I will try and capture everything but it feels like a very longtime since I was lay in this bed at 5:45 this morning when my alarm went off! So forgive me I I forget anything! I'm sure the lads will remind me!
We woke very early as I mentioned to play the last 27 mins of the game against Alcatraz Outlaws that was abandoned yesterday!
I had lost my voice and found it hard for the first hour to speak which most people thankful for!!! It returned slowly the lads walked down to warm up whilst I woke the sleeping Coaches Vav and Zac!
We got to the field and it was a beautiful morning in Gettysburg with no sign of rain or lightning! I think the lads where feeling the pressure and the coaches knew we where close to putting together a mistake free game but I think this was hard on the players, but as in life you get what you deserve for hard work and perseverance (that will come later).
So we started the game very well, but they jumped out early with a few goals but the lads didn't stop battling. Vav and Zac are a great help and are a wealth of knowledge, they both have experience of US and English Lacrosse. They both played for me for England U19's in 2008 and we have always been good friends since, Jak is well known to the Knights clan and Zac Guy was an All American in High School, an Under Armour All American and is now playing for Georgetown in the NCAA!
Back to the game Tim Nicol has been one of our top Midfield players and is a very intelligent player, he scored 2 against Outlaws and the game ended 8-4 which I was very pleased with as these guys won the tournament two years ago, the kids still seemed to be playing tight and made some errors! We just needed a win to elevate our play and take the pressure off!
We headed back for Breakfast as the game had finished before 8 O'Clock.........we had one last game in pool play against Velocity at 11am in the main stadium to prove our worth and bump ourselves up the table!
Elliott Hurry was back in the goal and his ankle is getting better so that was him off the injury list and it was great to see him put in a great performance, Willy Baxter also appreciated the rest.
I must tell you the players are never down for long and we where still laughing and joking and having a great time, we sit in the dinner hall together and let the kids entertain us, Tiegan Bancroft is everyone's man of the tour and his name has morphed from Tig to Vanilla, to Tiggie Smalls or the notorious T.I.G, rap battles between Jake the Snake have entertained everyone and Tigs dance is one of the funniest things ive seen!
A few lads went back to bed for a nap and some of us sat outside and chatted and continued the banter!
We met out the front of the Halls again and the lads had decided to wear grey for a change of mind set, Velocity are a strong team and we knew we where in for a hard game, the competition doesnt get easier in this division but that is why we are here!
Before we left Ciaran told me that Ben Reddy wasn't feeling well so went upstairs to see him he didn't look good so made sure he was put in a room on his own with a fan and drinks and hopefully he could rest and sleep it off. This was a shame as he is one of our best players!
Elliott Condren has played great for us and he was happy to step up to use the pole to give Grady a break at LSM, as we always say one man goes down one man steps in his place! Elliott would take one for the team later in the day!
We lost the game 9-4 to Velocity with our scorers being Scott Dagnanleach who was having a great tournament, Alex Russell, Steven Ewing and Alex Winton who have all been key players for us.
We concentrated on face off and wing play as Tim Collins was getting up to pace but wasn't getting enough help from the wings.
The Defense where working hard but hadn't put their best game together yet but for the amount of possessions we had the Offense where still producing and creating chances.
We headed to the air conditioned Gym to gather ourselves and the coaches got behind the lads and wanted them to pull together and be a unit and for everyone to do their part!
We where heading to the next round for a chance to still make the semi's and finals, We would play Minnesota Jaxx on field 4 at 3pm (the same field as we played Dallas in 2011).
We went back to find Ben asleep and still not feeling well........................!
The kids character has got them a long way with people at the Tournament people gifting us Gatorade after games, people stopping the boys to talk to them.........we have become quite the celebs and the boys have been blown away by it, we always make an effort and try to leave a good impression on everyone from the canteen staff, the Tournament Staff and the other teams and their parents! 23 men as promised I hope this has changed them as people, the English Lacrosse community and the players parents especially have a lot to be proud of and you shouldn't worry about these kids in the big wide world, they are a special group!
I live my Dream through them!
Back to the game Tim Nicol has been one of our top Midfield players and is a very intelligent player, he scored 2 against Outlaws and the game ended 8-4 which I was very pleased with as these guys won the tournament two years ago, the kids still seemed to be playing tight and made some errors! We just needed a win to elevate our play and take the pressure off!
We headed back for Breakfast as the game had finished before 8 O'Clock.........we had one last game in pool play against Velocity at 11am in the main stadium to prove our worth and bump ourselves up the table!
Elliott Hurry was back in the goal and his ankle is getting better so that was him off the injury list and it was great to see him put in a great performance, Willy Baxter also appreciated the rest.
I must tell you the players are never down for long and we where still laughing and joking and having a great time, we sit in the dinner hall together and let the kids entertain us, Tiegan Bancroft is everyone's man of the tour and his name has morphed from Tig to Vanilla, to Tiggie Smalls or the notorious T.I.G, rap battles between Jake the Snake have entertained everyone and Tigs dance is one of the funniest things ive seen!
A few lads went back to bed for a nap and some of us sat outside and chatted and continued the banter!
We met out the front of the Halls again and the lads had decided to wear grey for a change of mind set, Velocity are a strong team and we knew we where in for a hard game, the competition doesnt get easier in this division but that is why we are here!
Before we left Ciaran told me that Ben Reddy wasn't feeling well so went upstairs to see him he didn't look good so made sure he was put in a room on his own with a fan and drinks and hopefully he could rest and sleep it off. This was a shame as he is one of our best players!
Elliott Condren has played great for us and he was happy to step up to use the pole to give Grady a break at LSM, as we always say one man goes down one man steps in his place! Elliott would take one for the team later in the day!
We concentrated on face off and wing play as Tim Collins was getting up to pace but wasn't getting enough help from the wings.
The Defense where working hard but hadn't put their best game together yet but for the amount of possessions we had the Offense where still producing and creating chances.
We headed to the air conditioned Gym to gather ourselves and the coaches got behind the lads and wanted them to pull together and be a unit and for everyone to do their part!
We where heading to the next round for a chance to still make the semi's and finals, We would play Minnesota Jaxx on field 4 at 3pm (the same field as we played Dallas in 2011).
We went back to find Ben asleep and still not feeling well........................!
The kids character has got them a long way with people at the Tournament people gifting us Gatorade after games, people stopping the boys to talk to them.........we have become quite the celebs and the boys have been blown away by it, we always make an effort and try to leave a good impression on everyone from the canteen staff, the Tournament Staff and the other teams and their parents! 23 men as promised I hope this has changed them as people, the English Lacrosse community and the players parents especially have a lot to be proud of and you shouldn't worry about these kids in the big wide world, they are a special group!
I live my Dream through them!
Keep battling boys! & Scott (and the other supporting parents) - thanks so much for leading this tour, supporting the boys and writing this blog - great job!
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