Thinking back to my college days I was always excited for summer ball. It meant playing with your hometown friends, relaxed refs and the all important rule (which I don't endorse) "Sun's out, guns out". It also meant tournaments and playing against guys you never had a chance to during the regular season.
CroART Summer Leagues offer all of these things (but please, keep the sleeves). The Monday night Division at Charlestown High School offers the most competitive action you'll find in the area. Boasting current and former players from Colgate, Maryland, Hopkins, Duke, Cortland, Salisbury, UMass, Lafayette, Merrimack, Tufts, and a few pro-level talents, it's a live-action highlight reel. If you have some free time between 8-11 on a Monday, be sure to stop by and catch players like Peter Baum (Colgate), 2012 Tewaaraton Trophy winner.
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We started the night with a match-up between the Stag Beatles and a league new-comer: Runaway Train. With the Stag Beatles starting off less than full strength they were able to net the first dagger off the initial draw. After regaining full ranks, things got rolling for the Beatles, netting 6 unanswered goals until Runaway Train netted their first, finally settling into a good offensive rotation.
Unfortunately Runaway Train was unable to stop the bleeding, letting up 10 goals in their first outing. Don't count out these guys just yet, with a roster of varsity college talet there's only good things to come and chemistry to build.
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Next up was a matchup of the top 2 teams from last year: The Crabs and the PlayBall Allstars. The talent showcased in this matchup was almost too much to handle. Peter Baum, your 2012 Tewaaraton Trophy Winner, was out in full force, showing why he deserved to be named the greatest player of the 2012 NCAA season.
This one was a game of the goaltenders for much of the first, no one could get anything behind the keeps. Laser after laser, until finally the Crabs dumped one to go up 1-0. Much like the Salisbury, Stevenson game, this one ripped wide-open, with each team echoing the other goal for goal.
As time ticked down in regulation the Crabs took a 8-6 lead into the final two minutes. PlayBall quickly answered with a quick 2, tying it up in the last minute of the game, forcing a rarely seen CroART OT. The 3 minute period was a tight match, both teams fortifying their slides, ultimately running down the clock and hammering out a tie.
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Our final game of the night featured a matchup between a talented North Shore team, and what seems to be the Tufts summer squad, the Peter North Stars. Another great showcase of tallent, featuring two well oiled machines with years of experience together.
Things got off to a quick start, with each side netting a couple a piece, leading into a closely fought matchup by each side's d-unit. Both offenses boasted some great feeding and dodging abilities, but it was the footwork of the d-poles and their quick slides that kept the high powered attack off the keeper's doorstep.
As things got down to the wire Peter North Star's held the lead at 5-4 by a thread. Unfortunately with an aburpt stop to the game the North Shore team didn't have a chance to orchestrate a come back, but the next time they meet there will be some unfinished business left on the table, and it's going to be one heck of a show!
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Overall this was a great first week! We have some great tallent out here this summer, really stepping it up over years past. Keep your eyes out for Runaway Train to gain some chemistry and a solid offensive effort. Can the Crabs and Peter North Stars keep it up and battle it out for top spot, or will the Stag Beatles and North Shore give them a run for their money?
Come out next Monday and check out the action and see for yourself. In the mean time get out there and spend some time on the wall, re-wrap your sticks and keep fighting the good fight.
Want to write about your Divison this summer? contact us lacrosse@croartlacrosse.org and you to can tell your story about the play and action in your division.