Team Hills U-13 Team

2008 Hershey Invitational Champions!

 The Team Hills U-13 elite lacrosse team went to Hershey, Pennsylvania on a mission: win the Chocolatetown Shootout and bring the giant Hershey Bar back to Dix Hills, New York.  They succeeded in that they won the championship game 10-3, however the massive piece of chocolate was devoured by the time the boys had left the field.

      Team Hills was ready for a big tournament win.  The boys had won two smaller, local tournaments and came to the late July Shootout with a 19-3 record.  They had beaten top teams like Team Long Island, The Outlaws, Farmingdale, and the Maryland Predators.

       The Shootout in Hershey had 30 teams in the U-13 division from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.  Teams Hills went on a 6-0 run over the course of two days to land in the championship game.

        Led by Head Coach Anthony Cascio and assistant coaches Eric Geringswald and John Rogener, the Team Hills U-13 squad was ready for the big game.  It had been a long two days in the sweltering heat as Hills had to win all their games to gain a spot in the championship game.  To qualify for the playoff round, Hills defeated Sachem soundly, beating them 6-1, with Jack Forrester and Jesse Parker leading the scoring.  Their next obstacle was the Long Island Stampede, an excellent select team from Suffolk County.  Again, the Hills kids rose to the occasion and in a very competitive game won 8-4. Jack Forrester led the way with his scoring punch.

     The championship game was against Fastlax from Frederick, Maryland.  The team, also a select team culled from the best players in western Maryland, showed they meant business.  Team Hills, a local town team, had already demonstrated its ability to play with the best select teams, and was ready for the challenge.   Moving at breakneck speed, both teams scored early and were tied 2-2.  Jack Forrester on attack and Jesse Parker at middie scored the early goals for Hills.  Clearly, Fastlax was not going down without a fight.

       The Hills defense, led by mountainous Brian Dunne, was up to the task.  The referees allowed the game to be a hard-hitting one and so the Hills defenders cut loose.  Pat Forrester, Max Geringswald, J.J. Benincasa, Justin Manzi, and Chris Makowski made the Fastlax players pay for every possession.  They were relentless in their checks and cleared the ball quickly and efficiently.  Goaltenders Eric Mikelinich and Anthony “A-Train” Des Los Reyes blocked a number of shots, frustrating the opponent’s shooters.

       At middie, Brandon Cortazar displayed his athleticism transitioning the ball on fast breaks.  Michael Curry, playing with a pulled hamstring, and a determined Willie Holmquist energized the line with Cortazar. On the other line, leading middie scorer Jesse Parker, had his perfect counterpart, Michael Marnell, passer par excellence. Tokyo Joe Busuttil, who played with great intensity and fervor, rounded out this bunch.  The younger members of the group, Patrick Leone and Jake Bloom also came to play, keeping the midfield lines rock solid.

      On attack, Jack Forrester, made the Energizer Bunny look lethargic, and led the team in scoring.  He was at the end of several fast breaks, shooting lights out. He later was named offensive MVP by the coaches.  He was supported by Anthony Ramaizel,,who was tough as nails, and Jordan LeFranc, whose lefty shots whizzed past the opposing goalie.  They all scored in the final game and kept the Fastlax defense on their heals.  Rounding out the group was Jonathan Sammis, who had scored earlier in the day.

      The game was close at the beginning of the second half, 3-2, but as was the case throughout the tournament, the Hills offense suddenly exploded.   Jack Forrester, Jordan Lefranc, Jesse Parker, and Anthony Ramaizel rifled shots into the back of the net for goals.  At the same time, goalie Des Los Reyes shut down the cage to all intruders.  Making one fabulous save after another, A-Train shutdown Fastlax in the second half.  He was later named defensive MVP for his great work by the coaches.

   The win was truly a team affair.  No single player determined the outcome of the game.  Lacrosse is a game when played best, rocks with a rhythm that can be felt by all.   Team Hills had the championship turf field rocking and their opponents back on their heels.  There was no question which team was the better team that day.  The Team Hills elite U-13 must now be considered amongst the best in their age group.

   But, there was one last task to be undertaken.  Coach Cascio had to be doused with the water cooler. The coach displayed his innate quickness, but was ultimately cornered by Brian Dunne.  Ice water probably never felt so good.