By Chris Goldberg & Justin Farrell
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 11/3/14
RADNOR, Pa. – Sweet Lax (N.Y.) goalie Jake Santini said the best part of Sunday’s Quaker Fall LaxFest was meshing with his new teammates.
“I just liked having fun with my team,” he said. “They are like my family. It’s my first year with SweetLax and it’s starting off really great.”
Santini, of Fairport High, was one of many than shined Sunday in a 30-team tourney that drew more than 100 coaches to Radnor High School. His SweetLax 2017 squad went 2-1 against a strong field, winning over Mesa Fresh and NXT before bowing to Leading Edge.
“All the teams here are great,” he said. “We just try to practice hard and work hard.”
Santini said keeping your confidence up is key when playing against top competition “You can never get your head down. You just keep working hard and make as many saves as possibly. We spend a lot of time on shooting in practice and that helps at the end of the game.”
What type of college is Santini aiming for?
“I want to be a Business major and go to a good college,” he said. “It’s great if I can play lacrosse, but whatever I get is fine as long as I get a good education.”
See story from Sunday on players that shined
Others that shined Sunday:
Matt Erfle, 2017 DEF, ManUp (PA), West Chester East
How was the competition and what did you do to raise your game to the high level?
Erfle: “In our first game we started off slowly; then we picked it up and really came together as a team and did well.”
What did you learn about your game today that will help you for the rest of the fall and moving into the spring?
Erfle: “You have got to play smart and calm and keep your focus.”
What were your individual goals today and what went well for you?
Erfle: “I have always wanted to play D1 lacrosse. But I really just want to have fun and play with my friends. It’s our first time together.”
What type of college are you looking for, academically and lacrosse-wise?
Erfle: “I am trying to go Ivy League; that would be pretty cool. I just want to play D1 lacrosse.”
Jacob Buttermore, 2017 MF, Mesa Fresh (PA), Garnet Valley
How was the competition and what did you do to raise your game to the high level?
Buttermore: “There was a lot of good competition. SweetLax (which edged Mesa, 7-5 on two late goals) was a great team and we battled back and forth. This was our first time playing in a fall tournament. We had a couple practices and we’ll get get better as the fall goes and then into the summer.”
What did you learn about your game today that will help you for the rest of the fall and moving into the spring?
Buttermore: “You never put your head down. You keep playing and if you make a bad play you get back in the hole and keep playing and get the ball back for the team.”
What were your individual goals today and what went well for you?
Buttermore: “You see the coaches there, but you forget about it and just play as a team and play together. We’re all best friends and we all hang out together.”
What type of college are you looking for, academically and lacrosse-wise?
Buttermore: “I am looking for a high academic school and playing four years of lacrosse.”
Miles Thompson, 2018 G, Tri-State, Lawrenceville School (NJ)
How was the competition and what did you do to raise your game to the high level?
Thompson: “We have played against these teams before and it is high level competition. It really made us work together as a team and work together as a team.”
What were your individual goals today and what went well for you?
Thompson: “I am a goalie so seeing the ball with these high level competition shots was a big goal for me.”
What did you learn about your game today that will help you for the rest of the fall and moving into the spring?
Thompson: “Just keep on seeing the ball and getting back into the game.”
What type of college are you looking for, academically and lacrosse-wise?
Thompson: “Currently I am not talking to anyone and just want to get myself out there. I like the Ivy League schools and I am just looking at those right now.”
Drew Rafferty, 2016 ATT, HEADstrong Blue, Downingtown East
How was the competition and what did you do to raise your game to the high level?
Rafferty: “Philly Elite is a good team and they are a rival to us because we are in the same area. I thought we came out with a lot of intensity, but they just outplayed us.”
What were your individual goals today and what went well for you?
Rafferty: “I wanted to look for open looks and feed as much as possible. However, you have to an individual approach and dodge first and look to score and if they slide look for the open man on the crease.”
What did you learn about your game today that will help you for the rest of the fall and moving into the spring?
Rafferty: “I think the dodging aspect, especially for my high school. We like to dodge first and then look and to be able to work on that in club ball is great for preparing me and my team for spring.”
What type of college are you looking for, academically and lacrosse-wise?
Rafferty: “I am primarily looking for a school that is a top academic school and if lacrosse can help me get in there, that’s great. However, I am not going to sacrifice my academics if I have to drop and play at a lower (division) school.”
Colin Cahill, 2016 ATT, Phillie Elite, La Salle
How was the competition and what did you do to raise your game to the high level?
Cahill: “It is great competition when you play against better kids, it forces you to become a better player. You really improve as a player, so it has been a great experience.”
What were your individual goals today and what went well for you?
Cahill: “I didn’t have a number in mind but wanted to swing the ball and find the open man for a dunk goal.”
What did you learn about your game today that will help you for the rest of the fall and moving into the spring?
Cahill: “Working hard and moving the ball as quick as possible. You generate more goals when you play as a team and with six men on offense and not one. Moving the ball quick and finding the man on the crease is a lot easier then trying to dodge and go through guys. If my team and I can do that it will be a great season.”
What type of college are you looking for, academically and lacrosse-wise?
Cahill: “Academics are always No. 1. 1and if I can play lacrosse there that’s great.”