Raiders Lacrosse Teams Prepping for Varsity

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys' lacrosse team is closing in on the big  time.

Coach Ken Ellsworth's program is on schedule to join the varsity level next year. The team begins what is likely their last season as a junior varsity team Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Cranford. The team went 4-11 last year.

"The kids went to a bunch of summer camps and played in a winter league in Somerset," said Ellsworth, who teaches ninth and 10th grade math at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

The the popularity of lacrosse, he said, has been growing yearly in the township. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Lacrosse Club has also been vibrant.

"A couple of years ago there were only teams for seventh and eighth grade, now it goes all the way down to the fourth grade," he said. "We have a good feeder program."

As far as the current team, Ellsworth said that there are many skilled players through the ranks.

"From freshmen to seniors," he said.

The captains will be senior Kevin Yeager, junior Jonah Offitzer and sophomore Justin Haas.

"They are all very strong players, strong leaders for the team," Ellsworth said. "Hopefully they will help the program be successful so we can make the leap to the varsity level."

The team's objective this season will be to continue their skills.

"There are a combination of things (that have to happen to be a varsity program)," Ellsworth said. "I don't know exactly what the gist of what we have to do. We have to have the players, and show that we can be competitive on all levels."

Meanwhile, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood girls lacrosse team is ahead of schedule.

The Raiders girls, who will debut as a varsity club in 2011, already played a varsity game last year.

"Our athletic director (Rob Harmer) called and said the Union County Tournament was looking for another team and asked if we wanted to play," said coach Robert Rafferty. "We lost to Cranford 8-0, but the more you play, the better you get."

The Raiders will get their chance at the varsity level soon enough. Now the idea is to build a sturdy program so when they hit the varsity level they'll be more than competitive. Last year, the Raiders went 2-12-1 with both wins coming over Union Catholic High. The team also had a tie with Paramus. Youngsters are able to play lacrosse from the third grade up in the township, so there's a lot of talent coming Rafferty's way. The season begins Thursday, April 1, with a game at home against Union Catholic. The club had three scrimmages before the opener.

"I have a very good core," said Rafferty, adding that 45 girls came out for the program this year. "We have some good athletes at SP-F. We have taught them how to throw, catch and cradle. Now we have kids who have done it for two years. It can only get better."

Sophomore attack Liz Schiller, who led the team in goals last year with 28, is one of the athletes Rafferty speaks of. Schiller is also a basketball player and an Irish step dancer. Sophomore goalie Emma Pearson made 163 saves out of 331 shots last year for a 50 percent save percentage. Sophomore attack Emma Rosen was second in goals with 20 and sophomore Meghan McGrath was third with 12. The co-captains this year are sophomore defenders Paige Della Badia and Meghan Bruckman.