2021 DAILY LOCAL NEWS ALL-AREA >> BOYS LACROSSE

ATTACK ALYSTAIR HEMBERGER, DOWNINGTOWN EAST

The top vote-getter at attack by coaches for AllChes-Mont, Hemberger led the Cougars with 44 goals and added 18assists. The junior was a top asset for an East squad that challenged for the league title. “Alystair is a smooth lefty attackman who provided high offensive production,” said his coach Joe Horvath.

OWEN MURRAY, WEST CHESTER RUSTIN

A senior, Murray shattered the school record for points in a season with 96. The transfer from Bishop Shanahan equaled the Rustin singleseason mark with 62goals and also dished out 34assists. “Owen is the engine that makes our team run,” said Rustin head coach Kevin Philibin. “He is a dual-threat attackman who can score at will and is adept at finding open teammates.” Murray has signed to play collegiately at Division I Quinnipiac.

PATRICK REILLY, JR., CONESTOGA

A starter since he was a freshman and helped the Pioneers win the District 13A title and earn a berth in the state final, Reilly was ’Stoga’s most valuable offensive performer in 2021. He amassed 50goals and 15assists this spring, and was an All-Central League first team pick. “His speed and mental toughness are his best attributes as a lacrosse player,” said his coach Brody Bush.

ERIC SPANOS, MALVERN PREP

His team’s leading goal scorer, Spanos poured in 62goals and added 20assists and 33ground balls and garnered All-American honors. The 6-foot-4 senior is a physical presence and has committed to play college lacrosse at Maryland. He was named the Most Valuable Players in the Inter-Ac, one of the top high school lacrosse leagues in the nation.

WILL PEDEN, MALVERN PREP

A Downingtown native, Peden was arguably the area’s most proficient distributor. He paced the Friars in assists (62) and points (91), and has signed to play at Penn State. The senior was named All-League, All-State and All-American. He scored 29goals in 2021, and added 29goals and 32assists for his previous season in 2019.

OWEN MEHOK, BISHOP SHANAHAN

The senior had an eye-opening 75goals in 2021, and added 48assists for an area-best 123points. Mehok was the unquestioned quarterback of the Eagles attack and is moving on to play college lacrosse at St. Josephs. “We struggled to score goals this season, except or Owen,” said Shanahan assistant coach Paul Meyers.

FIRST TEAM MIDFIELD MAREK SEAMAN, WEST CHESTER RUSTIN

The sophomore burst onto the high school scene with a bang, pouring in a school-record tying 62 goals and handing out 17assists. Seaman is a true throwback two-way midfielder that routinely excelled at all levels. “He took our opponent’s top long-stick in every game and had little issue,” said his coach Kevin Philibin. “He is the best shooting midfielder in the (Ches-Mont) in my opinion.” Seaman scored at least three goals in all but two league contests, and had five-plus in six contests.

DAN BROWN, DEVON PREP

The top performer for a squad that was a District 12semifinalist and PIAA 2A Tournament qualifier. Brown earned first team All-Philadelphia Catholic League honors after scoring 59goal and notching 21assists in 2021. A junior, Brown finished as the league’s number two goal scorer.

NICK FARRELL, UNIONVILLE

The senior scored 31goals in just 11games in ’21 and was also a ferocious defender. The midfielder also contributed nine assists. “Nick was always covered by a long-stick middie and was our team’s main initiator on offense,” said his coach Steve Holmes. Farrell has signed to play Division I college lacrosse at Long Island University.

DEFENSE COLLIN GUCWA, BISHOP SHANAHAN

Statistics alone can’t accurately quantify how much this senior meant to the Eagles. He amassed 14goals and 10assists, but was also among the area’s premier defenders as well as a wing on face offs. Gucwa earned All American honors, is headed to Drexel to play lacrosse, and has been described by his coaches as a vacuum for the way he almost effortlessly gobbles up ground balls (117). “He is the best ground ball guy around,” said his coach Jon Heisman.

JAKE BROWNLEY, MALVERN PREP

A very cerebral defender, it’s no surprise that Brownley is headed to Harvard to play lacrosse. The Glenmoore native is a 200-pounder with great range and physicality. He registered 41 ground balls and chipped in a goal for Malvern Prep, one of the state’s best teams. Brownley was all-everything, including All-American.

LIAM QUINN, DOWNINGTOWN EAST

At 6-foot-5, Quinn stood tall on defense for the Cougars. Physically imposing, the junior had great range and was a disrupting presence. He logged 24ground balls, 35clears and 21turnovers caused, and was a first team all-league selection. “Liam is a tough, close defender with great lacrosse IQ and a team-first mentality,” said East coach Joe Horvath. Quinn has committed to play college lacrosse at St. Joseph’s.

VINCE CRESCI, KENNETT

A physical and athletic force, Cresci anchored a stout Blue Demons’ defense that surrendered less than five goals, on average, per match. Crecsi averaged four ground balls and two forced turnovers per outing, chipped in three goals, and is headed to Division I Harvard to play lacrosse. “Vince was always assigned to the best opposing offensive player and handled everyone,” said his coach Bob Allvord. “He is like having a coach on the field. His size, stick skills and athleticism separates him from most.”

MIKE BUONO, MALVERN PREP

One of the top back-liners in the Inter-Ac league, Buono is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior who is headed to play college lacrosse at Penn State. He was a key defensive standout for the Friars, who won the Inter-Ac title for the third straight season. Buono added a goal and an assist, led Malvern with 59ground balls, and was named AllLeague, All-State and All-American.

FACE OFF MICHAEL STRAUB, DOWNINGTOWN WEST

The junior is a premier faceoff guy, but was so much more for the Whippets. Straub won 239of-316face offs, for a success rate of 76percent, but also delivered 36goals and 29assists. He also collected a team-high 175ground balls. In two seasons at West, he’s prevailed on 440faceoffs, and has committed to play his college lacrosse at Delaware.

LONG STICK MIDFIELDER COOPER FRANKENHEMER, MALVERN PREP

The premier LSM in the brutally tough Inter-Ac league, Frankenheimer is a senior and has signed to at North Carolina. He contributed four goals, four assists and 40ground balls for the Friars, who went 19-2despite playing one of the nation’s most challenging schedules. He was named AllLeague and All-State.

GOALTENDER PATRICK JAMEISON, CONESTOGA

One of the top goalies in the state, Jameison was the team MVP for the Pioneers, who advanced to the PIAA 3A State Semifinals. Just a sophomore, he made more than 200saves in 2021and averaged 9.3per outing. In one of the top public school leagues in the country, Jameison and ’Stoga allowed an average of just 5.0goals per game against Central League foes. He is a firstteam All-Central League pick, as well as garnering All-State and All-American honors.