BOYS LACROSSE NOTEBOOK: Seniors have Sun Valley making some noise

By JON CAMPBELL jcampbell@delcotimes.com (article courtesy the Daily Times on 4/10/09)

Kyle Garzia saw it coming.

Upon stepping onto the practice field for the first day of practice this spring, the Sun Valley coach looked around and saw the same faces he said goodbye to at the close of the last season.

Bobby Clemens and Frank Jackson were there, as were Donnie Krausse and Matt Remner. The only face that wasn’t covered with a helmet that day was Steve Christy, the injured senior who is likely lost for the season.

Christy was the team’s leading scorer from a 2008 campaign that saw the Vanguards go 8-10, but finish strong with seven wins in their final nine games. The way the team closed, combined with the fact that no seniors were lost to graduation gave Garzia plenty of reason to remain positive.

Being in the Ches-Mont League offered the Vanguards new life. Three weeks in, the crew that was picked to finish near the bottom of the standings is off to a 6-3 start, with a 2-1 showing in the league. That run is good enough to have them in the seven slot in this week’s Super 7.

“These seniors who were starting since their freshman year have taken the time to move us up in the pack,” Garzia said. “Teams are taking notice to us this year and that is nice. It is not often that you play a game on Saturday night at Sun Valley and have other league coaches in attendance (scouting) us. These kids are getting the respect they deserve.”

Josh Lovelace and Kyle Lord are playing solid defense in front of goalie Tyler Brun, but it’s been that offense that has made the Vanguards dangerous.

Leading a balanced attack is Krausse with 22 goals. Clemens and Remner each had 15 goals through Wednesday, while Frank Jackson has checked in with 14 scores.

“In the past, the Sun Valley philosophy was to get the ball into the stick of the best player,” Garzia said. “This year, we have six dodgers and everyone is capable of scoring.”