U.S. lacrosse team stomps Northwest college all-stars

The popularity of lacrosse in the Northwest has led to more and more high school players going on to play in college. That popularity brought Team USA’s U-19 national team to Mercer Island Sunday for a clinic and an exhibition game against the Northwest college All-Stars.

Although the 21-2 final score was a bit lopsided, former Eastside high school players such as Taylor Platt and Tyler Lee were happy to give the five-time defending world champions a workout.

“They have quite a few amazing players,” said Platt, who graduated from Bellevue High School in 2007. “This was a great experience and fun to represent Washington.”

The 90-degree heat in the stands didn’t deter the more than 200 kids from around the area who attended the U-19 clinic from staying around to watch the game. But the heat in the stands was nothing compared to the heat on the field turf inside a full uniform.

“I just kept putting water anywhere I could,” said Lee, who graduated from Eastside Catholic in 2006. “We played better yesterday during our scrimmage. But we had no set defense.”

Team USA’s time playing together gave them a noticeable advantage over Northwest All-Stars who have mainly played against each other.

“It was fun to play with Ben York and some of the other guys I used to face off against,” said Lee, who now plays for Messiah College. “It is also fun to play with all these guys who play Division I.”

The U-19 team got on the board first, scoring three unanswered goals before Chris Taylor put one into the back of the net for the Northwest All-Stars.

Team USA showed why they will be representing their country in a few weeks at the world championships, building an 18-1 advantage.

“They are a good team and they have had six weeks to practice,” said Northwest All-Stars coach Ian O’Hearn, who is also the head coach of Mercer Island. “This was fun to get to coach some of the guys that we have played against.”

A third Eastside player, Ian Lee, also was named to the team, but had a prior commitment and could not attend. Lee currently plays for Messiah College with his brother and also graduated from Eastside Catholic.

Scoring

USA Under-19 6 7 3 5 -- 21

NW All Stars 1 0 0 1 -- 2

USA Under-19 Team

Craig Dowd (East Northport, N.Y. ) 3 goals, 1 assist.. Andrew Feinberg (Owings Mills, Md.) 3 goals. Dean Gibbons (Garden City, N.J.) 3 goals. Tim Donovan (Parkton, Md.) 3 goals. Rhamel Bratlon (Huntington, N.Y.) 2 goals. . Jack McBride (Madison, N.J.) 2 goals. James Green (Doylestown, Pa.) 1 goal, 1 assist. Mathew Mackrides (Newton Square, Pa.) 1 goal, 1 assist. Josh Amidon (Lafayette, N.Y.) 1 goal. Nicholas Elsmo (Edgewater, Md.) 1 goal. Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) 1 goal. Ryan Young (Manhasset, N.Y.) 5 assists.

Goaltenders: Adam Ghitleman (Syosset, N.Y.) 3 saves. Tyler Fiorito (Phoenix, Md.) 3 saves.

NW All-Stars

Bryan Gilbreath (U.S. Air Force Academy, Sophomore / Bainbridge Island, 2007) 1 goal. Chris Taylor (Georgetown, Senior / Mercer Island, 2005) 1 goal.

Goaltenders: Jason Montoya (Lafayette, Junior /Garfield, 2006) 15 saves.

Attendance: 1,000 estimate

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