ANOTHER DIMENSION M


With a robust player pool entrenched in its hybrid training system, 3d Select surged to its second straight U15 title


y, how the tables have turned. A year ago, 3d Select was the clear underdog


heading into the title game of the US Lacrosse U15 Boys’ National Championship. Most of the team came


from Colorado and California. Its opponent, Long Island Express, came from one of the strongest club programs in the country. This year, 3d Select could hardly be considered an underdog.


Pooling the best players from its various programs around the country, 3d Select ran its way to the No. 2 seed at the Aurora (Colo.) Sports Park by defeating Patriot (N.J.), Long Island Express and Special Forces (Mich.) during pool play, defeated Santa Monica (Calif.) and Utah and survived a wild overtime semifinal after giving up a last-second goal against Colorado. 3d Select’s final obstacle — top-seeded Duke’s HHH out of Philadelphia — offered little resistance. Led by Jack Shultz (three goals), 3d Select scored the final 12 goals to defeat Duke’s HHH 13-2 and clinch its second straight national championship. “It was just a great team effort and great to bring these kids from


KEEPER OF LACROSSE


SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD Patriot (N.J.)


all over the country that have been training with us and putting this 3d system into place,” coach Lance Savage said. “They’ve all played against each other before, but they’ve never had a chance to play together.” The 3d Lacrosse training model borrows elements from both box and field lacrosse. The company has 94 teams (boys and girls) in Colorado, California, Canada, New England, Oregon and Maryland. 3d Select’s dramatic semifinal victory — Harry Wellford scored on a lefty spin move to win the game in overtime after Colorado’s Trevor Orndorff tied it with five seconds left in regulation — helped fuel its dominant performance in the championship game. “They built off the emotion of


that game,” 3d Select coach Kevin O’Brien said. “Sometimes it is tough to come back from a game like that, but I think when you’re in the championship game of


the U15 national championship, it just kind of comes naturally to get up for it.” 3d joins FCA as the only two-time champions in the six-year


history of the US Lacrosse U15 National Championship. Long Island Express and For the Love of the Game (N.Y.) also have won titles.


— Brian Logue LACROSSE MAGAZINE All-Tournament Team


ATTACK Christian Kuhn


For the Love of the Game (N.Y.)


Helped FLG to the quarterfinals with five goals in a win over New Level, then scored two fourth-quarter goals in win over Brady’s Bunch.


Zack Rawlings Colorado


Three second-half goals keyed Colorado’s stunning comeback win over FCA in the quarterfinals.


Jack Schultz 3d Select (Colo.) Tournament’s top scorer had five games with at least three goals, including the championship.


MIDFIELD


Steven Cuccurullo FCA (Md.)


Smithtown East (N.Y.) player was dominant on faceoffs throughout the tournament.


Joe Miller For the Love of the Game (N.Y.) Standout all-around player helped FLG to the semifinals.


Grayson Sallade Duke’s HHH (Pa.) One of Duke’s top offensive threats poured in six goals in 10-8 quarterfinal win over Long Island Express.


DEFENSE


Brett Funk Duke’s HHH (Pa.)


Funk shut down opponents’ top players and anchored unit that posted two shutouts during tournament.


Joe Soran Colorado Top player on defensive unit that allowed just 32 goals in seven games.


Sammer Ziady 3d Select (Colo.)


Standout on 3d defense that gave up just 22 goals en route to championship.


GOALIE


PJ Offner 3d Select (Colo.)


Formed powerful 1-2 punch with Cosmo Taylor and made six second-half saves in semifinal win over Colorado.


A Publication of US Lacrosse


September 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 29


©JOHN RISLEY; ©JOE KOSHOLLEK


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