Under Armour Uncommitted Games: Four players from around country enjoyed the experience

By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/8/13

TOWSON, Md. – It may seem strange for someone to travel from Chicago to Towson to play in just one lacrosse game for an hour.

Not Jenny Thompson.

The New Trier (Ill.) rising junior attack was happy to participate in Saturday’s 2015 Uncommitted Girls’ Game at Towson University. One game was played for each of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 classes for boys and girls for the first time this year at the Under Armour Games as dozens of college coaches had the chance to see players from around the country in between the Underclassmen Games.

“It was totally worth it,” said Thompson, whose high school team reached the state semifinals this year. “They kinda think because we’re form the Midwest that we’re not as good as everybody.

“A lot of my friends are on the (Midwest) Under Armour team and I spend all my day with them. This is my only game. I thought, ‘Is it worth it”; But I came here to prove the Midwest can bring it.”

Thompson fared well, dishing several assists and making a number of clears.

“I think I played pretty well,” she said. “Usually I play attack, but they wanted me at midfield. I just wanted them to know that girls from the Midwest like Chicago and Michigan and Minnesota can play. Maybe they can get used to playing with us.”

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Another 2015 player, Georgetown Visitation goalie Mary Cole, said she enjoyed the game.

“I feel I played well,” she said “I was really excited to come to the tournament with girls coming from all over the country. It was a really cool experience and opportunity. I was honored to be here.”

Cole, whose booming voice was heard all over the field said her team (White) meshed well.

“We meshed quickly and you wouldn’t have thought that would happen,” she said.

Did she notice all the college coaches in attendance?

“After so (many tournaments), I feel like you have to forget about it and play the best you can,” she said. “You have to play like it’s another game.”

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No one came further to compete than Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, CA) 2015 attackman Cole Wolfson, who admitted the heat (well over 100 degree index) on the Johnny Unitas Stadium turf was brutal.

“It was good until the fourth quarter,” he said. “Being from California, I am not used to this kind of humidity.

“It was a completely different game in that climate. I thought I played pretty well. I had a few assists and few good groundballs, but in the fourth quarter I kind of shut down.”

Wolfson said he was on the East Coast with his Trilogy team, which was competing at a tourney in Boston.

“I have to leave and get back up to catch up with my team,” he said. “But I thought this was more important to come here to Baltimore. It was fun; I think it was a great opportunity.”

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Allen Thibodeau, a 2015 LSM from Fairport (Rochester) in Upstate New York, also had to get used to the heat.

“Being from Rochester, this was pretty extreme,” he said. “But the competition was better than most tournaments I have been to and it’s going to make me better as a player.

Did he notice all the college coaches in attendance?

“Mentally, I tried to block them out not get too nervous,” he said. “I wanted to focus on how I played. I feel I did alright. I enjoyed getting to play with other players.”