Spring Training Team Preview – Week III
Over the next few weeks, NXT will host 13 boys and girls high school lacrosse teams for their spring break. The teams and athletes will practice and stay in the Conshohocken, PA area while having access to top-end facilities such as the Proving Grounds and Steelyard Sports.
Their days will be filled with practice, scrimmages, team bonding, and activities. The Conshohocken area will give the Spring Training teams a chance to scrimmage some of Philly’s top competition ahead of their seasons. Marquee matchups including Penn Charter, Springside Chestnut Hill, The Westtown School, ANC, Holy Ghost Prep, and more highlight the slate of Spring Training games happening this March against the visiting schools.
The Spring Training teams will also have access to everything Conshohocken and the surrounding area have to offer. Schools will have a chance to tour local college campuses, attend 76ers and college lacrosse games, play paintball, and even get exposed to Philadelphia’s finest cuisine – the Philly Cheesesteak.
The final week of Spring Training brings seven teams to Conshohocken. St. George’s (RI) boys and girls teams, Frederick Gunn boys, Green Farms (CT) boys, Everest (CAN) girls all get here Saturday. The Greenwich Academy (CT) arrives on Monday and Stone Ridge (MD) arrives Tuesday.
Everest Academy Preview (G)
The Everest Academy comes to Conshohocken from Ontario, Canada. This is the first time since before the pandemic that they have been able to compete as a school. They have a gauntlet of a schedule here in Conshohocken as they play four games in four days.
Everest brings with them some of the top prospects in Canada. They are excited to see how they stack up against some of the top completion here in the states and play against a different colored jersey. Coach Burnett mentions that the competition in Canada often gets very repetitive.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/20 – Scrimmage vs St. George
3/20 – Drexel game
3/21 – Scrimmage vs Twin Valley
3/22 – Scrimmage vs Greenwich Academy
3/23 – Scrimmage vs Stone Ridge
2022 Season Outlook
“For us at Everest, the 2022 season is about making up for lost opportunities and improving every time we step on the field. Women’s lacrosse at Everest Academy is a growing program and this group of student-athletes represents the best of where we’ve come from and where we are looking to go in the future. We want to continue to grow and gain more experience as a unit. At home in Canada, we’ve been unable to compete consistently for basically two years and our team is itching to get on the field and compete against some top US talent together.”
Players to Watch
Reggie Williams (M) UAlbany
MJ Renaud (A) Canisius
Kayleigh Aitken (G) Detroit Mercy
Julia Harvey (D)
Spring Training Outlook
“The thing that I am most excited about, and I think my athletes are too, is the opportunity to play against a diverse set of new teams we’ve never seen before in such a professional environment. In Canada, there isn’t a ton of variety amongst the top players and teams – you see the same people across the school and club lacrosse time and time again – so for us to walk into a game and have to adjust to and play well against opponents we don’t know by name, that unknown factor is really exciting for us. Never mind that NXT’s facilities are top-notch and their staff has been incredibly supportive while we navigate coordinating this trip through various COVID-19 setbacks. Basically, we can’t wait for March!”
St. George’s School Preview (B)
The St. George’s School is bringing their boys and girls teams next week. The Dragon’s compete in a loaded New England Independent School League (ISL). They will have a chip on their shoulder and look to embrace the role of underdog this season.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/19 – First practice
3/19 – Villanova game
3/20 – Scrimmage vs Westtown
3/21 – Scrimmage vs Green Farms Academy
3/21 – 76ers game
3/22 – Scrimmage vs Frederick Gunn
2022 Season Outlook
“St. George’s is a team looking to fight its way to prominence in the New England ISL. With a core group of veteran players returning and a first-year head coach, St. George’s is excited to finally have a full season of spring lacrosse to look forward to. We are hoping to take teams by surprise in our league by exhibiting a fast-paced, dynamic offense along with relentless and physical team defense. ”
Players to Watch
Seniors:
Tim Evnin (A) Hobart
Riley Zeer (A)
Jack Almeida (M)
Tyler Vigeant (D)
Rocco Pace (D)
Spring Training Outlook
“I’m looking forward to being able to develop our team chemistry, have fun, and build trust through our shared experiences on and off the field.”
St. George’s School Preview (G)
The St. George’s School girls get to town on Saturday with the boys. They have multiple scrimmages and practices on the schedule for the week and will even be in attendance to see Villanova take on Michigan. The coaching staff is eager to use the local competition to prepare them for a full ISL schedule beginning in April.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/19 – First practice
3/19 – Villanova game
3/20 – Scrimmage vs Everest
3/21 – Scrimmage vs Lower Merion
2022 Season Outlook
“We have a hard-working, gritty team that has a lot to prove after COVID disruptions the last two springs. Recent additions to our program bring experience, speed, and confidence that puts us in a position to be very competitive within the Independent School League (ISL).
Our greatest strength is our midfield, which consists of athletic two-way players who can cause turnovers as easily as they can attack the net. Returning players Izzy Lahah ’23 and Liv Klanian ’24 will be key assets in the midfield and on the draw. We’ll look to Liv Tilzey ’22 and Elsa Mittelbusher ’22 to lead our attack with their high lacrosse IQs and varsity experience.
Defensively, Parker Lial ’23 and Cally Garth ’22 will be working with goalkeeper Elizabeth Savage ’23 to deny offensive opportunities with a high-pressure defense and the ability to win 50/50 ground balls.
We expect to compete against some of the strongest teams in New England and look forward to competing in the Mid-Atlantic region during our spring training.”
Spring Training Outlook
“After two seasons of COVID disruptions, we’re most looking forward to a full spring season and plan to utilize spring training with NXT as a springboard into our competitive game schedule. The opportunity to access extra field time away from campus and to compete against Mid-Atlantic teams we otherwise wouldn’t see will prepare us well for our return to an ISL schedule this year.
As a coach, I’m also excited to watch Villanova host Michigan and show our team the speed and physicality of the DI level. Traveling with our boys program is also allowing us to build St. George’s Lacrosse as a cohesive and competitive program.”
Frederick Gunn School (B)
The Highlanders compete in the talented NE 2 West conference. They bring with them a strong lacrosse history including a 2016 WNESSLA Championship. With a Spring Training schedule made up of primarily practice, the Frederick Gunn School will use their time in Conshohocken to prepare for their regular-season opener on March 30th
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/19 – First practice
3/19 – Villanova game
3/20 – Practice at Cabrini
3/21 – Box practice at Steelyard Sports
3/22 – Scrimmage vs St. George’s
2022 Season Outlook
“The Frederick Gunn Boys Lacrosse Team is looking forward to the 2022 season and building off the very successful 2021 season. The team has a good balance of returning and new players and a solid core group.”
Players to Watch
Eddie Rayhill Cornell
Parker Hoffman
Blake Maracle Limestone
Allan Szydlowski
Spring Training Outlook
“Spring Training allows us to come as a group to form a team. Being with NXT allows for the team to train and compete in a distraction-free environment. It is all about lacrosse and our team for a few days. The facilities are world-class and NXT does a great job of taking care of the logistics so that coaches can concentrate on coaching.”
Green Farms Academy Preview (B)
The 2021 FAA Regular Season Champions arrive to Conshohocken on Saturday. They have a scrimmage and a joint practice on their Spring Training schedule as well as numerous practices.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/20 – First practice
3/21 – Scrimmage vs St. George’s
3/21 – 76ers Game
3/22 – Joint practice with SCH
3/22 – Scrimmage vs St. George’s
Greenwich Academy (G)
First-year head coach Halley Griggs will bring her Greenwich Academy Gators to town on Monday. They will get a full day of practice on Monday before matchups against Everest, the Tatnall School, and Stone Ridge.
This talented roster looks to get in some final tune-ups before another season in the New England FAA.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/21 – First practice
3/22 – Scrimmage vs Everest
3/23 – Scrimmage vs Tatnall
3/24 – Scrimmage vs Stone Ridge
2022 Season Outlook
“Our student-athletes have been working hard in the off-season, and many of them have had incredible success in their fall/winter sports this year already. We’re looking to carry that momentum into the spring season, come together as a team, work hard, and compete against some of the strongest teams in the northeast.”
Players to Watch
Ava Bultz (Captian) Cornell
Maddie Holden (Captian) Duke
Spring Training Outlook
“This is my first season with Greenwich Academy and, alongside Coach Johnson, I look forward to making it a memorable one. I am excited to get to know each one of our players, on and off the field, this spring and really help them to develop into the best teammates and student-athletes they can be. This spring training trip, I’m excited to just get to know all our girls and start to put the pieces of our 2022 season puzzle together.” – Halley Griggs
“We are looking forward to our first ‘normal’ season since 2019 this Spring, with all of our regular New England Prep games on the schedule and a challenging local public school lineup as well. Extra tournaments such as the Indoor Nationals and the postseason High School Girls Championship are great ways for us to play some national competition that is further afield! I’m excited for Halley to bring some fresh ideas and expertise to our draw circle and offense this Spring, and our athletes bring their multi-sport skill and athleticism to day one of lacrosse season every year.” – Katie Johnson
Stone Ridge School of Sacred Heart (G)
The sixth-ranked nationally (USA Lacrosse Preseason Poll) Gators come to town for two scrimmages vs Everest and Greenwich Academy. Both of these matchups are some of the more anticipated matchups of NXT Spring Training.
The Gators bring a loaded roster including six starting seniors who will move on to the next level.
Spring Training Schedule Highlights
3/23 – Scrimmage vs Everest
3/24 – Scrimmage vs Greenwich
2022 Season Outlook
“Rebuild and Re-energize! Our 2021 team had six starting seniors committed to play at the next level. However, the young players who had the opportunity to develop with and against the dominant 2021 class will return well prepared and determined to make their own mark. Our spring schedule is highly competitive to continue building our program and remain nationally ranked in the top 20. You have to play the best to be the best and our schedule mirrors that.”
Players to Watch
Michaela O’Connor Boston College
Paige Kenny UNH
Amanda Brille Georgetown
Katherine Carr
Corey White Virginia
Ellie Muldoon Denision
Spring Training Outlook
“A team trip can really change the course of a season. The bonding is unlike anything you can get staying at home and it immediately transitions to their play on the field. I truly think spring break trips are crucial for developing a unified team.”
Follow along all week on social media @nxtlacrosse
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Next Up
Spring Training 2023! If you are interested in bringing your team to Conshohocken next spring, please contact Colin Blake, Boys Spring Training Manager (colin.blake@nxtsports.com), or Gina Grauer, Girls Spring Training Manager (gina.grauer@nxtsports.com) for more information!