CONNECTICUT SEMINOLES - DICK'S SPORTING GOODS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS TEAM PREVIEW
(October 27, 2008)
Location: Southington, Conn.
Head Coach: Darryl Delia
Established: 2007
Colors: Orange & green
Qualified: Champions, Gait Cup (Upper Division) & Beach Blast Lacrosse Tournament
by C.J. Lane
The Connecticut Seminoles come from the same program (Progression Lacrosse Inc.) as the Connecticut Hurricanes, this past year’s 4th-place finisher in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions.
In January, the team will be traveling to Florida with the Hurricanes (as well as Progression Lacrosse’s Connecticut Gators) with hopes of turning some heads and winning the national championship.
“People underestimate us,” says Seminoles’ senior goalie Frank Piechota (Trumbull High School). “We are the ‘B’ team of our program, so people don’t expect us to play as well as we do.”
Although they are considered a ‘B’ team, the Seminoles are composed of future D-I athletes such as senior midfielder Jay Binkowski (committed to Quinnipiac University).
“This summer really helped us,” says Binkowski. “We bonded as a team. The team chemistry is great this year.”
One part of the Seminoles’ success is the game plan that’s implemented by Darryl Delia, Seminoles head coach and Progression Lacrosse founder.
“We are a run-and-gun team and ride hard,” says Delia. “That is my style of coaching, very up-tempo.”
It’s one that has been embraced by his players.
“We like a fast pace,” says Piechota. “Our coaches have taught us to get the ball going downfield as fast as we can.”
“Everything is full speed,” says Binkowski.
Riding high following a 36-4 summer record (.900 winning %) and championships in the Gait Cup and the Beach Blast Lacrosse Tournament, the Seminoles will be heading to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions with one goal in mind.
“We are going down there to win,” says Binkowski. “We have progressed as a team and will show people who we are.”
|