By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 4/1/13
After dominating its California competition in the season’s first month, Carondelet (CA) faced two national powers last week from Virginia and Pennsylvania.
And the Cougars’ coach, Rick Jeffery, was pleased to see his squad match up well against No. 17 Radnor (PA) in a 10-9 loss and hold its own for a while against No. 2 St. Stephen’s & St Agnes (VA) in a 19-7 defeat.
Carondelet (7-2), a two-time Northern California champion, was within one goal (4-3) 10 minutes into Thursday’s game vs. St. Stephen’s. The Saints (7-0) then scored eight of the next nine goals in the half to secure a 12-4 lead, but Jeffery was pleased to see his team execute well against one of the nation’s top teams.
“They have 12 impact (Division I) players on that team and we were only down 4-3 with 15 minutes left in the half,” he said. “I was happy. Madison (Castelein) did a great job of face-guarding All-American Carly Reed (North Carolina signee). Their coach (Kathy Jenkins) said it was the best job anyone has done on her.”
For Carondelet, Kerianne Hunt (Brown) had three goals while Morgan Castelein (Ohio State) and Erin Jeffery (Hofstra) added two apiece.
For St. Stephen’s, Margaret Tucker Fogarty fired in six goals, Reed had four and Besser Dyson (Virginia) had a goal and nine assists.
“We can only benefit by playing a team like this,” said Jeffery, whose Cougars are listed as Under Consideration in this week’s TopLaxRecruits Rankings. “We watched the way they prepare, their pre-game routine and how their defense makes slide so effectively. They do their packages and still they keep their footwork, and they do such a good job in transition.
“Our girls can get away with certain things here in California. But competing against the top teams, we know what we need to do to get to the next level. We have to work harder.”
Against Radnor, Carondelet allowed the final three goals in the closing minutes.
Sara Curley scored the game-winner as Radnor notched the game’s final three goals. Grace Collins made 13 saves for the Red Raiders while Shannon Quinn scored four goals and Brooke Pancoast had two goals and two assists. Radnor held the Cougars scoreless for the final 16 minutes of play.
Carondelet’s Erin Jeffery led all scorers with four goals and three assists.
“It was back-and-forth all the way through,” said Jeffery. “Their goalie was awfully good. We had not played against that type of competition; we weren’t tested all year and we forced the ball a little too much.
“We are getting better and better and girls here are playing at a younger age,” said Jeffery, who credits the BearLax club program for helping develop players in the region.”
Carondelet has eight D1 players – seniors Hunt, Castelein, Jeffery, goalie Katie Merritt (San Diego State), defender Danielle Sanchez (Fresno State), attack Cali Castagnola (Colorado), attack Molly Kuptz (St. Mary’s) and junior Castelin.
Jeffery began coaching many of the players on his team when his daughter was in 4th grade.
“I started coaching when my daughters were growing up and lots of her friends started playing,” he said. “I think the chemistry we’ve had since they’ve all been playing together in youth and BearLax have really helped.
“This is typical of what happens back East when girls play together for many years through club and school. Our girls are all very motivated and many of them are seniors now.
“It’s been phenomenal and I am trying to be the best coach I can be. I have gone to the college practices at (Stanford) with coach Amy Bokker (a US National team assistant) and we’ve picked up some concepts and philosophies from their practices.
“Our girls are just now playing the real high lacrosse IQ to execute these skills. I think we see it every year when we take BearLax back East to play in tournaments. We are doing better and better against the programs like STEPS and M&D and Skywalkers. We are hanging in there and eventually we knew it would trickle down to the high schools.”
The TopLaxRecruits North America Girls’ Rankings
1. McDonogh School, Md. (7-0) Prev: No. 1
2. St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Va. (7-0) Prev: No. 2
3. St. Anthony’s, N.Y. (1-0) Prev: No. 3
4. Bryn Mawr, Md. (3-1) Prev: No. 4
5. Moorestown, N.J. (0-0) Prev: No. 5
6. Garden City N.Y. (3-0) Prev: No. 8
7. Bay Shore, N.Y. (0-0) Prev: No. 7
8. Milton, Ga. (6-1) Prev: No. 9
9. Shoreham Wading River N.Y. (1-0) Prev: No. 10
10. Georgetown Visitation, D.C. (5-0) Prev: No. 11
11. Mt. Hebron, Md. (3-0) Prev: No. 12
12. Marriotts Ridge, Md. (3-0) Prev: No. 13
13. West Genesee, N.Y. (1-0) Prev: No. 14
14. Manhasset, N.Y. (2-0) Prev: NR
15. Chatham, N.J. (0-0) Prev: No. 15
16. C.M. Wright, Md. (3-0), Prev: No. 19
17. Mendham, N.J. (0-0) Prev: No. 17
18. Radnor, Pa. (1-0) Prev: No. 20
19, Conestoga, Pa. (2-0) Prev: NR
20. Farmingdale, N.Y. (1-0): Prev: NR
Under Consideration: Carondelet, Ca., (7-2); Century, Md. (3-1); Cherry Creek, Co. (3-0); Hauppauge, N.Y. (1-0); Maryvale Prep, Md. (3-1); Northport, N.Y. (1-0); Ridgewood, N.J. (0-0); Sayville, N.Y. (3-0); St. Paul’s School, MD (2-2); Vero Beach, Fla. (11-4); Westwood, Mass. (0-0).