Lacrosse

Washington Township is ahead of schedule, and so are the Tiernan twins. That's typical for the Minutemaids' sophomore midfielders. They always arrive faster than expected. "They have nationally ranked speed," Washington Township coach Sandy Stockl said. The Tiernans played a major role Wednesday as Washington Township built a big lead and held on for a 13-12 victory over Lenape in an Olympic Conference American Division lacrosse game. Although they combined for just one goal, the Tiernans made an impact with their ability to collect ground balls, race from end to end with the ball, and use their speed and quickness at the defensive end. "Our speed helps us out," said Megan Tiernan, the slightly faster, slightly smaller of the twins.

Tournament of Champions Semifinals Who: Moorestown (24-0) vs. Glen Ridge (21-3) When: Tuesday, 5 p.m. Where: Monmouth University Fast Facts: Moorestown, the Group 3 state champion, topped Glen Ridge, the Group 1 state champion, in the semifinal round of last year's Tournament of Champions, a game Moorestown won, 8-4. Other semifinal: Ridgewood vs. Chatham, 3 p.m. at Monmouth University....

Player             School           Class           Major Robert Church    Drexel             So.       Sport mngmt. Jeff Crosby          Cabrini             So.           Finance Chris Ficke          Villanova          Sr.       Accounting Travis Gregory       Haverford          Sr.        Economics Dillon Hamill       Haverford          Jr.

HERSHEY - They all wanted a shot "with Sean. " Parents, teammates, friends, coaches, assistant coaches, anyone associated with the La Salle High lacrosse program yanked at Sean Coleman's jersey sleeves pulling him every which way Saturday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium. Partly because Coleman was a senior, and an integral piece of La Salle's state championship lacrosse team. Partly because Coleman scored more points than any player on the field. But, mostly because he was the leader.

Friday night's showdown in boys' lacrosse between No. 1 St. Augustine Prep and No. 3 Moorestown should be a good game. It also will be for a good cause. The 7 p.m. game at St. Augustine will be part of "Jack McGetrick Night" as the two lacrosse powers combine to help raise funds for a long-time lacrosse coach. McGetrick, head coach at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., is battling prostrate cancer. There will be a $2 admission charge to the game, with all proceeds going to help with McGetrick's medical costs.

When trying to sum up Joe Donnian, Clearview boys' lacrosse coach Rob Rieck thought back to the senior's freshman year. "He couldn't even crack the JV team," Rieck said. "He just was not ready. " Three years later, Donnian is a dominant player on one of the area's best teams. And he's set to play Division II lacrosse next year for St. Leo in Florida. "Because of his work ethic, he's become the leader of our team," Rieck said. "He's a kid that just plays with heart.

According to Bob Ruoff, executive secretary of District 1, boys' lacrosse is likely to become a sport sponsored by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Last week, a proposal was made by District 3 officials at a PIAA meeting in Shippensburg. There were no votes against district playoffs in boys' lacrosse - an opportunity already accorded girls' lacrosse teams. "I think the time has come for it," Ruoff said. "Lacrosse is growing in numbers and popularity every year.

LACROSSE HAS largely been left out of the sports cinema pantheon. But never fear, LAX fans! You can finally experience your overwrought, life-lessons-via-athletics saga (complete with comely young stars) in the form of "A Warrior's Heart. " Kellan Lutz, proving why he is mostly eye candy in the "Twilight" franchise, plays Conor Sullivan, a West Coast-bred lacrosse player whose military dad moves his family across the country so Conor will have a chance of playing on the Naval Academy's team.

   The U.S. Lacrosse national convention is scheduled to be held at the Convention Center from Friday through Sunday.    The convention is billed as the largest professional development and networking event in the lacrosse world. Walk-up registration at the convention center will be available for $150.    Former Eagles defensive back and NFL head coach Herm Edwards is set to deliver the convention's keynote address at 7 p.m. on Friday. Four-time Super Bowl referee Jerry Markbreit is scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

CONOR RESCH and La Salle High sports go 'way back. In September 2001, as he was entering first grade, fresh off a move from Roxborough to Flourtown, Resch began attending the Explorers' football games because his father, Tony, had become the athletic director. "I got to stand on the sideline," Conor recalled. "My dad wouldn't let me be the ball boy, but that was cool. No responsibility. Just stand there and enjoy the game. "I remember how much the student body would come out to support the team, and what a special atmosphere that created.

All-South Jersey Boys' Lacrosse Teams First Team   Attack Mike Handlan, Moorestown, Jr. Handlan, a University of Delaware recruit, netted 58 goals against one of the state's toughest schedules. Reed Hofmann, Lenape, Sr. Hoffman was a leader and top offensive threat for the Indians. He recorded 31 assists and 45 goals. Andrew Streilein, Lenape, Jr. Strelein's 60 goals put him among South Jersey's leading scorers. He also added 21 assists.   Midfield Tyler Schulte, Seneca, Sr. The Widener recruit was the area's most dynamic offensive weapon.

Megan Kelly's lacrosse stick looks like something you'd find lying in a forest. It's called a Bamshaft. It's made of bamboo. Not many high school lacrosse players use a Bamshaft, and when describing it, Kelly said with a laugh, "People make fun of it all the time. " It's unconventional, and it's marketed toward those who want to check harder, play ultra-tough defense, and, in some way, stand out on the field. So it's almost a perfect fit for Kelly, the top defender for Moorestown and this season's Inquirer Player of the Year in South Jersey girls' lacrosse.

Standing on the field after the Tournament of Champions final, Glade and Shannon Nugent took a few moments to reflect on their senior season. They talked about the adversity they had faced. They talked about how their Shawnee girls' lacrosse team had grown closer through impossibly tough times. They talked about their head coach, Janae Zechman - and when they did, the first thought that came to mind had nothing to do with lacrosse. "One of the things I'll remember was how I always knew that I could go and talk to her anytime I wanted," Glade Nugent said of Zechman, this season's Inquirer Coach of the Year in South Jersey girls' lacrosse.

The Inquirer will look back at the spring season and the entire scholastic sports year with special commemorative stories the rest of this week. Here's the lineup. Thursday: Stories on the girls' lacrosse player and coach of the year as well as the all-South Jersey team in girls' lacrosse. Friday: Stories on the boys' lacrosse player and coach of the year as well as the all-South Jersey team in boys' lacrosse. Saturday: Stories on the player and coach of the year in softball with the all-South Jersey team; stories on the performers of the year in boys' and girls' track with the all-South Jersey team in both sports; a special look at the top senior girls' athlete of the year.

UNION, N.J. - The hours leading up to the game were the worst. "We're not used to playing games that start at 7:30," said Moorestown midfielder Marie McCool. "So I was just sitting in my bed all day, thinking 'Oh my gosh, I can't wait.' " Pregame warm-ups weren't much easier. "Walking on the field before the game, you can't help but get butterflies," said defender Megan Kelly. All of that, though, melts away after the first draw. "Once the whistle blows, it's just: 'Let's go,' " Kelly said.

HERSHEY - They all wanted a shot "with Sean. " Parents, teammates, friends, coaches, assistant coaches, anyone associated with the La Salle High lacrosse program yanked at Sean Coleman's jersey sleeves pulling him every which way Saturday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium. Partly because Coleman was a senior, and an integral piece of La Salle's state championship lacrosse team. Partly because Coleman scored more points than any player on the field. But, mostly because he was the leader.