North Brunswick Lacrosse

I decided to put together a series of slide shows for each senior of the North Brunswick Raiders 2009 lacrosse team. I’ve created a slide show of thirty photographs of each senior. The slide shows are ordered by the senior’s last name.

I’m using a new slide show player which is easy to use. All the navigation is on the bottom of the player. Click the arrow to begin the slide show. To view other seniors, click the gallery button on the bottom left hand corner of the player. Select your senior by clicking their name on the gallery menu. Want to see a bigger screen? Just click the “full screen” on the bottom right hand corner. To go back the regular screen size, either hit your “esc” key or click the “full screen” button again.

It’s a great way to reflect on the 2009 season!

The Lady Raiders lacrosse team hosted South Brunswick at Raider Road Field. The first half looked very promising for the Lady Raiders as they led at the end of the half. However, South Brunswick woke up from its first half malaise and took command of the second half earning them a win over the Lady Raiders.

For my part, it was my first opportunity to photograph the Lady Raiders for the 2009 season. With the boys and girls teams alternating from Sabella and Raider Road fields our paths never crossed.

To view the slide show of this game, just click the photo below for it to begin.

North Brunswick's Lady Raiders lacrosse team after scoring against South Brunswick.

During the J.P. Stevens game, the North Brunswick Raiders lacrosse team sported “MT 24″ on the back of their helmets to honor their friend and teammate, Matt Trigger. “MT” for his initials and “24″ for his jersey number.

This was a spontaneous act and goes to show how much Matt is admired and cared for by his teammates.

Our best wishes to Matt and his family. If you want to extend your good wishes here—this is a blog by the way, just click the headline of this post and leave a comment.

I’ve created a short slide show of Matt’s teammates sporting “MT 24″ on the back of their helmets. Just click the picture below to view it.

A player's helmet sporting MT 24 in honor of Matt Trigger

It’s the last official conference game of the season. It’s senior night (see separate post for senior night pictures). Michael Curran scores his 200th goal of his high school career  — congratulations Mike! The team dons “MT 24″ on the back of their helmets to honor their teammate Matt Trigger, #24. The North Brunswick Raiders lacrosse team finishes its season with an 8-7 record with a win over JP Stevens, 21-1. Great season guys!

To view the game slide show just click the picture below.

North Brunswick Raiders Lacrosse team, 2009

Congratulations to all our seniors: Brian Born #3, Ryan Coco #1, Doug Garback #14, Mike Hansen #6, Evan Lewis #8, Mike McDonald #10, Josh Martin #2, Kevin Porsolt #23, Zack Ritter #29,  Joe Tona #19 and Matt Trigger #24. Good luck to you all in what ever you do in the future! I’ve enjoyed watching you all play great lacrosse!

Special thanks to Pam Pirkle and all those who helped organize this year’s senior night!

I’d also like to welcome my first guest photographer, Tommy Pirkle. Tommy helped take many of the candid shots for me while I participated in the Senior Night activities with my son Michael. Yes, I still had a camera in my hand. Many thanks Tommy for helping out!

As usual, just click the photograph below and the slide show will start.

Senior Night 2009

The North Brunswick Raiders lacrosse team defeated Edison in the first round of the 2009 GMC tournament on Monday, May 11. Today, the Raiders met Old Bridge in the second round of the 2009 GMC at home at Sabella Park’s turf field. With Joe Tona sidelined and Matt Trigger and Josh Martin missing in action, you’d think the Raiders might have a rough time; however, this team has depth and others eager to step up to the challenge.

Our guys played a great game and had the lead for most of it. Old Bridge did not give up and tied the game in the fourth quarter, and then went on to win in overtime 13-14.

Click the picture below to view the game slide show.

Half-time at the GMC Round 2: North Brunswick hosts Old Bridge

It was a shorts and t-shirt kind of day. The North Brunswick Raiders lacrosse team came with their game faces on to play South Brunswick in what will probably be their last conference game of the 2009 season.

It was an intense game as our games with South Brunswick usually are. The guys played as a team and supported of each other — true laxmen all the way.

On the attack, Joe Tona slipped his defenders and got face to face with South Brunswick’s goalie several times;  Zach Ritter’s behind the cage prowess got him in front of the goal to score or assist; and Mike Curran put body and soul into every shot and check.

The middies were fabulous: Ryan Coco was in South Brunswick’s face the whole game; Evan Lewis showed his speed; Josh Martin scored and pounded; and Kevin Porsolt played with an intensity that made things happen. Then there was Brian Born who just exploded winning face offs, scoring and being every where.

The defense showed no less. Goalie Mike Fisher showed no fear, stared down South Brunswick’s attack and made great saves.  The rest of the defense followed his lead: Matt Trigger was master of the long stick; Mike McDonald cleared the ball even in the thick of it; Brad Pastrick dodged and weaved past midfield many times; Ian McGeary stood tall and pushed back; and Doug Garback, what can I say, was a pit bull and let no one pass.

A tremendous team effort by everyone even though the final score (10-8 ) does not reflect it. Click the picture below to see the game slide show.

North Brunswick and South Brunswick line up at the start of the game.

It was an exciting night game and, of course, another wet game. I arrived late in the second quarter and the score was 5-6 North Brunswick with 4:27 to go. At the end of the first half, the score was 5-7 North Brunswick.

The second half started out promising with North Brunswick scoring with 8:16 left in the third quarter. Then the rains came and East Brunswick sticks woke up and scored three successive goals.  At that point both teams battled for supremacy. At the end of the fourth quarter the score was tied 12-12.

The game resumed with four minutes of sudden death over time. With 57.8 seconds left, North Brunswick scored. The team erupted, the North Brunswick bench empty and the team made a pile on.

To see the game pictures and the more of the pile on, click the picture below.

North Brunswick piles on after winning in over time

The North Brunswick Raiders boys lacrosse team hosted the Randolph Rams at Sabella Park. The Raiders took the field with a 5-4 record while the Rams had a 6-2 record. It was a competitive game and our guys never stopped trying. In the end Randolph out scored us 19-7. Now the Raiders are 5-5 as they head into a very busy schedule next week.

Click the picture below to view the game slide show.

The North Brunswick Raiders lacrosse defense stands tall.

I arrived early at J.P. Stevens’ John E. McGowan Memorial Stadium and witnessed the North Brunswick Raiders take the field. You could tell that their spirits were high as they “mugged” for the camera.

Sophomore goalie Connor Pastrick played the entire game giving junior goalie Mike “Fish Sticks” Fisher a day off. The North Brunswick Raiders defense had two brothers defending the cage—Connor and Brad Pastrick.

This was a high scoring game for the Raiders with the usual culprits scoring and assisting: Brian Born, Ryan Cocco, Mike Curran, Josh Martin, Tait Pirkle, Kevin Porsolt, Zach Ritter and Joe Tona.  The North Brunswick Raiders won 16-2 in a game that coach Brett Severino showed great respect for the J.P. Stevens team.

This was also a game of firsts for some players. Michael Hansen scored his first goal of the season to everyone’s delight. Also defenseman Brad Pastrick ran the ball down and scored his first goal of the season. It was a very exciting moment, and if you look closely at one the pictures, you’ll understand when I say that the JP Stevens’ goalie has nerves of steel.

To view the game slide show, click the picture below.

Let the game begin: North Brunswick Lacrosse at J.P. Stevens