Boys lacrosse players from the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association traveled to Denver to round out the National Brady’s Bunch competitive team. The three day tournament was hosted at the massive Dicks Sporting Goods complex which served as an impressive stage for one of the county’s most competitive lacrosse tournaments.
The elite team won four games and lost only one while finishing the tournament ranked 9th in the county. Their only loss was to a stellar team from California that finished in 4th in the tournament.
WCAA players were major contributors to the success of the Brady’s Bunch team. Attackman Jackson Schwartz put eight goals in the back of the net. Schwartz who combines his quickness, superior stick skills and ability to unleash a wicked shot drives opposing coaches insane. Hence, Schwartz was doubled and tripled teamed throughout the tournament.
Attackman Braden Rosario added 4 assists and 2 goals. Rosario scored the game winning goal in the closely contested 3rd bracket championship game. He can absolutely crank the ball at the net and I am glad a few that went wide didn’t hit a spectator or damage any of the buildings.
Midfielder Logan Hardin paced the man down defense with critical defensive stops as one of the two main short stick defensive middies. Hardin has blazing closing speed, fantastic instincts and is a powerful player.
Noah Day who is often a team leader and cracking jokes after games, is flat out intimidating when he is on the field and was one of the team’s top close defensemen creating turnovers, winning ground balls and shutting down attacks on his goal. Day typically wears the number 40, reminding me of one of Tampa Bay’s favorite football players of all time.
Aaron Matthews was another outstanding close defenseman forcing shooters away from the goal and down the alleys. He made key defensive plays that shut down the opposing offense in the last minute of a 3-2 victory over a 3D team from Georgia.
Coach Eric Rosario, also from the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association, was instrumental in the team’s great success. The organization will be hosting several summer clinics in July and August and are actively recruiting players for both the upcoming recreational and competitive seasons. If your child has an interest in the wonderful game or lacrosse, visit https://www.wcaasports.org/