By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 1/9/13
Alex Shoemaker said his USA teammates were determined to uphold a winning tradition when it aimed for the Brogden Cup last weekend in the North American lacrosse competition in Orlando.
“We enjoyed so much success mainly because we wanted to carry on the tradition of the past USA teams winning the cup,” said the Irondequoit senior goalie after Rochester, representing USA, won the title for the second straight year and third overall with a 2-0 sweep of Canada.
“It was nice to be with all of the Rochester kids and show people how dominant the upstate lacrosse programs really are.
Rochester won the title in the best-of-three series Friday and Saturday with 23-5 and 8-4 wins over a Canadian team from Ontario at Austin Tindall Park. This meaningful and historic North American competition was held in partnership with the Central Florida Sports Commission and presented by Gatorade through Level 2 Sports.
Rochester qualified to represent the United States by winning the Brine National Lacrosse Classic last summer in Maryland. The Ontario (Oshawa) team is comprised of the top players from the Ontario Junior Men’s Field Lacrosse League.
Rochester has won the crown three of five years as the US representative and competed four of the five years the event has been held as a High School championship. (See Sunday’s game story roundup.)
The Brogden Cup is an event promoting international fellowship between the United States of America and Canada. Dating back a generation before Major League Lacrosse, the Brogden Cup was formally played between the top post-collegiate club teams and players in North America. The tournament has seen such greats as Gary and Paul Gait, and Dave Pietramala.
“We can all look back and be proud of such a big accomplishment in our lacrosse careers because not everyone gets the opportunity to compete in tournaments like that in high school,” said Shoemaker, who has committed to Brockport State.
Added Penn Yan junior attackman Bradley Voight (committed to Syracuse).
“We were successful because we had great coaches, and every player on the team wanted to win,” he said. “We played very well together as a team even though a lot of us never played together before.\
“The best part of the tournament was definitely winning the cup, but also getting to hang out with all my teammates from team Rochester down in Florida.”
Voight heard about the Brogden Cup last year: “I remember seeing a couple players from Section 5 last year playing and winning the Brogden Cup. It looked like a great event.
“I was very excited to play in it this year and looking back it was awesome and a great experience and I will be participating in it again next year without a doubt.”
Irondequoit senior midfielder Eli Kenney summed it up: “We played really well as a team. It was a lot of fun and a once in a lifetime experience.”
In Game 1 on Friday, Rochester bolted to a 6-2 first-quarter lead and led 12-3 at halftime. Senior John Vakiener (Fairport) and junior Trevor Hodgins (Gates-Chili High, committed to Ohio State) each had four goals and an assist and senior Austin Nadeau (Proctor Academy, NH) scored three times while senior Maximus Maxwell (Hamburg, UMBC) had a goal and three assists.
In Saturday’s second game, the game was much tighter as Ontario seized a 2-1 first-quarter edge. But Rochester led, 4-3, at halftime and pulled away in the second half for the 8-4 clincher.
Maxwell – who also played on last year’s title team – had three goals and an assist to pace the attack and Vakiener had a goal and an assist.
BROGDEN CUP
USA – Rochester (NY)
L.NAME F.NAME POS JERSEY HOMETOWN PROVINCE HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTED
Arcarese Joe D 9 Fairport Ny Fairport
Brooks Benjamin A 1 Rochester Ny Irondequoit
Burdette James D 14 Penn Yan Ny Penn Yan Albany
Deakin James D 10 Clarence Ny St. Joseph’s
Hodgins Trevor M 16 Spencerport Ny Churchville Chili Ohio State
Hollfelder Christian D 11 Hamburg Ny Hamburg
Hubert Michael A 2 Williamsville Ny St. Joesph’s Clarkson
Kaser Matthew A 3 Spencerport Ny Spencerport
Kenney Eli M 17 Rochester Ny West Irondequoit Cortland
Kimmins Nicholas D 12 Fairport Ny Penfield Univ of Hartford
Lopez Sam D 25 Rochester Ny Irondequoit
Maciejewski Brandon G 15 Penn Yan Ny Penn Yan
Maxwell Maximus M 18 Hamburg Ny Hamburg UMBC
Nadeau Austin M 19 Walpole Ma Proctor
Pincus Cameron D 13 Rochester Ny Pittsford
Quinzi Stephen A 4 Pittsford Ny Pittsford
Reeves Ben A 5 Macedon Ny Palmyra Macedon Hobart
Ricci Steven M 20 Rochester Ny Pittsford Nazareth
Richards Derek A 6 Rochester Ny Hilton Mercyhurst
Schoeneck Andrew A 7 Fairport Ny Penfield Bellarmine
Seminara Jack M 21 Clarence Ny Canisius
Shoemaker Alex G 24 Rochester Ny West Irondequoit Brockport State
Tokar Jon-Michael M 22 Big Flats Ny Corning
Vakiener John M 23 Penfield Ny Fairport Binghampton
Voigt Bradley A 8 Penn Yan Ny Penn Yan Syracuse