MSHLAX 6th Grade Boys Turn Their Season Around

Most called it a rebuilding year but right around the season's midway mark, the Millburn-Short Hills 6th Grade Lacrosse players decided they had other plans. The team has developed in leaps and bounds in recent weeks and a dismal 2-11 start has given way to a run where the team has lost just twice in its last eight games, both by only a single goal. In the last ten days, the team played to a 3-3 tie at Westfield on May 17 in a hard-fought battle against a couple former teammates. Next up was the Cranford Full Throttle Tournament on Sunday May 19 where the team went 1-2, losing the first two games to West Orange and Clark Youth, each by a score of 4-5 in games marked by far too many penalties.

Coach Howard Shirley lamented, “It was pretty simple: We lost those games on penalties. But we played well and our fundamentals kept us in those games. If we can limit the penalties, good things are going to happen.” It wasn't just Coach Shirley who challenged the team to end on a high note. One of the Attackman promised to dye his hair purple if the team won its final game of the tournament. The team regrouped and ended the tournament with its first shutout of the season, beating Cranford Gold 8-0 while limiting the penalties. The momentum continued into this week with an 8-2 win at Chatham on Tuesday May 21, in a game marked by just one Millburn penalty, a new record for the team.

The new look team is driven in part by a few key position changes as several players were challenged with new roles and have excelled. The defensive unit has expanded to welcome stand out play from Tyler Chmiel (former midfielder), Will Rothstein and Alex Faust (both previously on the attack line). Meanwhile, Sam DiAngelo who previously started at Defense has embraced his role as a midfielder and contributed six goals in just eight games, adding energy on both sides of the field. Alex Faust and Owen Eller have been consummate team players, going where needed on both attack and defense and showing tremendous versatility. Faust has also served as goalkeeper on occasion while finding the inside of the net on attack. Also on the move is Noah Silber who switched from midfielder to attack and has answered the call with six goals in the last five games, including a hat trick over the weekend against Cranford Gold. Rookie goalkeeper Luke Talbert earned his first shutout in that same game and has racked up some impressive saves along the way. These changes and the endless hustle of midfielders Jared Barishaw, Ben Li and Connor O’Neill, and long stick middies Evan Cahn and Jake Roesler have resulted in the team outscoring its opponents 40-24 over its past eight games.

Several veterans have taken this opportunity to improve parts of their own game as well. Defensemen Evan Abraham and Alex Bardello have helped mentor the newer defenders and taken on a more vocal leadership role. Midfielder Jamie Nettune sets the tone for much of the game with his intense level of play. And fellow middies Dylan Ah Now and Ander Berman continue to pack a 1-2 punch with each recording a hat trick in recent games. On attack, Reid Shapiro, Reid Sanders, Ben Schlesinger and Shane Francis have developed into a strong unit that has produced some beautiful assists (and a new purple haircut for one of them!).

“I can’t believe how far this team has come,” said Coach Shirley. “We all saw the potential but figured it would take another year to get these kinds of results. I can’t wait to see where they go from here.”

Up next, the team travels to Cranford on Thursday for a 6pm game at the Walnut Avenue School.

5/17 Westfield statistics: Luke Talbert in goal. Goals: Ander Berman (1), Alex Faust (1), Noah Silber (1)

5/19 West Orange Statistics: Luke Talbert in goal. Goals: Dylan Ah Now (3), Sam DiAngelo (1)

5/19 Clark Youth statistics: Luke Talbert in goal. Goals: Dylan Ah Now (1), Ander Berman (1), Sam DiAngelo (1), Noah Silber (1)

5/19 Cranford Gold statistics: Luke Talbert in goal. Goals: Noah Silber (3), Dylan Ah Now (2), Sam DiAngelo (1), Reid Sanders (1), Reid Shapiro (1)

5/21 Chatham statistics: Luke Talbert in goal. Goals: Ander Berman (3), Dylan Ah Now (2) Jared Barishaw (1), Alex Faust (1), Noah Silber (1)