TLR

By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/20/18

FREDERICA, Del. – Shaye Backus said it was clear why her Metro New York team claimed the girls’ High School championship Thursday at the National Lacrosse Classic at the Delaware Turf Sports Complex.

“Some of us had played together, but most of us haven’t,” she said, “I think we played so well because we all played like a team and played together and no one was selfish.”

Metro NY toppled Michigan, 8-4, to win its first NLC title. The Metro team was comprised mostly of players from the Hudson Valley and other schools north of Manhattan, four from Long Island, two from Upstate NY and one player each from Connecticut and New Jersey. The squad went 7-0 and outscored its foes 52-18.

“It was great setting up each other for plays,” said Kelsey McDonnell (Yorktown, 2020 MF/ATT). “We had a lot of speed and it was fun watching each other succeed. We jelled together well.”

McDonnell (3 goals), Shaye Backus (2 goals, South Side, 2019 ATT), Sophia Iaccino (1 goal, St. Anthony’s 2019 ATT), Brooke Marotti (Immaculate Heart Academy-NJ, 2021 MF/ATT, chosen as All-Star), and Alexa Theander (1 goal, Jupiter-FL, 2020 MF/ATT) led the Metro attack in the title game. Meanwhile goalies Marissa Cuevas (Sachem East, 2019, chosen as an All-Star) and Maddison Apap (Valley Central) were standouts all tourney.

Other All-Stars were Marissa Cuevas (Sachem East, 2019), Noelle Demarinis (Somers-NY, 2021 MF), Amelia D’Urso Blue (John Jay-NY, 2019 DEF), Gianna Scialdone (Lakeland-NY, 2019 DEF) and Marina Souza (Brewster-NY< 2019 ATT).

“I give a little speech at the start and tell them that the first kid that goes 1-on-3 gets taken out,” said Metro NY coach Kevin Backus. “It’s not about ‘me’ – it’s about playing together and having fun.

“The recruiters are looking for kids that are team players. That puts it into perspective and immediately takes all the pressure off them. Some of these girls have played for my club team (The 300 out of the Hudson Valley) and they were patient and treated their teammates with respect. There was not one showboat player.”

Backus also credited the goalies – Cuevas and Maddison Apap (Valley Central-NY, 2019) and the Metro NY defense.

“The goalies were fantastic,” he said. “And the real shell was the defense, which kind of went overlooked. When you allow just 18 goals in seven games, between the goalies and the defense – there were times the opposing team couldn’t get a shot off for a whole quarter.”

Shaye Backus (South Side, 2019 ATT), niece of coach Backus, said the NLC is the perfect capper to the summer season.

“It’s really good exposure; we got to play a lot of good teams,” she said. “This is my third year playing in the tournament, and no matter where I go around the country I see girls from other teams and everyone knows each other. Everyone says hi.”

McDonnell said that playing players from regions around the country is special: “You learn from the competition and you have to adapt to what they are giving you,” she said. “You have a lot of fun with the team and make mekories.”

“I think everyone benefits by being exposed to players from different states,” said Iaccino. “That’s huge. When you are on the island, you only play players from the island. Seeing competition from states around the country is good because eventually you are going to college and will play other people.”

The team:
Erin Clark 1 D 2020 Hendrick Hudson, NY
Brooke Marotti 2 M/A 2021 Immaculate Heart Academy, NJ
Fiona McGovern 3 A 2021 Hendrick Hudson, NY
Marissa Cuevas 4 G 2019 Sachem East, NY
Sophia Iaccino 5 A 2019 St. Anthony’s. NY
Daniela Muscari 6 A 2019 Millbrook School, NY
Kacie Scarduzio 7 M/A 2021 Ossining, NY
Alexa Theander 8 M/A 2020 Jupiter, FL
Shania Roehrich 9 M 2019 The Storm King School, NY
Jillian Mello 11 D 2019 Kellenberg Memorial, NY
Noelle Demarinis 12 M 2021 Somers, NY
Amelia D’Urso 14 D 2019 John Jay, NY
Kelsey McDonnell 15 M/A 2020 Yorktown, NY
Marina Souza 16 A 2019 Brewster, NY
Marisa Shorrock New York 17 M/A 2020 Staples, CT
Kira Varada 18 M 2021 Hendrick Hudson, NY
Shaye Backus 19 A 2019 South Side, NY
Gianna Scialdone 21 D 2019 Lakeland, NY
Maddison Apap 22 G 2019 Valley Central, NY