ATLANTA ELITE - DICK'S SPORTING GOODS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS TEAM PREVIEW
(December 24, 2008)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Head Coach: Greg Kacinko
Established: 2008
Colors: Light blue, black & white
Qualified at: Charlotte Lacrosse Fall Classic
by Danielle Findley
For the Atlanta Elite lacrosse team, chemistry will be the name of the game as it prepares to compete in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions.
“We put this team together knowing we wanted it to be the best in the southeast and Georgia,” says head coach Greg Kacinko. “We didn’t want to put this team together, practice once and just go to the tournament. We wanted to get them to practice together and have time to prepare to compete.”
As a senior midfielder for the Limestone College men’s lacrosse team, Kacinko has been able to use his own experience as a lacrosse player to better prepare his team for the competition they will face in Florida and at the college level.
“He’s playing the game now so he knows what will work, what won’t work, [and] new strategies that might help us win a game,” says defenseman Wes Goldsberry (Harrison H.S.). “He understands where we’re coming from and what it takes to get to the college level. Older coaches might not understand why we do certain things, but he knows exactly what we’re going through.”
Kacinko’s playing experience has also influenced his team’s laid-back style of play.
“Depending on who’s on the field, he’ll tell us to just try and create a good match-up,” says midfielder Jordan McLean (The Lovett School). “We usually just try to get someone to come off a screen or slide and get him the ball.”
For this team, the goals heading into the national championship are very simple.
“Our team goal is to win as many games as possible, but more than anything we’re just looking to have fun,” says attackman Stuart Dodd (Lovett). “There’s going to be a lot of really good teams there, so it’s a good chance to show what kind of players Georgia has to offer.”
Atlanta Elite will take on the Connecticut Seminoles and Greene Turtle O.C. (Md.) in the Prius pool in Toyota Pool Play on the opening day of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions. Click here for the complete tournament schedule.
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