Lacrosse coaches look back on decent 2009 season

High school boys lacrosse in Brick came to a soggy ending for five athletes from the two Brick Township high schools.

The boys played in the Shore All-Star game at Holmdel, where Monmouth beat Ocean, 13-8, in a downpour Saturday evening.

"It was no different from what we've gone through all year," Brick Memorial coach Brent Middlemiss said of the persistent precipitation. Middlemiss coached the Ocean team .

Brothers Dan and Drew Lamela on defense and in goal, respectively, played for Brick Memorial, which finished 5-12. Also playing were midfielders Pat Kearns and Ken Bogert and attackman Tim Firrmann, who represented Brick Township, which was 9-8 and qualified for the Shore Conference and NJSIAA Tournaments.

But lacrosse continues this summer for most of them who will play for the Brick Lacrosse Club's Brick Bandits teams that will participate in the Jersey Shore Best of the Beach at Drum Point Complex on July 23 through July 25. More than 80 teams from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and throughout New England will participate, and teams from as far as Oregon, Texas and Florida inquired, Brick Township head coach Dan Rosa said.

Rosa is also a coach in the Brick Lacrosse Club, which is teaming with the elite T3 club program to run the event that will have three divisions: fifth and sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade, and high school.

"I hope it helps propel lacrosse in town," Rosa said.

Many college coaches are expected to attend the showcase event to check out young prospects, he said.

"I'm happy about it right now," Rosa said. "We had 18 teams in the beginning and we were nervous, but I said, 'Don't worry. Give it time. Everybody is in their season.' And look now — we have more than 80 teams. It'll be a big event. Brick never saw this happen. It's a dream to me."

"The kids are really into … being in the tournament," Middlemiss said. "Hopefully this will help Brick and the Shore get more respect in lacrosse."

Certainly, Brick Township's team earned some respect. They lost in the first round of the Shore Conference Tournament to a highly regarded Freehold Township team and led all the way against Cherry Hill West in the state tournament, before losing its opening round game.

"At no point during the season did we have a losing record," Rosa said.

He is proud that six of his players received recognition on the Shore Coaches team, three of them on the first team and who played in Saturday's All-Star game.

Rosa's firepower this season is wiped out by graduation, including Firrmann, who scored 57 goals and is heading to Brookdale Community College. Bogert also is leaning to Brookdale. Attackman Jim Whalen also graduates, along with defenseman Kevin Trolan, one of the captains along with Firrmann.

Kearns, a productive midfielder, is a sophomore, and he and junior Shane Hicks will look to fill some of that void on offense.

But Rosa said he is not moving any defenders to the offensive end for next season.

"Defensively, we are very, very strong next year," he said. "It's that and what is coming up from the Bandit program [and junior varsity team for offense]. I'm confident with the junior varsity level of attackers."

The jayvee team lost, 8-4, to Christian Brothers Academy in the semifinals of the Brick Memorial Invitational Tournament.

"We'll go to the states every year; that's our goal every year," Rosa said.

Dylan Beaver, a junior, excelled all season as goalie. Sean Greenwood, a junior, comes off a solid season starting on defense.

"He's very aggressive and physical," Rosa said. "I look forward to having him back."

Kevin Deskalovits, a junior who capably handled face-offs this season, returns in the midfield. Rosa also has high expectations for junior Byron Guise. Sophomore Kevin Bogert (Ken's brother) and freshman Brian Murphy and Justin Siebert will help carry the load.

As for Brick Memorial, junior Dan Lamela and his freshman brother, Drew, had many shining moments, but they were not alone. Eight seniors graduate, but 15 juniors return for next season, along with many prospects from the high-powered junior varsity team that finished 14-2.

"We were in every game," Middlemiss said. "We just had bad breaks that didn't bounce our way."

Brick Memorial shut down Manasquan for a half, but lost, 3-0. The team trailed by a goal at halftime in both losses to Jackson Memorial. The Mustangs also beat Southern Regional for the first time, 6-2.

"The defense played very well, but we were a little inconsistent on offense but started to step up there at the end of the year," Middlemiss said.

Jesse Kikert graduates from the offense, but high-scoring Nick Marks and Rob Mc- Sweeney, who had 14 goals, return for their senior season, along with Jay Franceschini, who had eight goals. Also graduating are defensemen Gary Horan and Mike Heitz and forwards Dylan Hornblum and Wes Buckley.

Jake Vescovi, a midfielder who won 62 percent of his face-offs, and defenseman Nick Alvarez return for their senior year, along with attackmen Rob Bruno and Mike Bennet, who can take on expanded roles. There also are good, young prospects in sophomores Dan Erickson on defense and Phil Faccone at midfield and freshmen midfielders Jared Eccles and Ryan Cavallo.