealing when he played for Johnny Mouradian and the Junior Wings. “It was something I wanted to try and I found out it was fun,” Reese said. “It helps you see shots and analyze picks. It helps you develop a sense of offense and defense.
“You have to watch where its going so you can see the shot.”
Reese said Mueller and the staff of have helped the team pick up the sport quickly. “I am expecting us to do fairly well if we stick to our game and execute what we have learned,” he said. “It has helped having them as coached – they have a tremendous amount of knowledge. They have playing and coaching so many years that it gives the team the upper edge to play at that elite level.
Ryan Rafrery, a 2018 from Cherokee (N.J.), said he also played with the Junior Wings. “I liked it more; it’s a lot more fast paced and I think it has helped my outdoor game with the stick skills and by setting picks. I think we have meshed together pretty well. We know they (other teams) may have played longer. We need to play physical and keep our heads when they make picks.”
Scott White, a 2018 Malvern Prep attackman who has committed to Ohio State, said playing outdoors is easier. “It’s a lot easier to go outdoors after playing box.” he said. “The net seems a lot bigger outdoors and because here we are shooting on a tiny net in tight spaces. We are really looking forward to competing and having a good showing.”
Another Malvern Prep 2018, Penn State commit Jack Traynor, said you must be quicker playing box. “It helps you with sticks skills and to be able to react quicker.” he said. “The game is a lot faster and it’s helped me be a better player. We just want to get better and compete and try to stay in the games.”
Penn*Lax All-Stars Rosters
Fusion High School Roster
Coaches: Adam Mueller, Kevin Crowley, Eric Hoffman
Ryan Raftery Cherokee, NJ
Dominick DiStefano Malvern Prep
Dru Miller Parkland
Ryan Brown CB East
Luke Summers Parkland
Billy Coyle Malvern Prep
Drew Bregman Lenape, NJ
Jake Smith Avon Grove
Scott White Malvern Prep
Kieran Ward Malvern Prep
Jack Traynor Malvern Prep
Quinn McCahon Malvern Prep
Joel Trucksess Haverford School
John Nostrant Haverford School
Chris Morrison Haverford School
Axell Beskar Souderton
Connor Reese Owen J. Roberts
Matt Hilburn Malvern Prep
Zach Augustine Avon Grove
Andrew Arth George School
Scott Deck Haverford School
Nicklaus Braendel Conestoga
Max Krieger Archbishop Carroll
JJ Pickard Hill School
TJ Sims Penncrest
Nate Hammond Avon Grove
High Scool Junior Varsity Roster:
Coaches: Luke Wiles, Matthew McCormick
Fynn McNulty Archbishop Carroll
Brady McGovern Salesianum, DE
Nick Fanelli Pennridge
Connor Dungey Salesianum
Bryce Stansfield Garnet Valley
Joseph Carozza WC East
Sean Kearney Archbishop Carroll
Michael Voehringer Malvern Prep
Colin Kennedy Salesianum
Max Jogerst Council Rock North
Jack Jogerst Council Rock North
Nathan Lapat Lower Merion
Maximus Kistler Parkland
Stephen Blue Souderton
William Togo Tower hill
Mason Garrabrant Salesianum, DE
Bradley Green Hempfield
TJ Kelly CB West
Alex Adamczyk Emmaus
Middle School Roster:
Coaches: Steven Holmes, Alex Turner
Drew Godfrey Carlisle
Kurt Rachau Downingtown
Bryan O’Neill Doylestown
Jakob Voehringer West Chester
Christopher Fanelli Perkasie
Luke Venzie Downingtown
Mikel Zahralddin Wilmington
Carter Besz King of Prussia
Matthew Caccese Fogelsville
Dean Scalamandre Newtown
Andrew Heubeck Washington Crossing
Andrew Sowers Upper Dublin
Brody Myers Lower Gwynedd
Eric Schreiner Blue Bell
Dom Piselli Ridley
Dom Rottura Swedesboro
Evan Prince Lower Merion
Jake Topalovich Newtown
Joseph Zyla Buckingham
Luke Hendricks Mullica Hill, NJ