By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/7/15
The wraps were pulled off a brand new outdoor lacrosse complex today in suburban Philly as Adrenaline Lacrosse held Day 1 of its Invitational at the new Maple Zone Sports Village in Aston.
Everest Academy (Ontario)
The Village features five regulation turf fields – all of which will be lighted later this year or early next year – and is expected to host many future lacrosse tournaments.
In all, 57 teams from 22 programs are competing in the two-day Adrenaline Invitational; with the 2016 and 2017 teams playing at Maple Zone’s Sports Village and the 2018 and 2019 teams playing 10 miles away at Great Valley High School.
One of the 2017 squads was Everest Academy, of Ontario, Canada, new to the field tournament scene.
Everest, which has won the past three NXT Philadelphia Indoor Lacrosse Championship titles, went 3-0 today with a team full of uncommitted 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 players.
“This really helps us (with exposure), we have some really good ballplayers and some coaches are looking at them right now,” said Everest coach Clem D’Orazio. “A couple (players) are in the process (of talking) with some schools and over the next three weeks it will be big for these kids to set up their futures.”
Everest will play a short spring schedule this year for the first time, mostly against top Midwest teams, including Culver Academy (IN). For now, the tea, is playing Canadian universities and also won a Dick’s qualifying tournament. Everest will compete in two more Fall tourneys, one in Detroit and another in New Jersey.
How has Everest’s strong box background helped in field play?
“I think it really helps us in the transition game,” D’Orazio said. “It helps with our ability to react to slides and move the ball quickly in tight areas. It also helps with the physical side of the game. We can get knocked around by bigger players, but we’re not backing down.”
Fusion Lacrosse (PA) debuts in recruiting tourney play
Fusion Lacrosse (PA) 2018
Another new field program, Fusion Lacrosse of Suburban Philly, competed in its first major tourney at Adrenaline and split its first two games in the 2017 and 2018 divisions.
Fusion combined box and field skills and its directors/coaches feature three pro indoor/outdoor players in Steve Holmes, Kevin Crowley and Luke Wiles.
“Our program’s been around for three years and we thought the timing was right so we wanted to pick a top event,” said Holmes, who plays for the MLL champion New York Lizards. “This is a great event and it’s local as have performed decently well.
“It is a big step for us (to compete in an outdoor restructuring tournament). We feel we are at the point where we want to showcase guys. They have worked hard the past few years and put themselves into position to be showcased. I am really happy where their work has brought them; and we’re winning some games. That is always a good bonus.”
Holmes said having the Maple Zone complex nearby was convenient.
“We’re really excited about this, especially since we’re a West Chester-based program,” he said. “This is a national level facility with all turf fields and everything in one place.”