Bandits - no longer way out front. In the pack with everyone else. 3-2 yesterday in the championship game against S2S. S2S dominated the first half. All of a sudden they bring in a kid who has a completely different helmet, no name on the back of his jersey, and he wins every single face-off and they control the whole 2nd half and win 7-2. This kid didn't step on the field in the first half. Seems a little fishy JS? Typical 91...
HBs - good solid team. AJ doing the right thing. This team will be better because of it and the players will become better lacrosse players. Let BM go someplace else - it won't be long before he wears out his welcome there as well. This team does not need BM.
Igloo - coaches are jerks. Some good talent though. Beat the Bandits and are definitely in the top group. 1 or 2 defections and they are done. 1 or 2 additions and they are really good.
S2S - first year program that has impressed. Only losses this season were to HBs, Laxachusetts Black and yesterday to Bandits. 100% in this group.
Laxachusetts Black - basically a 3 man team - goalie, big lefty (if he is 11 god bless him - looks like he is 14) and the lefty attackman. Good coaching and they play hard.
Crabs - won Young Guns beating Igloo by 1. Not sure what other tournaments they play in but sure seems like they are ducking the competition. Not sure why - knowing the crabs organization, I'm sure all the 2023 kids drive themselves to the tournaments...
On the cusp:
Brothery Love - brought in 2 guest players yesterday in the playoffs - different color shorts, the coaches and kids on their own team didn't know their names - comical to hear the coach call out a play and have the kids say he doesn't know it! Funny how those 2 didn't play in the consolation game - guess it didn't matter. This team is good - don't resort to cheating. Work to get better.
91 Warriors - didn't hide. Played everyone. Really challenged themselves. Results weren't great but they definitely got better because of it.
Bethesda - beat HBs, smoked by Laxachusetts, but solid. Can play with anyone.
Just curious to see why Duke's Nationals isn't in this list? At Patriot Games yesterday they lost a 1 goal championship to Igloo and at Lehigh in June they lost the championship in OT to S2S after having soundly beaten S2S in pool play.
They're good. But, I think because they are just a mishmash of a bunch of kids that play on other travel clubs, they're not considered a true team. Considering that "hired guns" model, they should actually be substantially better than they are. Plus, video camera dad is so irratating that everyone hates the team.
I will fully admit to being a father of one of the "hired guns" and can tell you that the boys get together once a month for mini-camp practices and work very hard to try to be as cohesive as possible. The overall experience for the boys seems to be one that they very much appreciate. Plus the quality play is quite high.
I find it hard to understand how people wouldn't see them as a "true team", but to each their own, I guess.
