Lacrosse association building future for RHS

   Beginning its fifth season as a youth program, the Robbinsville Lacrosse Association (RLA) started its 2007 campaign with its Boys 7-8 grade Black Raiders gaining a 12-0 victory over East Windsor.
   This win was special in many ways. It marked the first time Robbinsville has beaten its rival neighbors and the first time the boys’ team has recorded a shutout victory. More importantly, it is recognition of the improvement the boys who have participated in this program for five years have achieved.
   Neil Brown, President of RLA, with a small but enthusiastic group of parents, started this program in 2003. His philosophy was simple: teach the game of lacrosse, work on skills, make it fun and the rest will take care of itself. That mission has proven to be successful as the program has doubled in size in five years to approximately 200 boys and girls between the 2nd and 8th grades.
   The first year was tough, as bad weather, combined with the difficulty of learning a new sport, made competition challenging to say the least. The program went without a win and only few goals scored. But for the 13 boys and eight girls who have stuck with the program since its inception, the 2003 season is a fond but distant memory as they prepare to lead their 7-8 grade teams this season.
   RLA teams are part of the Central/South Jersey chapter of the US Lacrosse Association. The program is predominately comprised of Robbinsville residents, but it has always taken players from surrounding towns. RLA will field four boys and three girls travel teams for the 2007 season. Games are played against area teams from Lower Bucks County to Toms River. Home games are typically on the weekends from now until early June. RLA’s home games are played at both Community Park and Robbinsville High School.
   Thomas Bell, John Cifelli, John Demkovitz, Boomer Dohn, Tommy Langford, Tyler Oneill, Alec Regulski, A.J. Sanguinetti, Thomas Sellers, Michael Tattory and Ben Tizzano are all members of the winning team this past weekend. They were also members of that first team that never won a game in 2003. Practice has certainly paid off!
   Other fifth year players include Jeff Wagner, Joe Normandin, Julie Challender, Lee Ann Bruno, Amanda Matyas, Nina Andersen, Selena Anker, Amanda Douglass, Emily Kolaski and Jessica Cook.
   For more information about the Robbinsville Lacrosse Association please visit the Website @ www.Robbinsvillelax.com or email [email protected].