Daily Archives: February 17, 2010

Top Western College Men’s Lacrosse Players: Chapman Men’s Lacrosse Middie Chris Small (Sr., La Costa Canyon HS, Encinitas, CA) Leads Panthers From Face-Off To Finish

Posted on February 17, 2010 | 1 Comment

Chapman Lacrosse Midfielder/Face-Off Specialist Chris Small (Sr., #9, Encinitas, CA, La Costa Canyon High School, 5’9”, 165 pounds). Son of Craig and Cathy Small, with 1 Brother, CJ Small, a sophomore playing lacrosse at Villanova. Photo by Craig Small http://www.sportshotfotos.com/

Attends Chapman University, a senior, majoring in leadership and organizational skills with a minor in communications.

Chris began playing lacrosse in 6th grade, after a trip with several soccer families to the island of Antigua. The kids were playing lacrosse on the beach and Chris loved it from that point on. He came home from that trip and called Danny Kolts about getting on the Encinitas Mustang middle school team. Coach Kolts agreed and Chris brought along 4 of his best friends. Shortly after that he quit playing on his state champion soccer team for good.

Chapman middie Chris Small facing off against BYU on Feb. 13, 2010. Photo by LaxBuzz

His very first time on the field, Coach Kolts tried him at the face off against a Canadian team at a tournament at the polo fields. Chris won that face off and his position was cemented from that point on as a face off player. His 6th and 8th grade year the Mustangs team won the SDCLA championship.

In high school, he made the La Costa Canyon high school Varsity team as a freshmen, under the coaching of Dallas Hartley. The Mavericks were in the CIF championship finals all four years, winning the title in 2005 and 2006. The 2005 team was ranked #1 in the west and #25 in the nation. Chris was named the Most Valuable Midfielder and on the All CIF team both years. He recorded 100 points in high school with an overall face-off percentage of 71%.

He attended his first year of college at CU Boulder with 5 of his LCC lacrosse teammates. He transferred his sophomore year to Chapman University in Orange County. He felt he had a better future at lacrosse there. Chris was not content to just be a FOGO and had to work hard and prove to coaches that he could do both face-offs and be a valuable player on the field.

Chapman Men's Lacrosse middie Chris Small has been a 3-year starter for the Panthers. His sophomore year he was named 2nd team All American and his junior year he was named honorable mention All-American. The Panthers have been to the championship game both years he has played, losing close games to Michigan.Photo by Craig Small http://www.sportshotfotos.com/

His sophomore year he was named 2nd team All American and his junior year he was named honorable mention All-American. The Panthers have been to the championship game both years he has played, losing close games to Michigan. He recently scored the winning goal in overtime against BYU proving that he can score goals and win face-offs. He even likes to play some defense.

Chris also enjoys surfing, wake boarding and mountain climbing.

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Growth Of Lacrosse: “Lax.com” Website Is Sold To Marketing Professional Who Seeks To Increase E-Commerce Lacrosse Equipment Sales

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

John Arrix of Wilton is expecting to score big with a recent acquistion: Lax.com, an e-commerce Web site for the sale of lacrosse equipment. Photo: Contributed Photo / Stamford Advocate Contributed

John Arrix of Wilton is expecting to score big with a recent acquisition.

Arrix, a marketing professional with 25 years of experience, has partnered with George West, a Wall Street financier from New Jersey, to buy Lax.com, an e-commerce Web site for the sale of lacrosse equipment.

Arrix said his goal is to use marketing expertise to increase Lax.com’s Web site sales, which, he said, already command 40 percent of the $100 million industry’s annual e-commerce market of $10 million.

“One of the things that intrigued me about Lax.com was its e-commerce play,” said Arrix, who attributes the activity to the sport’s growth in popularity. “Lacrosse has been very strong in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, but now it’s growing big time in the larger states, such as Florida, Texas and California.”

Arrix’s career in marketing began in 1985 when he joined Capital Sports, a Stamford-based marketing firm founded by his father, Robert Arrix. John Arrix in 1996 became president of Capital Sports, which he sold in 1999 to Kaleidoscope Sports and Entertainment. He left Kaleidoscope a few years later as its senior vice president to start another marketing firm, Arrix Sports.

Lax.com, which was founded in 2000, by 2006 had closed its five brick-and-mortar stores, including one in Greenwich, to avoid space rental costs during the sport’s slow retail season from July through October, Arrix said.

“What became apparent was the profit was with the e-commerce side,” he said, adding that the company’s year-over-year revenue has grown 10 percent from January 2009 as the economy shows signs of stability. “We see people spending again on their kids.”

Sales through Lax.com, which sells 3,500 different lacrosse products from a 23,000-square-foot warehouse in Carlstadt, N.J., where it’s headquartered, are expected to jump another 10 or 15 percent this year, Arrix said.

“That will be from the growth of the sport and being more proactive in marketing,” he said. “We hope to see long-term growth of 30 percent with the growth of the sport.”

The sport of native American origin involving the passing of a rubber ball with a netted stick is growing quickly at the high school and collegiate levels, in large part due to a strong, national, grass-roots campaign, said Leo Karl, vice president of the girl program for the New Canaan Lacrosse Association.

“Unlike some sports, it’s high level action and movement for every player,” Karl said, adding that some of the nation’s best programs are found in lower Fairfield County. “It’s a hands-on sport with running and hand-eye coordination.”

A large part of Lax.com’s marketing effort will be focused on further developing the Web site, which already shows statistics and information on high school and college lacrosse, Arrix said.

“We have significant content on our site,” he said.

Arrix said he plans this summer to move the company with seven employees, including him and West, to a location in lower Fairfield County after the lease on the New Jersey warehouse expires in June.

“We’ve started looking at spaces in Stamford and Norwalk,” he said.

To drive sales, a company Web site must be functional, interesting, easy to navigate and, lastly, advertised via traditional marketing, links on other sites and other means, said Kevin McEvoy, a marketing professor at the University of Connecticut‘s Stamford branch.

“You’ve got to get people to it,” he said. “That’s the part that people who start this business tend to forget.”

http://www.newstimes.com/business/article/Wilton-resident-nets-Lax-com-367636.php

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Western College Men’s Lacrosse: Oregon Men’s Lacrosse Starts 2010 Season Strong Under Head Coach Joe Kerwin

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Before leaving for Notre Dame de Namur University following the 2007 season, Joe Kerwin was the Oregon club men’s lacrosse head coach for two years. He led the Ducks to an overall record of 35-8 that was highlighted by a trip to the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association National Championship game.

Kerwin returned to the University for the 2010 campaign, and early indications are that his second tenure in the green and yellow will have a similar level of success as his first.

The Ducks return 33 players from last year’s top-25 squad and have high hopes for this year. After two convincing victories to begin the season, Kerwin seems to have a better understanding of his team’s potential. Ivar Vong

The Ducks dominated their two games in the season-opening Pac-10 Shootout in Seattle over the weekend. On Saturday, Oregon downed California 14-7 and on Sunday, the Ducks crushed Stanford 12-6.

“Overall, I think we’re very happy with the how the weekend went,” Duck captain Justin Blackmore said. “We played and handily beat two ranked teams, which helps our confidence as well as teach us what we need to work on.”

After a slow start to the team’s season opener against Cal on Saturday, the Ducks outscored the Golden Bears 12-5 in the final three quarters as Oregon found its offensive rhythm.

“We came out a little slow,” club coordinator Robbie McLellarn said. “The game was kind of tight in the first quarter in the half, then right before halftime we put in a few goals, and then in the second half we really rolled them.”

Sunday’s 12-6 defeat of Stanford unfolded in the reverse manner. After a fast start, the Ducks withstood a rally from the Cardinal to earn their second victory in as many days.
“We came out hot in that game; got out to a quick lead then kind of slowed down,” McLellarn said. “I think (we won for the same reasons we did) Saturday — our defense and goalkeeping were outstanding.”

Nick Johnston spent most of the weekend in net for the Ducks, and will be counted on throughout the season to keep the opposition at bay.

“Nick played the majority and played a great few games,” Blackmore said. “This is nothing new. He’s an incredible goalie and played to his level this weekend.”

Offensively, attacker Sean Silverstein led the Ducks with four goals and one assist between the two contests while attacker Max Schlesinger added three goals and two assists.

“It was a good weekend for us,” McLellarn said. “It was a good two games. It’s kind of nice to have those two first wins under our belt, and it gives us some confidence going into the rest of the season.”

The Ducks return 33 players from last year’s top-25 squad and have high hopes for this year. After two convincing victories to begin the season, Kerwin seems to have a better understanding of his team’s potential.

“We need to continue to improve each day,” he said. “We have a lot of potential. We can be a lot better than we were this weekend.”

The Ducks will have to improve to achieve a pair of ambitious goals, as identified by McLellarn.

“The last time coach Kerwin was here, we made it all the way to the national championship game and that’s somewhere we definitely want to be again this year,” McLellarn said. “Our primary goal is winning our conference (the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League) championship, and the second goal is always the MCLA championship.”

Oregon’s main competition in the PNCLL is undoubtedly Simon Fraser University, a school located in British Columbia. The Clan won the last two PNCLL titles after Oregon won four straight earlier in the decade.

“We’re really looking to get back at them this year, looking to get that trophy back,” McLellarn said.

To do that, the team will need to continue to work hard on the practice field and continue to work on its offensive attack.

“(We need to) keep bringing it in practice, continue to take care of our bodies, and maintain the hunger to get better everyday,” Blackmore said.

Kerwin added, “Offensively, we need to find our rhythm. We have the players, we just need to get into a flow.”

The Ducks will have another chance to fine-tune their offensive attack when they battle the University of Montana this Sunday at the artificial turf fields next to the Student Recreation Center. The contest begins at 1 p.m. and will mark the beginning of PNCLL play.

http://www.dailyemerald.com/sports/kerwin-s-return-pays-early-dividends-for-duck-lacrosse-1.1161737

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Southern California High School Girls Lacrosse Profile: Rancho Bernardo Girls Lacrosse Midfielder Allison Proehl

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Allison Proehl (Midfielder, #14, Rancho Bernardo HS, 2011) - West Coast All-Stars

 Height: 5′ 8″, Weight: 130 lbs.

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California High School Boys Lacrosse: Monte Vista Boys Lacrosse 2010 Schedule Features St. Ignatius, De LaSalle And Amador Valley As It Seeks To Capture CIF-North Coast Section Championship

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

 

Date Opponent  
3/12 at Bellarmine Prep    
3/16 ACALANES    
3/19 at University SF    
3/23 at Amador Valley    
3/26 FOOTHILL    
3/29 at Redwood    
3/30 GRANADA    
4/02 at California    
4/06 at Saint Ignatius Prep    
4/13 at Livermore    
4/16 DE LASALLE    
4/20 at San Ramon Valley    
4/23 AMADOR VALLEY    
4/27 at Foothill    
4/30 at Granada    
5/04 CALIFORNIA    
5/05 at Miramonte    
5/07 LIVERMORE    
5/11 at De LaSalle    
5/14 SAN RAMON VALLEY    
Coach: Mike Lambrecht

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College Men’s Lacrosse: UMass Men’s Lacrosse Player Profiles (Videos)

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

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