By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 4/13/13
HAVERFORD, Pa. – After an 0-3 start, the Haverford School lacrosse team has begun to come of age.
The host Fords won their seventh straight game today, defeating New England power Salisbury School (CT), 13-11, before a large crowd at the 5th Annual “Checking for Cancer” Nike Invitational.
The game was one of four boys’ games and nine overall played in an event to raise awareness for three men’s cancers: Prostate, Colorectal and Testicular. Haverford’s head coach, John Nostrant, is a Prostate cancer survivor and a founder of the invitational.
Nostrant, a member of the Eastern PA Chapter of the US Hall of Fame, has been forced to work hard this year rebuilding a team that features many freshmen and sophomore regulars as well as juniors that had played little varsity lacrosse.
The Fords started out 0-3 against top MIAA teams, but then defeated MIAA foe McDonogh, 6-5, and has seemingly improved every game since.
Today the Haverford kids looked impressive as the Fords (7-3) led from start to finish against a Salisbury (2-1) team ranked No. 3 by Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse and No. 9 by TopLaxRecruits.com.
Sophomore attackman Grant Ament (Penn State commit) had three goals to lead a balanced offense while junior midfielder Peter Blynn had two goals and three assists, sophomore midfielder Drew Supinski (Johns Hopkins) and senior attackman Reilly Hupfeldt (Penn) each had two goals and an assist and senior attackman Gavin McBride (Princeton) had two goals.
Senior attackman Kerry Kynett (Ursinus) and sophomore midfielder Phil Poquie added a goal each while freshman midfielder Dox Aitken dished two assists. Senior Jake Landman has six saves, but several were key when Salisbury drew within one three times in the middle quarters.
Due to heavy graduation and injuries, Haverford normally uses no more than six seniors in its regular lineup.
“We’re all playing together and playing unselfishly,” said Ament. “Basically, that’s what we have been needing to do. We are winning the little plays; the stuff in the middle third of the field – groundballs and guts plays.
“Jake Landman is playing outstanding. I just think we bought into what the coaches were saying. They are great coaches. Being so young we didn’t have the experience at first. Now we’re going strong and hopefully we can keep it up.”
Ament said the Fords have a little extra motivation each year at Checking for Cancer.
“Coach Nostrant always lets us know what we’re going for,” he said. “We know the tournament is for people we can help. It gives us a little extra bump if we can get the ‘W’ for coach.”
Salisbury was led by Nick Weston (3 goals, two assists, Syracuse signee), Ryan Simmons (three goals, one assist, Syracuse signee), Shane Simpson (one goal, five assists, North Carolina signee), Graham Dabbs (two goals, Navy commit) and Connor O’Hara (two goals).
“I know they are young, but I think they have grown up pretty quickly this year,” said Salisbury coach Bobby Wynee of Haverford. “I was disappointed in the result, but proud of our kids’ effort.
“Hopefully, we’ll learn from this. This is a special day. Our kids were very excited to be involved – hopefully one day we’ll get another shot at them. It’s nice to come down here and be a part of something like this. I think our kids represented us well.
Haverford School (PA) 13, Salisbury School (CT) 11
Haverford School 3-3-2-5- 13
Salisbury 1-3-2-5- 11
Haverford School
Reilly Hupfeldt 2g, 1a
Gavin McBride 2g
Grant Ament 3g
Peter Blynn 2g, 3a
Drew Supinski 2g, 1a
Kerry Kynett 1g
Dox Aitken 2a
Phil Poquie 1g
Jake Landman 6 saves
Salisbury School
Graham Dabbs 2g
Shane Simpson 1g, 5a
Nick Weston 3g, 2a
Ryan Simmons 3g, 1a
Connor O’Hara 2g
Boone Givens 5 saves