The West Coast has become the new breeding ground for the Lacrosse player of tomorrow, as evidenced by the success of the Sonoma High School Shootout tournament in Sonoma California.  This year, more than 35 coaches attended the Shootout looking for top prospects from the West Coast.  Teams from as far East as Florida and South as Texas attended with a higher caliber of talent than in every year past.   The Seattle Starz brought two teams down to Sonoma this year, with the objective to put Seattle on the Lacrosse map at a West Coast recruiting camp and to have a great time playing against good talent.  After winning 4-0 their seeding games and being seeded first in the tournament, they had already accomplished both goals.  Kevin Corrigan made the comment that he wouldn't even watch a team from Seattle five years ago, and now, he (and 20 other coaches) stood on the sidelines watching the Seattle Starz make quick work of a number of good all-star teams.  In fact, the Seattle Starz were the talk of the tournament.

Here is a diary of how the U-17 team did:

Friday Night
Game #1 vs NorCal Ignatius Won 9-1

Jason Montoya started in goal and led the team to a 9-1 victory making over 15 saves. Chris Taylor and Shane Moriarty where key in the win, they lead the way by picking up ground ball after ground ball. Shane O'neill and Drew Snider lead the Starz each tallying two goals.  The attack was lead by the great play of James Anderson, AP, AB, Ryan Malone, and Alec Springer.  
 

Saturday
 

Game#2 vs North County Starz Won 11-3

Mikey Travers started in cage and did a great job in the first half making some early saves to get the team all fired up. The midfield once again was the dominant force with Greg Bearson, Shane O'neill, and Chris Taylor leading the way. Ben York dominated the face offs and scored two goals. This win by the Seattle team gave the North County Starz their first lost in over 30 games. James Anderson had to be the games MVP with at least 4 assistants and scooping up over a dozen groundballs. On the defensive side of things, Taylor Platt, Henry Sulzbacher, and Tom Wheeler where amazing in shutting down North County's high scoring offense. Ryan Malone and Alec Springer also tallied goals.
 

Game #3 vs Northern Cal Falcons Won 14-0

Both Mike Travers and Jason Montoya played a half and posted a shut out. James Anderson got the game going with a hat trick in the first four minutes of play.  The rest of the goals came from a well balanced offense.  Seattle controlled the ball for at least 10 minutes in the first half and 15 in the second. This would be a good opportunity to rest our legs and just work through our offenses. Chris Taylor and Drew Snider ran the hidden ball trick perfectly -even faking out the referee.

Game #4 vs Lax Dawgs Won 11-2

Jason Montoya was once again was amazing in net shutting down their attack with save after save. Shane O'neill who was running long pole as well as middie and had two big take away checks to fire up the team, and impress the scouts. Ben York dominated winning every face-off except two.  Andrew Parietti and Andrew Bjorkman led the attack racking up two goals each and a couple of helpers. Drew Snider lead the midfield with a hat trick.

Game #5 vs Florida Possums Won 9-2

Mikey Travers started in goal. After being seeded first for the tourney, this game was a game for coaches rather than players.  The midfield lead the way again winning the face-off and ground ball game. This was the first game the defense was really tested and they answered. Tom Wheeler had some big take away checks while Taylor Platt and Henry Sulzbacher impressed scouts with their stick skills and clearing abilities. Offensively it was James Anderson and Andrew Bjorkman who led the game in goals.

Game #6 vs Lakeridge  Won 11-4 Quarter Finals

Our midfield was explosive. Taylor had four goals and was virtually unstoppable. Lakeridge tried to lock him off but Moriarty and Taylor worked together to set picks to free Taylor up. Alec Springer contributed with a pair of goals. Ben York once again dominated on face-offs and Greg Bearson added two goals to finish out the game with Seattle winning the first play-off game.  Next game is against Arizona- a team sending four kids D1 next year, including the top goalie recruit in the nation attending Maryland.
 

Sunday

Game #7 vs Arizona lost 3-9 Semi-Finals
Jason started in net for Seattle, but our 16 guys didn't have anything left in the tank after six games. Tired legs and a 20+ save game for Arizona gave the game to Arizona.  We accomplished a lot as a team, and as a program as well, finishing 3rd overall.

Arizona beat Team Oregon 7-4 in the finals, to end a great tourney.  We went home tired and had a great time.  Both Shane O'neill and Drew Snider earned All-Stars, playing in the best game of the camp with some terrific players.
 

The Seattle U-15 team also performed very well, with a tough bracket and a younger team than most. Earning All-star honors were Caldwell Rohrbach, Nick Yaap and Jake Medwell.  Great job guys!

If you are interested in trying out for the Starz in Seattle, CLICK HERE for more information.  Tryouts start August 6th and 7th for this coming year.  Starz is an out of season Lacrosse program for elite players to play with other elite players, receive Lacrosse instruction and fitness training and travel to tournaments.  Tryouts include grades 5th-12th, and are open tryouts.