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7/21/2009- Lacrosse
2009 All-Oakland County boys lacrosse team
2009 All-Oakland County boys lacrosse team
By KYLE DUDA
Special to The Oakland Press
The 2009 boys lacrosse season was a memorable one for teams and players throughout Oakland County. Birmingham Brother Rice reigned supreme yet again, as the Warriors garnered their ninth consecutive Division 1 state championship (fifth consecutive in the MHSAA era). In Division 2, Orchard Lake St. Mary's emerged from the woodwork, advancing to the state championship game before being ousted in overtime, 13-12, by perennial powerhouse East Grand Rapids. Like so many years in the past, the area brimmed with a plethora of talent, especially at midfield. Here's a look at the top players from the 2009 season:
Attack
Nick Dolik (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Name an accolade and chances are Dolik owns it. Dolik's a two time All-American selection and took home top player honors in the Midwest as voted on by the Midwest Coaches Association.
“He's a prolific offensive player,” Brother Rice head coach Rob Ambrose said.
How prolific? He registered seven points in the state championship game, a 12-11 victory over Detroit U-D Jesuit.
Dolik faced plenty of pressure to deliver this season, as the Warriors lost 11 star players to graduation, but he proved he was up for the challenge. The road to success all started with his work ethic.
“He takes (lacrosse) serious and is a real professional with his training,” Ambrose said.
Dolik will continue his lacrosse career at Penn State.
Pat VanDusen (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — VanDusen, an All-American selection, led the Warriors in goals.
“He's a throwback attack,” Ambrose said. “His primary job was to score goals.”
Perhaps VanDusen's best asset on the field was the way he used his body to establish position in front of the net.
“There aren't too many crease attackmen, his job was to score and everyone knew it,” Ambrose said. “He used his body and was a great finisher who'd pick corners once he got the feed inside.”
VanDusen will pursue his scholastic career at Marquette.
Mitch Birgin (Soph.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central — Birgin made tremendous strides from last year to this season, and was an integral part in Catholic Central's run to the Division 1 state semifinals. After receiving little to no playing time his freshman year, Birgin found himself thrust into a different role this season and ended up netting 29 goals and a spot on the all-state team.
His hands proved to be one of his strongest assets.
“He would definitely be on the good hands team,” Catholic Central head coach Dave Wilson said. “He can catch and finish near the net.”
One of Birgin's most memorable moments of the season came when he scored the game-winning goal against Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood.
Ian Brambs (Jr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary's — Brambs, an All-American, was a point machine for the Eaglets and served as the catalyst to the team's meteoric rise. He finished the season with 136 points in 23 games — 55 goals and 81 assists.
“He's a quarterback on the field,” St. Mary's head coach Greg Normand said. “He's a smart, instinctive player who obviously puts up numbers.”
The best part? He should be a lot better next season, according to Normand.
“He's one of the top players in the state right now,” Normand said. “He should be in the top three next season.”
Brambs is already receiving attention from several Division 1 collegiate squads, including Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Midfield
Danny Henneghan (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Henneghan, a four-year starter and three-time All-American selection asserted his dominance in the faceoff circle, creating plenty of scoring opportunities for his team and ensuring the Warriors maintained possession for the duration of the game.
“He really is a world-class faceoff midfielder,” Ambrose said. “From the time he was a freshman, he was the most dominant faceoff midfielder I've ever coached. He's very fast and creates offensive opportunities right off the faceoff, which is really unusual.”
Henneghan will continue his lacrosse playing career at Penn State.
Bryan Walker (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Walker didn't receive too much playing time as a junior, but once given the opportunity as a senior, he delivered the goods.
“This year was his year to shine and he didn't disappoint,” Ambrose said. “He handled the pressure well and delivered; scoring goals in the championship game.”
Walker's performance this season helped garner some attention. He will continue his collegiate playing career at Yale.
Jon Avery (Jr.), Clarkston — Avery, a three-year starter, helped direct the Wolves' offense. He finished the season with 22 goals and 19 assists.
Avery showed, time and again, he is most dangerous in the open field.
“He has the ability to move the ball downfield and create opportunities for our offense,” Clarkston head coach Brian Kaminskas said. “He will be appointed a captain for the 2010 season, not just for his playing ability but for his leadership skills on and off the field.”
Andrew Miller (Jr.), Clarkston — Miller, an all-state selection, scored 13 goals and dished out 21 assists.
“He is incredibly fast and a top face-off man,” Kaminskas said. “He is extremely fast and has variety of face off techniques at his disposal. He sets up no less than four fast breaks a game for us, often resulting in a goal.”
Chris Nemes (Sr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central — Nemes, an All-American and all-state performer, showcased his all-around game by registering 29 goals to go along with his 19 assists.
“Chris is an all-around great player,” Wilson said. “He has the ability to face off, play good defense and score goals. He also filled the role for us as a great leader.”
Nemes' leadership and willingness to play was best illustrated in the Division 1 regional final against Troy Athens.
“He was very ill and never let me know,” Wilson said. “I saw he was spent and I was trying to give him the regional trophy to hold up and he was on the side vomiting in a trash can.”
Joe MacLean (Jr.), Birmingham Detroit Country Day — Although the Yellowjackets were ousted in the first round of the playoffs and finished below .500 on the season, MacLean proved to be one of the most indispensable players to his team. He led the Yellowjackets with 35 goals and contributed with 11 assists.
“Joe is a classic, old school middle,” Country Day head coach John Kenney said. “He plays offense and defense well, and he has one of the best split dodges I've seen in a while. Everyone looked to him to provide on-the-field leadership.”
Scott Koenigsknecht (Sr.), Orchard Lake St. Mary's — Koenigsknecht, a four-year starter, registered 97 points (40 goals, 57 assists) for the Eaglets and served as the glue guy.
He was there when times weren't so good, but was fortunate enough to finish his career on a high-note.
“Scott's one of the kids who has seen a lot,” Normand said. “He won four games in his first two years. Then he won 28 games in the last two.”
Despite the rollercoaster career, Koenigsknecht remained positive and refused to let morale run low.
“Scott is probably the best kid I've coached, with the exception of my son,” Normand said. “He's a coach's dream. In 30 years, with the exception of my son, I've never had a better kid.”
Koenigsknecht is headed to Michigan State next year.
Scott Drummond (Jr.), Birmingham United — Drummond, an all-state first-team selection and an all-Midwest second-team selection, scored 39 goals and dished out 26 assists for United. Both of which were team highs.
“He's a very versatile player,” Birmingham United head coach Jeff Martin said. “He can create his own shot and draw defenders and open things up for his teammates.”
Brent Prior (Jr.), Birmingham United — Prior, who shared team-MVP accolades with Drummond, finished with 30 goals and 19 assists, while garnering a spot on the all-state team.
Prior served as a difference maker and showcased his ability to beat defenders 20-25 yards away from the goal thanks to his superb combination of strength and speed.
“He's good at dodging north and south and moving straight down to the cage to get his shot or setup a teammate,” Martin said.
Defense
Tom Stacy (Sr.), Birmingham United — Birmingham United had the fourth-toughest schedule in the Midwest, which meant Stacy had his hands full for the duration of the season. Stacy played exceptionally well in Birmingham United's 5-2 victory over Shadyside (Pa.).
“He was our team leader on defense and was our vocal leader,” Martin said.
Stacy remains undecided on where he'll play next year. He is, however, leaning toward Michigan State or Indiana.
Peter Plaskey (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Plaskey, a three-year starter who comes from a long lineage of lacrosse players (he is one of four brothers to play under Ambrose at Brother Rice), served as the Warriors' anchor on defense.
“He's a monster on defense,” Ambrose said. “He understood the game and ran the defense. He talked very well and possesses good stick skills.”
The 6-4, 230-pound Plaskey will resume his playing career at Mercyhurst or Adrian.
Ben Hogan (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — Hogan may be a little on the lean side, at 6-3, 200 pounds, but he still made his presence felt on the defensive end of the field for the Warriors.
“He developed very well this season, his senior year,” Ambrose said. “He was one of the best defensemen in the Midwest. He's a real gamer and played consistently well in every big game.”
Hogan will attend Indiana and play club lacrosse.
Alex Moore (Jr.), Novi Detroit Catholic Central — Moore, an all-state selection, battled minor knee injuries for the duration of the season, but still performed at a high level, according to Wilson.
“He's definitely our emotional and physical leader of the team,” Wilson said. “When you play us, you know who No. 2 is.”
Goalie
T.J. Yost (Sr.), Birmingham Brother Rice — A two-time All-American in his three seasons as a starter, Yost solidified himself, yet again, as one of the premier goalkeepers in the nation.
“He really is a great goaltender,” Ambrose said. “He's cat-like in goal; quick and fast.”
The thing that set Yost apart was his ability to play at a high level in pressure situations.
“He's the best goalie in Midwest by far,” Ambrose said. “This year in the state championship game he made some key saves. We needed our big players to step up and he has always done that.”
Yost will continue his playing career at Quinnipiac University.
Head coach
Greg Normand, Orchard Lake St. Mary's — Normand, a lacrosse veteran coach of more than 30 years in the Waterford area, helped shape the Eaglets' rise from mediocrity into a state contender.
In just his second season with the Eaglets, Normand guided them to the Division 2 state championship game, where they pushed defending champs East Grand Rapids to its limits before ultimately coming up short in overtime, 13-12.
Normand, however, refuses to believe he turned the program around.
“I think there is a general theme,” Normand said. “St. Mary's has always had good athletes, so it's not a matter of turning things around; it's just giving it direction.”
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