**2010 All-PCS Lacrosse Team**
Park's finest lacrosse
squad is
balanced, talented group
balanced, talented group
June 14,
2010, 9:35 p.m.
The level of lacrosse talent
at the three Plymouth-Canton Educational Park schools was higher than
ever as several players have proven they have the skills to play at the
next level.
Although none of the three teams managed to escape the first
round of the state tournament, they all enjoyed several stellar moments
throughout the spring and flashed potential that will only enhance
their chances for 2011.
Following are the players who were honored by the coaches as the
Park's top players:
2010 All-PCS
LACROSSE
First Team
ATTACK
First Team
ATTACK
Matthew Rodgers,
Jr., Canton: Rogers earned the Chiefs' Most Valuable Player
award after winning the 2009 Most Outstanding Offensive Player award.
He was voted to the All PCS-Park 1st Team in 2008 and 2009.
Rogers, who has several Division 2 and 3 colleges interested in his services, is a two-time All-State Honorable Mention honoree. He also earned All-Conference and All-Regional honors in 2009 and 2010.
"Matt was the team's best goal scorer," said Canton coach Kevin Riley. "He has amazing stick skills in the crease, and led team in goals the past three season."
Ryan Renault, Sr., Plymouth: Renault scored 37 goals to go along with 33 assists. He also picked up 32 ground balls. He will be attending Central Michigan University in the fall.
"Ryan was an outstanding attack," said Plymouth coach Brian Walsh. "Ryan was a great shooter and finisher and was our best riding attack. He was our offensive leader and wanted the ball every time we needed a goal.
"Ryan is one of the best players to come through Plymouth High School. Ryan really stepped up in our rivalry games to help us win the Park, scoring two goals and one assist against Canton, but really carrying us against Salem by scoring four goals and two assists."
Dyland Hatcher, Jr., Salem: Hatcher earned All-Conference honorable mention accolades two years in a row. He was also an All-Conference Academic player.
Connor Berlin, Jr., Salem: Berlin earned All-Conference honors and was an All-Conference Academic player.
Jake Underwood, Sr., Canton: Underwood was voted the team's Most Outstanding Player after earning Most Valuable Player accolades in 2009. He is a two-time All-PCS Park first-teamer and two-time third-team All-State standout. Underwood also hauled in All-Conference and All-Regional awards in 2009 and 2010.
He will be attending Otterbien University (Ohio) on an athletic/academic scholarship.
"Jake was the team's best all-around player for the past two years," said Riley. "He was our assists and ground-ball leader.
Conor Downey, Jr., Plymouth: Downery racked up 12 goals and 18 assists while scooping up 38 groundballs.
"Conor is an excellent midfielder for us," said Walsh. "He had the best shot on our team and really was able to help stretch defenses with his outside shot.
"Conor was also an excellent feeder from the midfield. His primary focus was offensive, but he played good defense for us when we had some injuries. Conor was our leading scorer against Canton, registering two nice, hard, low goals and he had two inside feeds for goals. Conor was our best offensive midfielder."
Ethan Christensen, Jr., Plymouth: Christensen is a long-stick midfielder who also plays defense. He tallied two assists and 65 ground balls while forcing 36 turnovers.
"Ethan is an outstanding defensive player for us playing both long-stick midfield and defense. Ethan picked up a lot of ground balls for us, but most impressive about Ethan is how many passes he knocks down or just intercepts.
"He is a definite no-fly-zone around our crease. Ethan played his best game against Salem, scoring one of his assists on an awesome fast break that Ethan made out of nothing."
Ben Burkman, Jr., Plymouth: Burkman compiled two assists and 125 ground balls while forcing 75 turnovers.
"Ben was one of the best players on our team, picking up tons of ground balls and causing a ton of turnovers with his great stick checks. Every game he covered our opponents' best players and did an excellent job. He held Canton and Salem's best attack to one even-strength goal for Canton and one overall goal for Salem."
Alex Miller, Jr., Plymouth: Miller chalked up 70 ground balls and 45 CT's.
"Alex is a great lock-down defenseman for us really being able to help shut down left-handed attack," said Walsh. "He causes a ton of turnovers with his great range and good height.
"Alex did a really good job in the Canton game, holding his assignment to only one goal and in the Salem game to no points at all."
PLYMOUTH'S SEASON RECAP: "We finished 9-9 overall (9-8 regular season , 6-3 KLAA), so it was a very successful season for us in that we won the park for the first time ever, placed the highest in the KLAA yet for us, beat Saline and South Lyon for the first time ever and ended up with the best record in school history. (8-11 each of previous two seasons)," said Brian Walsh. "I'm very excited about next year as we have a ton of juniors coming back that should all step up and hopefully push the rest of the team to get Plymouth to the next level.
Rogers, who has several Division 2 and 3 colleges interested in his services, is a two-time All-State Honorable Mention honoree. He also earned All-Conference and All-Regional honors in 2009 and 2010.
"Matt was the team's best goal scorer," said Canton coach Kevin Riley. "He has amazing stick skills in the crease, and led team in goals the past three season."
Ryan Renault, Sr., Plymouth: Renault scored 37 goals to go along with 33 assists. He also picked up 32 ground balls. He will be attending Central Michigan University in the fall.
"Ryan was an outstanding attack," said Plymouth coach Brian Walsh. "Ryan was a great shooter and finisher and was our best riding attack. He was our offensive leader and wanted the ball every time we needed a goal.
"Ryan is one of the best players to come through Plymouth High School. Ryan really stepped up in our rivalry games to help us win the Park, scoring two goals and one assist against Canton, but really carrying us against Salem by scoring four goals and two assists."
Dyland Hatcher, Jr., Salem: Hatcher earned All-Conference honorable mention accolades two years in a row. He was also an All-Conference Academic player.
MID-FIELD
Connor Berlin, Jr., Salem: Berlin earned All-Conference honors and was an All-Conference Academic player.
Jake Underwood, Sr., Canton: Underwood was voted the team's Most Outstanding Player after earning Most Valuable Player accolades in 2009. He is a two-time All-PCS Park first-teamer and two-time third-team All-State standout. Underwood also hauled in All-Conference and All-Regional awards in 2009 and 2010.
He will be attending Otterbien University (Ohio) on an athletic/academic scholarship.
"Jake was the team's best all-around player for the past two years," said Riley. "He was our assists and ground-ball leader.
Conor Downey, Jr., Plymouth: Downery racked up 12 goals and 18 assists while scooping up 38 groundballs.
"Conor is an excellent midfielder for us," said Walsh. "He had the best shot on our team and really was able to help stretch defenses with his outside shot.
"Conor was also an excellent feeder from the midfield. His primary focus was offensive, but he played good defense for us when we had some injuries. Conor was our leading scorer against Canton, registering two nice, hard, low goals and he had two inside feeds for goals. Conor was our best offensive midfielder."
Ethan Christensen, Jr., Plymouth: Christensen is a long-stick midfielder who also plays defense. He tallied two assists and 65 ground balls while forcing 36 turnovers.
"Ethan is an outstanding defensive player for us playing both long-stick midfield and defense. Ethan picked up a lot of ground balls for us, but most impressive about Ethan is how many passes he knocks down or just intercepts.
"He is a definite no-fly-zone around our crease. Ethan played his best game against Salem, scoring one of his assists on an awesome fast break that Ethan made out of nothing."
DEFENSE
Ben Burkman, Jr., Plymouth: Burkman compiled two assists and 125 ground balls while forcing 75 turnovers.
"Ben was one of the best players on our team, picking up tons of ground balls and causing a ton of turnovers with his great stick checks. Every game he covered our opponents' best players and did an excellent job. He held Canton and Salem's best attack to one even-strength goal for Canton and one overall goal for Salem."
Alex Miller, Jr., Plymouth: Miller chalked up 70 ground balls and 45 CT's.
"Alex is a great lock-down defenseman for us really being able to help shut down left-handed attack," said Walsh. "He causes a ton of turnovers with his great range and good height.
"Alex did a really good job in the Canton game, holding his assignment to only one goal and in the Salem game to no points at all."
FACE-OFF
SPECIALIST
Benjamin
Popp, Jr., Canton: Pop earned All PCS-Park 1st Team and
All-Regional honors. He was also voted to receive the team's
"Head*Heart*Hustle award.
"Ben won 101 of 171 face-off attempts (59 percent) and he played
at 100 percent every time he stepped on the field," said Riley.
GOALIE
Sean
Walsh, Sr., Canton: Walsh is a two-time All PCS-Park
1st-teamer. He also raked in the team's Most Outstanding Defensive
Player award, was Honorable Mention All-State, Academic All-State,
All-Conference and All-Regional.
Walsh will be attending Otterbein University on a Presidential
Scholarship for academics.
Walsh holds the school record with the most saves in a season
(222) and most saves in a gave (26).
HONORABLE
MENTION
Garrett Berg,
attack - Salem
Nick Gianini,
midfield - Salem
Anthony Portelli,
defense - Salem
Kurt Driscoll, lsm
- Salem
Drew Hisey, face
off spec. - Salem
Alex Gravlin,
goalie - Salem
Phil Flesch,
attack - Plymouth
Drew Leist,
midfield - Plymouth
Ritchie Mitchell,
face off spec. - Plymouth
Michael Justus,
goalie - Plymouth
Trevor Moore,
attack - Canton
Tim Popp, midfield
- Canton
Ryan Dunleavy,
defense - Canton
PLYMOUTH'S SEASON RECAP: "We finished 9-9 overall (9-8 regular season , 6-3 KLAA), so it was a very successful season for us in that we won the park for the first time ever, placed the highest in the KLAA yet for us, beat Saline and South Lyon for the first time ever and ended up with the best record in school history. (8-11 each of previous two seasons)," said Brian Walsh. "I'm very excited about next year as we have a ton of juniors coming back that should all step up and hopefully push the rest of the team to get Plymouth to the next level.
CANTON'S SEASON
RECAP: The Chief went 8-8. "We started out well," said Riley,
"then played state-ranked teams and lost several games. Player injuries
and team depth kept the Chiefs from competing at a consistent level
throughout the entire season. The Chiefs will reload for next season,
hoping to achieve greater success."
Pictured
are the members of the 2010 All-PCS Lacrosse team, which was voted on
my the three local high school coaches. (photo by Maggie Walsh)