Top Lax Recruits
Top Lax Recruits -
By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRercruits.com, Posted 7/22/16
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Molly Laliberty used a positive mental approach while preparing to play goalie in Thursday’s High School All-Star Game at the Brine National Lacrosse Classic at the River City SportsPlex.
“I just thought about watching the ball,” said Laliberty, a 2018 playing for Team New England who attends Newburyport (MA) and plays for the Middlesex Bears. “When you are in such a high stakes game with so many coaches watching play, I try to play for myself and my teammates and just keep my head in the game.”
Laliberty posted seven saves in just over a half and allowed just three as her Red squad defeated the Blue squad, 14-8.
Syracuse commit Sam Swart (Pennsylvania, Archbishop Carroll-PA) had four goals for the Red team while PA teammate Dara Lucchesi (Methacton, James Madison commit) and Olivia D’Angelo (Michigan, Bloomfield Hills) each added three goals.
Laliberty is happy her New England team weathered some adversity to reach the championship round this morning.
“We are 2-2 which is not bad and everybody is super nice,” she said before her team fell to undefeated Long Island in the quarterfinals. “We had a few girls go down from injuries and one family emergency. But we have all been there for each other and everyone picked up the slack. We are really working together.
“It was amazing coming here (to Brine),” said Laliberty. “I knew I would be playing against great competition and getting picked to be in the All-Star Game is an honor. I got to play against even better competition. It was a really nice opportunity.”
What type of college is Laliberty looking for?
“I am looking for a college with great athletics and a very high academic standards,” she said.
Red team attack Emma Ford, a 2017 from York High (ME) playing for Team Connecticut in the NLC, was was a table setter for the offense. Ford enjoyed the challenge of playing in the All-Star Game.
“It was very different from high school and a really good experience to get looked at and play competitive girls,” said Ford, who plays for the Maniax. “It’s all about being smart and using your teammates efficiently, and learning from what they are doing.”
Ford said she is looking for a smaller college
“I have had a couple D3 and D2 offers,” she said. “I am looking to get the best fit for me. I want a smaller school with more liberal arts. I want to study wellness and nutrition.”
In the boys’ High School game, the defense and goaltending were the story as the Red and Blue teams tied, 4-4. Jimmy Erickson (Colorado, Cherry Creek High, Team Colorado club) scored three goals for the Blue team.
“There were a lot of great players out there and it was fun to get out in front of all these coaches,” said Erickson. “I got some good looks You have to play with intensity and go 100 percent every single second on the field.”
Erickson’s height, reach and shot are some of his strengths.
“I have speed, a good shot, play defense and I am tall,” he said.
What type of college is he looking for?
“Somewhere I can play,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where, but somewhere where I can get a great education, hopefully back East. When it comes down to it, I don’t care where it is, but I would love to come back here.”
The Blue defense was led by the diminutive Adam Wetscheber, a 2017 LSM from Team Rochester who had several caused turnovers and continually disrupted the Red attack.
“It was a lot of fun and great competition,” said Wetscheber, who plays for Penfield High and the Rochester Blaze club team. “It was a mix of good players and a fun atmosphere.”
Wetscheber said he overcomes any lack of size with aggressiveness, smarts, speed and toughness.
“I’m mot necessarily tall like most defensemen, but I work hard, I’m fast and I try to work on my stick to get an advantage that way,” he said.
Wetscheber’s Rochester team was eliminated this morning in the championship round of the playoffs after a 4-3 loss to Illinois. “We started slowly but came along,” he said of the team’s performance during Pool play.
What type of college is he looking for?
“Somewhere I can play and get a good education,” he said.
The post Player reaction from High School All-Star games at @NLCLacrosse appeared first on Top Lax Recruits.