presented by Epoch Lacrosse
Epoch/USL High School Boys' Players of the Week (May 9)
Tue May 9 2017 | Laurel Pfahler | High School
High School Boys
Christian Paley, Sean MacKinney, Nick DeFrancesco, Kavan Braun and Asher Nolting earn this week's honors.
The Epoch/US Lacrosse Players of the Week are named each Tuesday to recognize the most outstanding individual performances in high school boys’ and girls’ lacrosse in each of the five regions — Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest and West — outlined in our high school coverage. Make it Epoch.
Northeast
Christian Paley, Somers (Conn.)
Paley became the third player from Connecticut to cross the 400-point plateau in his varsity career last week. He reached the milestone while tallying five goals and three assists in a 20-4 win over Rocky Hill (Conn.). Paley, a senior attackman who is headed to Hartford, now has 210 goals and 190 assists.
Also considered: Chris Gray, Shoreham-Wading River (N.Y.); Devin Lee, Clinton (N.Y.); Lucas Quinn, Niskayuna (N.Y.); Dan Torres, New Hartford (N.Y.)
— Will Cleveland
Mid-Atlantic
Sean MacKinney, Bridgewater-Raritan (N.J.)
The senior attackman continued his recent offensive tear last week to help the Panthers stay unbeaten. MacKinney had three goals and two assists Wednesday in an 11-2 win over Ridge (N.J.). On Saturday, the Manhattan recruit scored five times to help complete a comeback to beat Moorestown (N.J.), 10-8. After somewhat of a quiet start, he’s registered 24 points in his past four games.
Also notable: Brendan Harmon, Avon Grove (Pa.); T.J. Malone, Haverford School (Pa.); Devon McLane, Westfield (N.J.); Liam Powderly, McDonogh (Md.)
— Eric Detweiler
South
Nick DeFrancesco, Panther Creek (N.C.)
The senior goalie put together an incredible performance to help his team upset Millbrook in the first-round of the North Carolina playoffs. DeFrancesco had 18 saves in the 15-9 win. Panther Creek was eliminated by defending state champ Cardinal Gibbons in the second round, despite DeFrancesco registering 14 saves. He ended the season with 277 saves and a 59 percent save percentage. He is Panther Creek’s all-time saves leader.
Also notable: Daniel Burnum, Dallas Jesuit (Texas); Jack Dennehy, Harrison (Ga.); Payne Durham, Peachtree Ridge (Ga.); Sam Hollinger, Walton (Ga.); Gunnar Luckowski, The Woodlands (Texas); Brandon Meaux, Episcopal School Dallas, (Texas); Harrison Mills, Walton (Ga.); Owen Seebold, Highland Park (Texas); Jack Tabor, Dallas Jesuit (Texas); Trey Weiderecht, Dallas Jesuit (Texas)
— Aimee Ford Foster
Midwest
Kavan Braun, Cathedral (Ind.)
Braun, an attackman, has been a consistent presence this season for Cathedral, leading one of the most potent attacks in the Midwest. In addition to his five-goal game against Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.), Braun notched a hat trick against Noblesville (Ind.) last week.
Also notable: Hub Hejna, East Grand Rapids (Mich.); Griffin Hughes, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio); Jackson Reid, Culver Academy Prep (Ind.); AJ Rigsby, Bishop Watterson (Ohio)
— Justin Boggs
West
Asher Nolting, Cherry Creek (Colo.)
The senior attackman led Cherry Creek in a pair of important wins last week, totaling seven goals and five assists as the Bruins beat two of the next-best teams in the state, Mountain Vista and Kent Denver. Nolting amassed five goals and three assists in a 14-6 in over Mountain Vista and had two goals and two assists in an 11-3 win against Kent. Nolting is headed to the Air Force next year.
Also notable: Ellis Geis, Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.); Gokhale Sachin, Corona del Mar (Calif.); Jack Sercu, Eastside Catholic (Wash.); Jake Taylor, Regis Jesuit (Colo.)
— Laurel Pfahler
