The 2006 Team

BACK TO TEAM CAROLINA HOME 

MORE PICTURES FROM 2006

Team Carolina Finishes 2006 Summer 11-3;

Earns Fifth Place Finish at Champ Camp

Team Carolina completed an eleven day trip to the Mid-Atlantic region with a second place finish at the Evolution Games in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a top eight finish at Champ Camp in Baltimore, Maryland.  Team Carolina was sparked by a stingy defense, timely scoring, clutch goaltending and dominance on face-offs.

Team Carolina reached the championship of the Evolution Games at West Chester University only to fall to Downingtown East 6-4. The highlight of the Evolution Games was #4 seeded Team Carolina’s 5-3 upset victory over #1 seeded Team Twist.

Team Carolina won its first six games at Champ Camp before falling to Crossroads 12-5.  Team Carolina finished 7-1 and ranked fifth at the Champ Camp, the premiere recruiting showcase tournament in the nation.  Champ Camp highlights for Team Carolina included a 7-5 comeback win against New England Select at Historic Homewood Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins University and a 6-5 comeback victory over the Long Island Metro Pilots in the first playoff round.

Team Carolina Daily Reports

Saturday, July 22nd Evolution Games @ West Chester University, PA  

Team Carolina got off to a fast start by jumping out to a 7-0 lead against the Pennsylvania Catholic League All-Stars.  Team Carolina held PCL scoreless until midway through the second half.  Team Carolina was led on offense by Tony Mendes (East Chapel Hill HS) with three goals, Chase Hayes (McCallie School) with two pinpoint goals, and Mike Sawyer (Charlotte Catholic) with two assists.

Team Carolina went back to back, facing Philadelphia area power LaSalle.  After trailing early, Team Carolina led 4-3 late in regulation time and nearly clinched the game, but hit the pipe several times down the stretch.  LaSalle tied the game at 4-4 late in the game to force overtime.  LaSalle scored in the overtime period for the victory.  Team Carolina was led on offense by Bob Kercher (Riverside HS) with two goals and tallies from Alex Porter (Bishop McGuiness) and Tony Mendes.

Team Carolina rebounded by revving up its transition game in a 16-1 romp over Bishop Shanahan (PA).  Bob Kercher and Chase Hayes led the way with four goals and three goals respectively.  Lance Landvater (Cardinal Gibbons) chipped in with a pair of goals.  Team Carolina assisted on eight of the sixteen goals including two assists each from Hayes, Wiatt Farrar (Episcopal School) and Ian Grady (Green Hope HS).  Goalies Ben Read (Forsyth Country Day) and Tyler Hull (Providence HS) combined to hold Bishop Shanahan scoreless until late in the game.

Sunday, July 23rd  Evolution Games @ West Chester University, PA 

Team Carolina entered Sunday’s playoff round ranked #4 and faced #5 Springfield (PA).  After being knotted early,

Team Carolina put together a strong second half to earn an 8-5 quarterfinal victory. 

Tim Woolley (Riverside HS) and Casey Leeper (Chapel Hill HS) each netted a pair of goals to account for half of

Team Carolina’s scoring.  Tyler Hull and Ben Read combined for 9 saves. 

With the victory over Springfield, Team Carolina faced top-ranked Twist (Black) from Philadelphia in the Evolution

Games semi-finals.  Twist’s shooters propelled them to a 3-1 halftime lead.  After halftime adjustments, Team

Carolina’s defense shut down Twist.  Ben Read tallied 7 second half saves in front of a defense led by

Corey Blair (McCallie School).  Team Carolina’s offense came alive in the second half outscoring Twist 4-0 to

clinch the win.  Carolina received balanced scoring getting a goal each from five different players.

Team Carolina faced #2 ranked Downingtown East in the finals.  Downingtown jumped out to an early lead and Team Carolina did not have another comeback in them.  After falling behind 4-1 at the half, the teams traded goals to begin

the second half.  Downingtown’s late goal secured a 6-3 final score.  Team Carolina was led by tournament MVP

John Ryan Sander (Providence Day School).  Sander scored two goals in the championship.  Sander’s three goals and an assists in the playoff round and dominance on face-offs and groundballs helped to earn him MVP and advance Team Carolina into the final. In addition to Sander, Casey Leeper (Chapel Hill), Anthony Mendes (East Chapel Hill) and Bob Kercher (Riverside) were named to the All-Tournament team that was selected by the college coaches in attendance. 

Thursday, July 27th Champ Camp @ Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD

Team Carolina faced a big and athletic New England Select team at historic Homewood Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins University.  New England Select applied defensive pressure and used possession offense to jump ahead 3-1 at the half.  Seph Secoura (Cardinal Gibbons HS) jump started the Team Carolina offense with a high bounce shot to open the scoring.  Secoura’s goal sparked a six goal run that was capped off by Kyle Rockey’s (Weddington HS) unassisted drive.  New England scored late to cut the score to 7-5, but Team Carolina’s defense, led by Stephen Thorn (Cardinal Gibbons) and Jay Christopher (Episcopal School), held on for another comeback win.

Friday, July 28th Champ Camp @ Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD  

Team Carolina cruised to an 11-4 win over Tri-State Green.  Team Carolina never trailed and were sparked by two goals apiece from B.J. Leighton (Apex HS), Mike Sawyer and Kyle Rockey.  Wiatt Farrar’s two assists and defensive midfielder Kyle Shepard’s (Athens Drive) assist helped to set up the offense.

Team Carolina dominated Hot Shots off the first face-off as B.J. Leighton scooped up a groundball off the wing, settled the offense and beat his defender for the unassisted goal.  Team Carolina was led on offense by Lance Landvater with two goals and Tony Mendes with two assists.  Team Carolina goalies Ben Read and Tyler Hull each turned aside three shots apiece to preserve a 10-2 victory. 

Team Carolina downed All State 11-4 after a slow start.  Corey Blair dominated his defensive match-up and was backed by strong play from Dan Caron (Charlotte Catholic), Geoff Weber (Charlotte Catholic) and Sepp Stephens (East Chapel Hill HS).  The offense was led by Tony Mendes with two goals and two assists.  Mike Sawyer dished out three assists, and Chase Hayes and Lance Landvater scored two goals a piece.  Team Carolina had an impressive day going 3-0 and outscoring their opponents 32-10.

Saturday, July 29th Champ Camp @ Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 

Team Carolina entered Saturday 5-0 at Champ Camp and 2-0 in pool play.  With a win against Springfield, Carolina would win their pool outright and advance in to the Sweet Sixteen round of play.  Team Carolina won a physical rematch against Springfield by the score of 9-5.  Team Carolina was led on offense by Bob Kercher with two goals and an assist.  Team Carolina also received contributions from Alex Porter and Tony Mendes with two goals apiece.  Ian Grady and Chase Hayes dished out two assists apiece as Team Carolina assisted 6 of its 9 goals.  The win set up a first round play-off game against Long Island Metro Pilots which won a pool including Gilman, Richmond Shock and Greene Turtle.

Team Carolina battled Long Island Metro Pilots early in the first round game until Long Island scored a transition goal about twelve minutes into the game.  Mike Sawyer scored to tie the game for Carolina, but Long Island scored two goals including one as time expired, to take a 3-1 halftime lead.  Team Carolina huddled for the half with the knowledge that they had come from behind before.  Team Carolina got another score from Sawyer and a goal from Tony Mendes to tie the score 3-3.  After Long Island scored to lead 4-3 Ian Grady scored an underhanded backhand goal off an assist from John Ryan Sander to knot the game up.  A man-up goal from Wiatt Farrar, assisted by Chase Hayes gave Team Carolina its first lead of the game.  Kyle Rockey’s unassisted goal late in the second half proved to be the winning goal as Tyler Hull and the Carolina defense bent but did not break down the stretch. As time expired, Team Carolina players spilled on to the field to celebrate the win over an opponent from one of lacrosse’s prime hotbeds and their entrance into the Elite Eight.

Team Carolina had to fight to stay within a goal of a loaded Crossroads squad in the second half.  After cutting the margin to 5-4, Team Carolina possessed the ball and worked for an opportunity to tie the game, but a clutch save by the Crossroads goalie turned the momentum.  Crossroads used continuous pressure on defense and ball movement on offense to finish off Team Carolina with a 7-1 run.  Team Carolina lost by a final score of 12-5 getting a pair of goals from Tony Medes and B.J. Leighton and one goal from Casey Leeper.

Sunday, July 30th Champ Camp @ Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD  

Team Carolina rebounded from its only loss of the tournament with a 9-5 victory over Ridgewood.  Bob Kercher and Tony Mendes tallied early goals to jump ahead 2-0, but Ridgewood quickly answered with three of their own.  Chase Hayes scored on a spectacular one on one effort to tie the score before the half.  Team Carolina came out and gave a commanding second half performance to record the 9-5 victory and a fifth place tournament finish. 

BACK TO TEAM CAROLINA HOME

Team Carolina 2006 Schedule, Results and Stats

Team Carolina Box Scores – 2006 Champ Camp. Record 7 wins 1 loss; fifth place finish.

 Round 1 - THURSDAY

Team Carolina – 7

NESLL (New England Select) – 5

Goals: Mendes 2, Leighton, Secoura, Woolley, Kercher, Rockey,

Assists: Landvater, Farrar, Hayes

Saves: Read 2 ; Hull 5

Round 2  - FRIDAY

Team Carolina – 11

Tri-State-Green – 4

Goals: Leighton 2, Sawyer 2, Rockey 2, Landvater, Woolley, Hayes, Grady, Mendes

Assists: Farrar 2, Kercher, Grady, Sawyer, Woolley, Shepard

Saves: Read 3 ; Hull 2

Round 3 - FRIDAY

Team Carolina – 10

Hot Shots – 2

Goals:Landvater 2, Leighton, Mendes, Farrar, Woolley, Porter, Sawyer, Leeper, Rockey

Assists: Mendes 2, Farrar, Woolley, Kercher, Rockey, Grady

Saves: Hull 3 ; Read 3

Round 4 - FRIDAY

Team Carolina – 11

All State – 4

Goals: Hayes 2, Landvater 2, Mendes 2, Kercher, Sander, Woolley, Farrar, Rockey

Assists: Sawyer 3, Mendes 2, Leeper, Landvater, Secoura

Saves: Hull 3 ; Read 3

Round 5 - SATURDAY

Team Carolina – 9

Springfield – 5

Goals: Porter 2, Mendes 2,  Kercher 2, Woolley, Landvater, Farrar

Assists: Grady 2, Hayes 2, Woolley, Kercher

Saves: Hull 4 ; Read 4

Round 6 - SATURDAY

Team Carolina – 6

LI Metro Pilots– 5

Goals: Saywer 2, Rockey, Grady, Mendes, Farrar

Assists: Sander 2, Hayes

Saves: Hull 6 ; Read 3

Round 7 – SATURDAY – Quarterfinals

Team Carolina – 5

Crossroads – 12

Goals: Mendes 2, Leighton 2, Leeper

Assists: Woolley

Saves: Hull 4 ; Read 6

Round 8 – Sunday – Consolation Game (Record 7-1)

Team Carolina – 9

Ridgewood – 5

Goals: Mendes 2, Kercher, Hayes, Grady, Leeper, Porter, Rockey, Sawyer

Assists: Kercher, Landvater, Grady, Leeper, Farrar

Saves: Hull 6 ; Read 6

Team Carolina Box Scores – Evolution Tournament 2006 – West Chester, PA.  Record 4 wins 2 losses; second place finish.

Game 1

Team Carolina – 9

PCL – 2

Goals: Mendes 3, Hayes 2, Kercher, Leeper, Grady, Leighton

Assists: Sawyer 2, Mendes, Grady, Wooley

Saves: Read 2 ; Hull 4

Game 2 - OVERTIME

Team Carolina – 4

LaSalle – 5

Goals: Kercher 2, Mendes, Porter

Assists: Woolley

Saves: Read 2 ; Hull 2

Game 3

Team Carolina – 16

Bishop Shanahan – 1

Goals: Kercher 4, Hayes 3, Landvater 2, Leighton, Farrar, Porter, Secoura, Grady, Mendes, Leeper

Assists: Farrar 2, Hayes 2, Grady 2, Rockey, Landvater

Saves: Hull 1 ; Read 1

Game 4 – Quarter Finals

(#4)-Team Carolina – 8

(#5)-Springfield – 5

Goals: Woolley 2, Leeper 2, Landvater, Kercher, Sawyer, Secoura

Assists: Grady 2, Leighton, Farrar, Mendes, Rockey, Sander

Saves: Hull 4 ; Read 5

Game 5 – Semi Finals

(#4)-Team Carolina – 5

(#1)-Twist(Black) – 3

Goals: Kercher, Sander, Hayes, Farrar, Landvater

Assists: Mendes, Rockey

Saves: Hull 3 ; Read 7

Game 6 – Finals

(#4)-Team Carolina – 3

(#2)-Downington – 6

Goals: Sander 2, Woolley

Assists: Hayes

Saves: Hull 2 ; Read 4

BACK TO TEAM CAROLINA HOME  

Hayes to Attend Bryant University, Play for Mike Pressler

Chase Hayes (McCallie School) will attend Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island as a part of head coach Mike Pressler’s first recruiting class at the school.  Hayes was a two-time member of Team Carolina and in 2006 he led all attackmen in scoring.

The Bulldogs compete in the Northeast 10 Conference and recently knocked off top-ranked Lemoyne breaking their 63 game regular season winning streak.

Team Carolina Midfield Duo Sign with Upstart Bellarmine

Team Carolina midfielders Casey Leeper (Chapel Hill HS) and Alex Porter (Bishop McGuinness) will both play for Division I Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky next year.  The midfield duo represented Team Carolina’s version of “thunder and lightning”, Leeper with his straight ahead dodging ability and powerful shooting and Porter with his explosive quickness.

Bellarmine is currently in its second season at the Division I level, where it competes in the Great Western Conference against the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State and Air Force.  In addition, the Knights’ 2007 schedule includes powerhouse programs in Duke, North Carolina, Maryland and Princeton.

B.J. Leighton Signs with University of Maryland Baltimore County

B.J. Leighton (Apex HS) signed with UMBC to play for head coach Don Zimmerman.  Leighton is amongst the top athletes in the state of North Carolina.  A true two-way midfielder, Leighton will bring his athleticism to the Retrievers who are currently ranked #20 in the Division I poll.  In 2006, UMBC fell 11-8 to Princeton in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.

Grady Signs with Saint Joseph’s (PA)

Ian Grady (Green Hope HS) will play for head coach Pat Cullinan at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania next year.  Grady will bring his abilities as a finisher to the Hawks who compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Kercher and Mendes Take Their Talents to the Terps

Team Carolina’s dynamic duo of Bob Kercher (Durham Riverside) and Tony Mendes (East Chapel Hill) are both members of head coach Dave Cottle’s recruiting class of 2011 at the University of Maryland.  Kercher and Mendes, both two-time members of Team Carolina, are a part of what many believe is this year’s strongest recruiting class in the nation.  The Terps are currently ranked #11 in the NCAA Division I polls.

Kyle Rockey to Play at Pfeiffer University

Kyle Rockey (Weddington High School) will play at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina.  Pfeiffer, coached by Jason Dombrowski, is an NCAA Division II competes in the Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference.  Kyle will join his brother Devon on the Falcons’ roster.

John Ryan Sander to Attend Randolph-Macon College

Team Carolina product John Ryan Sander (Providence Day School) will attend Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia beginning in the fall of 2007.  Sander will play for head coach Mike Planholt, who just completed his second season leading the Yellow Jackets.  Randolph-Macon competes in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference against traditional powers Hampden-Sydney, Roanoke, Washington and Lee and Lynchburg.  Sander was an All-State selection in 2006 and was named Team Carolina’s MVP of the Evolution Games in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Webber Signs with Saint Andrew’s

Team Carolina’s Geoff Webber (Charlotte Catholic) has signed with Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian in Laurinburg, North Carolina.  Webber will play for head coach Mike Lawson and the Knights who compete Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference.  In 2007, Saint Andrew’s finished second in the conference and fell to Limestone in the CVAC championship game.

Landvater to Attend Hampden-Sydney College

Lance Landvater (Cardinal Gibbons) will attend Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virginia and play for head coach Ray Rostan’s nationally ranked Tigers.  Landvater was a 2007 All-American while helping to lead Cardinal Gibbons to a North Carolina 2A/3A Championship.

Caron to Attend Catholic University

Team Carolina defenseman Dan Caron (Charlotte Catholic) will attend Catholic University in Washington, DC.  The Cardinals compete in the Capital Athletic Conference under the guidance of head coach Brooks Singer.

Goalie Ben Read to Attend the United States Naval Academy

Two-time Team Carolina goalie, Ben Read (Forsyth Day) will attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  The Midshipmen, under the direction of head coach Richie Meade, are currently ranked #10 in Division I.  Navy has a rich history of top flight goaltenders, including Mickey Jarboe and Matt Russell.

Below, 2006 Team Carolina Lacrosse @ West Chester University July, 21 2006