The Home Grown Lacrosse blog has updates and news stories from our indoor sports camps, clinics, leagues, and lessons. Want to see what we do? This is where you’ll see what Home Grown Indoor Sports is all about!
HomeGrown/Raptors alums Tim O’Teri, Greg Melaugh, Tim Towler, Andy Basler (Merrimack), and Eric Galanis and Pat Brothers (Le Moyne) are facing each other in the NE10 Men’s Lacrosse Semi Finals on 5/3/13. That’s 6 HG alums playing in one game!
Girl’s elite team tryouts have been moved to May 19th at 2pm here at HGR. More on the new girl’s coach next week.
HGR goalie (2013 team) Matt Comerford is currently ranked as the #10 player in MA according to Bostonlax.net!
Phil Russo, a former HGR Elite player who successfully went on to play at Babson (recruited by a coach who saw him at one of our events), has also recently been featured in the news.
Phil Russo has added 10 goals and is winning .667 of his face-offs. Russo is currently tied for 11th in the country in face-off percentage, having won 102-of-153 on the season.
Just wanted to share some of first year alum, Ben’s success with everyone! He is having a great start to the season: Two hat tricks, a few 1-2 goal games, some assists and he is enjoying playing on the crease. Taking a bit of a beating, but he is doing well there. St John’s Prep went to 5-1 today beating Walpole.
Danvers, Mass. — Ben Alpern eyed the signal from ball-handler Jack Sharrio as he worked his way the opposite direction behind the goalpost. Catching a pass yards in front of Beverly keeper Kevin Lally, the St. John’s Prep midfielder faked left then quickly flicked the ball into the right side of the net.
As the Eagles sideline erupted, the senior embraced his teammates’ to celebrate their first lead of the game — a 12-11 advantage with 1:56 remaining. Playing catchup for 41:15 consecutive minutes, the Beverly native played a crucial role for the Prep boys’ lacrosse team (4-1) by scoring both the equalizer and winner in what was a 13-11 comeback against their 32-year-old rival and former Northeastern Conference opponent, Beverly (5-1).
We have been asked to help the Syracuse University Club Lacrosse Team in their support of Jason Handler, a teammate recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. The freshman defensive player started intensive in-patient treatment on February 25, 2013, causing him to take the semester off from school and lacrosse.
Jason’s team has started a pledge drive to help aid the Handler family in Jason’s recovery process. The charity is being run in conjunction with Syracuse University and the Headstrong Foundation.
They are asking for pledges to donate money for each goal scored during the team’s 2013 spring season. Donations are tax deductible. Pledge forms and additional information are attached at the link below.
Pledges can be sent to Carter Oakley, Syracuse University Club Lacrosse Captain, through the mail or via email.
Coach Brazill just celebrated his 31st birthday. We thought it’d be a good time to catch up with him to ask him a few questions.
When did you start playing lacrosse?
3rd grade
What’s your favorite lacrosse memory?
Going to the Eli Jamboree in 5th grade. It was a big youth tournament at Yale University and it was the first time I saw and started to understand the community and culture of lacrosse. My Dad and Grandfather took me and they seemed to think I was pretty good, which I was proud of.
What are some other sports you play/enjoy?
I love to surf and snowboard. For team sports I was always into basketball and still love playing pick up hoops.
How does your wife, Danielle, feel about lacrosse?
She says she’s grown to love it. I think she’s grown to really like it– love is a strong word. She grew up in Winthrop, MA, a super small town just outside of Boston and they didn’t have lacrosse. The first game she saw was at Merrimack, and now she is married to a lacrosse-obsessed husband.
You recently have become a father to your little boy Owen. How is the transition into fatherhood going for you?
It’s amazing. I have never been happier.
When do you plan to get Owen started with lacrosse?
Whenever he is ready. I don’t want to force it on him but we will probably start having catches and playing around in the backyard as soon as he shows interest. I hope to keep it just another sport for him until he decides he loves it. If he never does then I will support whatever his passion is.
What has been the most rewarding experience so far in you lacrosse career?
They are countless. As a player lacrosse taught me confidence, gave me a sense of belonging to a community, taught me accountability, kept me fit and out of trouble (for the most part.) As a coach, teaching those things to players seems even more rewarding than learning them myself.
Who’s your favorite player?
Probably Mark Millon
What’s your lucky number?
11
What’s your weapon of choice (favorite stick)?
I really like the STX Surgeon right now. I have always loved the Gait Torque but it’s just becoming too hard to find.
We see Maggie frequent the HGR facility- is she a sponsored lacrosse doggie?
She is our unofficial mascot. People come in the facility looking for her and get upset when she isn’t around.
Last, but not least, what’s your favorite kind of birthday cake?
Funfetti with vanilla icing or my mom’s home made coconut cake–it’s outrageous.
Kelsey Brazill’s interview with Greg Melaugh, who was recently on the cover of New England Lacrosse Journal
One of our Alumni on cover of New England Journal Lacrosse
How is it being on the cover of the New England Lacrosse Journal?
When I first heard about it I was pretty excited; it’s the first time I’ve ever been on the cover of anything. I guess it’s just really exciting.
Has that coverage done anything for your team?
It’s obviously good for our school because it helps with recruiting and stuff, and it helps get our school name out there.
What are your hopes for this season at Merrimack both personally and for your whole team?
I think as a team we obviously want to go all the way and win a national championship. And personally anything I can do to help my team win that will be my goal.
What do you think your chances at a national championship are?
I think they’re pretty good; we have a very good chance. Especially with the new way the playoffs work (8 teams make the NCAA playoffs this year, previously it had only been 4). We have a better chance of making it. And we have a really good team with a lot of guys returning.
How do you like playing for Coach Brazill, having him as your offensive coach?
I love playing for Bryan, he’s an awesome coach. He’s laid back, lets us play our game, and coaches us when we need it.
Do you have any advice for kids hoping to become part of HGR?
For anyone who wants to play for HGR, I would just say work hard every day. If you work hard, the coaches will give you their attention. They always give you their best, so if you’re willing to give them your best then you’re going to succeed.
How did playing for the Raptors prepare you for playing at the collegiate level?
Playing with the Raptors was a great help because we always had great coaches. I mean if you ever need anything they were there to help you out. Now that Home Grown is working with them, it’s just going to be even better–with more coaches and better facilities and everything.
What is your favorite movie?
The Hangover.
What is your weapon of choice?
Favorite stick would be the Evo 3 (Evolution 3).
What is your favorite dodge move?
Definitely the triple jabs (a three step crossover).
What are some things outside of Lacrosse that you like to do in your free time?
Enter your picture for a chance to be the first cover photo of HGR’s new Facebook page!
Out with the old, in with the new! We are revamping our social media and, with it, our Facebook. Home Grown and Raptors fans, this means we’re scrapping the pages you have grown accustomed to and replacing them with the new and improved HGR Lax Facebook page.
We would love your help! We are looking for the perfect picture to backdrop our HGR logo, and who better to supply that then our very own HGR community? Do you think you have the cover-photo-worthy shot? Send it in!
The new page is set to launch at the end of the week so we will be accepting entries until then.
“Coach Baker brings her collegiate experience and style to the girl’s HS tournament team. I was impressed with the development of the players over the course of the summer. The
girls not only were improving their game but they were having fun along
the way. Homegrown is one of the few facilities in area where you can
find highly qualified women’s lacrosse coaching.” – Ellen Jennings, Elite Team Parent
We have been asked to help the Syracuse University Club Lacrosse Team in their support of Jason Handler, a teammate recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. The freshman defensive player started intensive in-patient treatment on February 25, 2013, causing him to take the semester off from school and lacrosse.
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