By Chris Goldberg, TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/20/21
Owen Bosak has gotten used to winning the initial draw at the faceoff X this summer and then fighting off one long pole after another from the wings.
So when he competed Friday at the Victory Events Gold Standard at the Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air, Md., he was happy to see no long sticks on the wings.
“In club games usually they like to long pole me,” said Bosak, a 2023 faceoff specialist from Duke’s LC and Ridley HS (PA). “When we played (brother team) Dukes Young Guns (in the Liberty National Elite final) they had two poles, or even three on me. But Friday I usually had short sticks on the wings so it was easier for me to take it down.”
Bosak, in fact, estimates he scored 12 goals in three showcase games and won nearly all his faceoffs. For his performance, he was named the showcase MVP by the college coaches in attendance.
“I just went in there because a couple schools wanted to get a look at me,” he said.
Bosak said his best attribute is his toughness.
“I think I’m physical,” said Bosak, who was a two-way starter his first two years for Ridley’s football team. “I like groundballs; I don’t think anybody will out-groundball me.”
Bosak said the summer season went well. “I have been trying to play my best. It’s my (rising junior) recruiting year and the team’s been solid. We won a championship and went to the finals in another tourney.”
Bosak missed his freshman year at Ridley due to the lost pandemic year; this year he fared well in the Central League, which featured at least four of the top faceoffs specialists in the region and even the state.
“I took like 230 faceoffs and won 165,” he said. “It (the Central League) honestly made me way better, going against some of the best guys in the state every couple days.”
Bosak also said he has gained great experience by working with coaches John Bodnar and Mike Dolente at the Philly Faceoff League every week.
“That’s obviously made me way better,” he said. “I need to work on the counters and breaking reverse clamps.”
Although Duke’s LC’s summer season is over, Bosak will attend the Under Armour Games in Maryland later this month to compete in the Uncommitted Spotlight event on August 19 he will represent the Philly 2023 team in the I-95 Faceoff Games with Philly Faceoff at Manalapan Township, NJ.
Defensive MVP: Blackhawk/California High (CA) 2022 DEF Marcus Lemmon
Marcus Lemmon, a 2022 defenseman from Blackhawk and California High (CA), had few expectations coming into Friday’s showcase: Just enjoy playing lacrosse. He got more than he bargained form.
“I definitely exceeded my expectations,” said Lemmon. “I just wanted to have fun and get some highlights, but we won all our games and that was sick.
“I don’t think I ever lost a matchup and I had some good clears. I got to know my teammates well and that helped.”
Lemmon said he also learned some tips from the college coaches.
“We learned how to double on picks – which I knew – but they went over it again,” he said. “One time we doubled off a fast break and that was cool.”
What does Lemmon see as his strengths? “Clears and I am good at groundballs on faceoffs,” he said. “And I am good at winning 1-on-1 matchups. “
Where is Lemmon in the recruiting process?
“As of right now I have e-mailed a few coaches, but I am not that far – I am open to whatever,” he said. “I am looking to go to the East Coast. I have family out here, in PA.”