By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 11/11/21
Team KC claimed its first high school-aged tournament championship Sunday in the Victory Events Cowboy Cup at Plano, TX, claiming the HS Division 1 crown with a 6-3 triumph over Allen Eagles LC.
Team KC Lacrosse was formed in 2017 by Rockhurst University men’s coaches Kevin Kelley, Brenden Surface and Cam McCulley to service the growing Kansas City area. McCulley said the program overcame the challenge of the lost COVID 2020 season by creating a summer league for players in Kansas City from their club and surrounding clubs.
“One thing that led to our success was creating the summer league, something we needed after the high school season was canceled,” said McCulley. “We had 80 kids practicing three times a week and then the four coaches would each have a team so they could play games on Thursdays. We also filmed the games.
“This past summer we had four teams with 25 players each. The guys have been playing together now for a couple years and they were pumped to win this tournament.”
Team KC – which made the long trip south to Plano – finished the tourney at 4-0-1 overall. Head coach Will Garrett said Team KC’s strengths were at midfield, the faceoff X and in goal.
“We competed very well,” said Garrett, who is the head coach at Benedictine College in Kansas and coaches alongside Robbie McCarthy with Team KC. “I thought our transition and our clearing was strong. A lot of times in tournaments clearing is a total disaster, but we were really solid all day.
“We have a couple guys who can go in and score and we won the possession battles. Our goals are simple – we want to develop Kansas City kids into elite-level players and help them get recruited to play in college.”
Team KC was led by 2022 midfielder Lars Yarkoski (Blue Valley North, Rockhurst commit), faceoff specialist Henry Kemp (Rockhurst High, 2023), defenseman Ryan Kumer (Pembroke Hill), midfielder Evan Wyatt (Pembroke Hill, 2023), midfielder Cooper Goss (Rockhurst High) and goalie Santo Monachino (Northland). Monachino had shutouts in both his halves in the final two games.
Rockwall (TX) wins Girls’ Division 1 championship; Kingwood Ladies Lacrosse takes Division II crown
Rockwall LC (TX) claimed the Cowboy Cup girls’ Division 1 title with a 14-7 victory over Westlake (TX) in the finals. Kingwood Ladies Lacrosse (TX) captured the Division II championship with an 8-5 win over Legend Gold.
Rockwall coach Gill Goodsell said her team, which draws from Rockwall High and surrounding areas, had a perfect ending to the Fall season.
“We work so well as a team,” she said. “I think they played their best in this tournament. They came together as a team, utilizing everyone’s talents with passing and dynamic play. I am super proud of them.”
Rockwall, who downed Coppell Cowgirls, 9-7, in the semifinals, went 6-0 overall. Goodsell credited these players with strong performances:
*Goalie Kaelyn Goodwin (Rockwall High, 2024), who played all six games.
*Top goal scorers Hailey Morgan (Rockwall High, 2022), Emma Santoro (Rockwall High, 2024) and Danielle Iadanza (Rockwall High, 2025) and top playmaker and twin sister Courtney Iadanza (Rockwall High, 2025).
*Jadyn Coleman (Rockwall High, 2022, Delaware State commit), Emily Leal (Rockwall High, 2022, Quincy commit) made all-around contributions.
