EVOLUTION Hybrid
of the
An influx of Canadian-born players in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse has some advocating a new model of youth development in the U.S.— thinking outside the box by playing in it.
By Joel Censer
“Playing time reflects where you come from; the greater the field reputation, the greater the playing time. It’s a shame, because box players could and will have a big influence on the field game in the future. I know it.”
— Former Syracuse attackman and box lacrosse player Emmett Printup Sr., in American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War, published in 1991
K A Publication of US Lacrosse
yle Wharton didn’t think twice. As Wharton split behind the cage to his right hand, his Johns Hopkins line mate Zach Palmer — a 5-foot-7, 160-pound lefty from Oshawa, Ontario, brought his stick close to his chest and started shaking it.
Despite being blanketed by Maryland defenders, Palmer wanted the rock. Wharton flung the ball inside.
Palmer handled the pass and immediately felt Terps defenseman Jesse Bernhardt on his ball-side shoulder. Cradling away from his body and feeling no pressure over his right shoulder, Palmer whipped the ball behind his back from eight yards out and past Maryland goalkeeper Niko Amato. The Canadian’s crafty response awed the rain-soaked crowd at Byrd Stadium and tied the game at 9 in the fourth quarter. The Blue Jays went on to defeat the Terps 12-11 in overtime on April 16, 2011.
Up in the press box, veteran analyst Paul Carcaterra marveled at Palmer’s handiwork. “Are you kidding me? Look at this shot,” Carcaterra said. “Unbelievable... Can you say SportsCenter?” Carcaterra’s slack jaw eventually gave way to an explanation, connecting Palmer’s behind-the-back heroics with his north-of-the-border background. “You look at the type of kids that can do this — it’s the Canadians who have that box lacrosse background,” Carcaterra said. “Wow.” Maryland head coach John Tillman called Palmer’s goal a turning point. (The
Terps had led by five.) “He’s probably one of two people in the country that can make that play,” Tillman said. Actually, there’s plenty more where that came from.
March 2012 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 41
©MOJO STUDIOS
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