RISING STARS DIVISION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP - DICK'S SPORTING GOODS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS '09
(January 05, 2009)
by Josh Gross
In a national championship tournament, it’s rare for one team to be head-and-shoulders above the competition. But in the rising stars division of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions, the Kanienkehaka Krunch was just that.
Promising “Krunch Time” on the Lacrosse Forums message board, the team from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation certainly delivered.
Heading into the rising stars division Toyota Championship Bracket, the Krunch had won every one of its game by double-digits, just as it had in the Beach Blast fall qualifier. And once the playoffs began, it was business as usual for the Garrett Cree-coached team.
A 14-3 victory over the Connecticut Cardinals in the quarterfinals was followed by a 17-2 win over the Tampa Tribe, last year’s rising stars division runner-up.
On the opposite side of the bracket, the Copperheads (Ga.) defeated Black Dog Lacrosse (British Columbia), 9-4 in the first round. Meanwhile, Team Georgia knocked off the Chicago Select All-Stars, 11-3, setting up an inner-state semifinal match-up between the Copperheads and Team Georgia.
In a tightly-contested Sunday morning game, the Copperheads prevailed, 6-4, behind a balanced scoring attack. Sophomore attackman led his team with two goals in the semifinal, while sophomore attackmen Jonathan DeBole and Michael Thomas and junior midfielders John Avent and Josh Roche chipped in one goal apiece. Team Georgia sophomore attackman Nathan Bohnhoff and junior midfielder William Waters each scored twice in the loss.
Crowds gathered at Toyota Championship Field 2 to watch the rising stars national championship, and to see if the Copperheads had what it takes to beat the seemingly unstoppable Krunch.
And in “Krunch Time,” the favorites saved their best for last. A 19-4 victory by the Krunch put an exclamation point on the Krunch’s impressive run through the bracket. Goal scorers for the national champions included junior Miles Thompson (4g, 2 a), junior Hank Delisle (4g, 1a), freshman Seth Oakes (4g, 1a), sophomore Lyle Thompson (2g, 3a), and freshmen Zachary Hopps (2), Ky Tarbell (1), Austin Cavendar (1), and Tokwirishon Goodleaf (1). Sophomores Cameron Simpson and Randal Seymour assisted on two of the team’s goals.
For the Copperheads, Thomas was the lone multi-goal scorer with two, while sophomores Scotty Smith (attack) and Tyler Botts (midfielder) scored one each.
With the victory, the Krunch earned an automatic bid to next year’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions. The Krunch have the option to defend its rising stars title or to move up to the elite division. It is expected that the Krunch will compete in the elite division, although the team’s final plans have yet to be revealed.
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