Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Looking at scholastic boys lacrosse
Despite departures, Avon Grove knows it has a target on its back again
When the Avon Grove boys lacrosse program had its coming out party four years ago, head coach Eric Jackson and his staff had an inkling the 2013 Red Devils could be something special prior to the season opener. The squad went on towin a share of the Ches- Mont league title, grabbed its first District 1 crown and advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament.
Jackson has similar expectations this year, but the circumstances are entirely different.
“In 2013, we were becoming a fixture in the area,” Jackson pointed out. “Now we definitely have a target on our back and there is no sneaking up on anybody at this point — which is a credit to the guys that came before.”
The truth is, under Jackson’s tutelage, Avon Grove has blossomed into the team to beat every year in the Ches- Mont, as well as one of just a handful of consistent threats to win districts. The Devils have been in three of the last four district finals and came awaywith two championships.
“Our goals never change,” said Jackson, who is entering his 17th season at the helm. “We want to keep getting better every time we step on the field together.
“We’re excited about the season and to see what we can do. This group is eager to try to keep things going in the right direction. I have good leaders, and they have a bit of a chip on their shoulders from the way we exited from the state playoffs.”
Avon Grove ended a 19- 3 campaign last spring with a heartbreaking 7- 6 setback to Springfield ( Delco) in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Tournament. And the graduation losses were significant, including an All- State trio of four- year starters who are now playing Division I college lacrosse: Beau Kush ( Delaware), Nick Cardile ( Penn State) and Bryce Reid ( Delaware).
“We lost some very good players that were a big part of our recent success,” Jackson said.
The 2017 Red Devils, however, look to be as loaded as any team in the county, with a healthy mix of senior stars and proven underclassmen. Jackson will fill out the rest of the roster with a bunch of promising backups and newcomers who have been waiting their turn to show what they can do.
“I thinkwe have pretty good balance and I hope we are in the mix at the end of the season,” he said.
“These guys are used to having a target on their back. We’ll let other people decide who ranks where, but at the end of the day if we just focus on getting better, that’s what is important to us. Our guys have done a nice job of buying into that.”
Avon Grove boasts senior leaders throughout the field, led by captain midfielder Doug Jones and defender Brayden Peck, who are headed to Army and Penn State, respectively, next fall. Add in All- League defender Alex Muller, attackman Brendan Harmon and goaltender Kevin Malone, and the Devils have experience at all levels.
Peck is currently out with a knee injury suffered during wrestling season, but is expected to recover fully and return soon.
A talented junior class features midfielder Jake Smith, who has already committed to play collegiately at Maryland, and faceoff specialist NateHammond ( Navy). Defender Bryce DeMuth andmidfielder ScooterWhiteside are two other returning standouts along with sophomore attacker Zach Augustine.
“Hammond won something time 85 percent of his faceoff, which is just amazing,” Jackson said. “That’s huge. Hopefully he can continue that.”
In goal, the Red Devils have an embarrassment of riches. Malone andjuniorAndrewSpencer successfully split time a year ago, but sophomore Zak Hanway is coming on.
“The goalie position has been a healthy battle,” Jackson said. “It’s nice to have depth there.”
A former two- time All- American player at Division II West Chester, Jackson launched the Avon Grove program in 2001. It started out as a club program and went to varsity soon thereafter, but it took the better part of a decade until the Devils were able to elevate to elite status.
“It’s been humbling to see the whole community accept the sport and really get behind it,” Jackson said. “We have a good relationship with the youth league and youth coaches, and there is a lot of alumni support. To watch it all grow has been very rewarding.”
It took a while, but Jackson isn’t surprised that the program has taken off. That was the plan all along, and he acknowledges that places like Avondale, West Grove and the surrounding area were the right communities at the right time.
“This is the right type of place because it takes a lot of hard work and the parents are dedicated,” he explained. “They are willing to do the extra things tomake kids better, like driving them all over the place to get good competition.
“Let’s face it, we are pretty far away from( lacrosse hotbeds) like the Main Line.”
Avon Grove may be the ChesMont favorite, but Jackson is expecting a challenge from on a lot of fronts. He said that the league is more balanced than it’s been in the past.
“Bishop Shanahan is going to be very strong, along with Downingtown East, West Chester East andWest Chester Henderson,” he said. “They are all going to be in the mix.
“There is a lot of work to be done and it won’t be easy. It’s going to take a lot of hardwork. And nobody is going to give us anything.”