Green Hope’s Auslander (left) and East Chapel Hill’s Holman are two of the best players ever to come out of North Carolina.
Until recently, elite lacrosse players have not typically come from a state known for soccer and basketball. Auslander met doubters on her recruiting trail. “No one thinks someone from North Carolina is going to be good at lacrosse,” she said. “I went to Towson and Loyola, and they didn’t show any interest. They didn’t think I’d do anything for them.” Since 1998, North Carolina, the state’s flagship school, has had just seven in- state players come through the program. And just one of them — 2012 graduate Laura Escobar of Raleigh — played all four years with the Tar Heels.
“Our best athletes play soccer,” Levy said of North Carolina natives. “And women’s soccer in North Carolina, as in Virginia and a lot of the southern states, they compete in the spring. We weren’t getting the best kids playing lacrosse because they were playing soccer.” Duke has never had an in- state player on its roster, according to coach Kerstin Kimel. But that could change.
“The biggest stumbling block is we don’t have enough coaches,” she said. “The ones we have are pretty good, but we just don’t have enough.” Auslander, a triplet, was born in Pennsylvania but actually lived in England when a former Towson player introduced
SOUTH NIKE/US LACROSSE BOYS’ TOP 10 ST. ANDREW’S (FLA.) LAKE HIGHLAND (FLA.) MILTON (GA.) HIGHLAND PARK (TEXAS)
1 2 3 4
CONOR WHIPPLE St. Andrew’s (Fla.)
A fourth-year starter, the Georgetown- bound senior attackman is the yin to junior Jake Levine’s yang on a talented front line for the top- ranked Scots.
PONTE VEDRA (FLA.) her to lacrosse while abroad.
“I had so much energy that my mom didn’t know what to do with me,” she said. “I played every single sport I could. I even played cricket.”
Auslander moved to North Carolina the next year as a sixth-grader and continued to play lacrosse even when it was unusual to see young players putting so much time into the game.
“I consider her homegrown,” Levy said. “Lucky for us, she didn’t play soccer.” Holman’s background is different. She grew up with a stick in her hand and didn’t come to North Carolina until she was well on her way to greatness. Her father, Brian Holman, was an assistant
A Publication of US Lacrosse LASSITER (GA.) ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (FLA.)
6 7 8 9
The Raiders have the misfortune of playing in the same region as St. Andrew’s. Otherwise, they might be perennial final four contenders. St. Thomas returns All-Americans Fernando Milanes (Jacksonville) and Joey Dorn (Providence).
LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY.)
The Shamrocks, who lost to rival Louisville St. Xavier in the state final, look to bounce back with six returning starters — including goalie Cody Tranbarger and attackman Davis Church.
— Laurel Pfahler Find updates at
LaxMagazine.com/HSBS March 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 45
The Trojans lost three games by a combined five goals, including a 10-9 overtime loss to Milton in the state final. Lassiter will be strong on the back end with the return of two All- Americans: defenseman Cash Carlson and goalie Ryan Smith.
The up-and-coming Sharks finished 17-3 in 2012. They lost to Lake Highland 12-10 in the state semifinals — much closer than the regular season game. They return seven starters but lost three All-Americans.
The Scots made an unlikely run to their sixth state title after finishing the regular season 7-7 and almost missing playoffs. Expect them to return to that late-season form behind Furman-bound Hilton Kennington and Bryce Green.
ST. MARK’S (TEXAS)
The Lions finished 17-4 despite a challenging schedule that ended with a loss to Highland Park in the state final. Senior Bear Goldstein (Princeton) is one of the top defensemen in the state.
LAMBERT (GA.)
The two-time defending 4A-A state champs graduated 14 seniors, including Georgia Player of the Year Colin Massa and two other All-Americans, but still return all-state senior attackman Matt Geran and Furman commit Peyton Smith.
The Eagles won their second 6A state title in three years during an 18-3 season that included two overtime losses and a loss to eventual 4A-A champion Lambert. Go-to midfielder Evans Lockwood scored the game winner in overtime of the state final.
The Highlanders fell to St. Andrew’s in the state final to finish 20-3. They return seven starters, including defenseman Casey Irish and attackman Clay Phillips — both bound for Boston University — and midfielder Devon Lewis (Georgetown).
After getting upset by Lake Highland Prep in the 2011 state championship, the Scots bounced back for their 15th title in 18 years. They return seven starters, including All-American attackmen Conor Whipple (Georgetown) and Jake Levine.
©SCOTT MCCALL (CW)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108