Delaware County Daily Times - May 10, 2002
Lower Merion 8, Haverford 6
Dennis Mann scored two goals, moving his season total to 41, but the Fords couldn't maintain a 5-3 halftime lead and slipped to 8-9 overall and 1-6 in league action.
Matt Murphy, Matt Koehler, Paul Ament and Matt Seiboth all scored once for Haverford while Pat Miller was credited with 10 saves.
©The Daily Times 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - May 5, 2002
Excerpt on JohnEller of Ridley by John Lohn While Ellers' major impact in the lacrosse world revolves around the development of young minds and young athletes, his influence stretches beyond the playing field. It also reflects the sideline, where numerous protégés have taken the reins of their own programs.
Look around Delaware County and the Ridley connection cannot be missed. Mike Busza, a former All-American for the Green Raiders, has Radnor chasing a PSLA title. Walt Udovich is moving Haverford in the right direction. Chris Bell is overseeing the growth of a young Sun Valley program.
There's more. Before heading to Oneonta, N.Y., Jef Hewlings turned Penncrest into a top-tier Central League team. Add in the numerous assistant coaching slots held by Ellers' former players and his impact is obvious.
"He was a great coach," Udovich said. "From the beginning, he instilled a team attitude. It's one big program from when you start, beginning with the youth program. He was always around.
"Coach gave us so much. You learn so much from your experiences with him. Those experiences are used in practice with your own team. The big thing is attitude. We never believed we were going to lose. That's why we won some games where we had less talent. We never backed down from anyone."
More than three decades after finding lacrosse, Doug Ellers stands on the sideline as one of the top coaches to come through Southeastern Pennsylvania.
He has developed numerous teams into juggernauts. He has boosted numerous players to scholarships. He has provided opportunities at the youth league level. He has produced future coaches.
Bottom line: Doug Ellers has benefited Ridley lacrosse in a major way. More important, he has benefited lacrosse in Delaware County and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Not bad for a baseball man -- at least originally.
To contact John Lohn, e-mail jlohn@delcotimes.com.©The Daily Times 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - May 4, 2002
Conestoga 10, Haverford 6
The Fords built a 5-2 advantage through two quarters, but Conestoga (7-6, 2-4) outscored Haverford by seven goals in the second half to prevail. The Fords received two goals each from Alan Krawitz and Dave Kiefer, but watched their record slip to 8-7 overall and 1-5 in the league. Dennis Mann and Paul Amentt added goals for Haverford while Pat Miller supplied 12 saves.
©The Daily Times 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - May 1, 2002
Penncrest 13, Haverford 10
Bill Derrick scored four goals and the Lions (13-4, 5-0) scored a quartet of goals in the final quarter to pull away from Haverford, which slipped to 8-6 overall and 1-4 in the league.
©The Daily Times 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - April 25, 2002
Haverford 10, Upper Dublin 5
Alan Krawitz netted one goal and dished out five assists and Paul Ament registered a hat trick and had two assists as the Fords raised their record to 7-5.
Dennis Mann contributed three goals with Matt Murphy, Matt Seiboth and Matt Koehler scoring one goal each.
Delaware County Daily Times - April 24, 2002
John Lohn
Springfield 15, Haverford 5
Anthony Tori netted four goals and Greg Gurenlian (four assists) and Mike Stein registered hat tricks to lead the Cougars (8-1, 2-1) in a weather-suspended game from Friday that has officially been called off.
Brett Mooney, Matt Krohmer, Mike Parke, Dan Plank and Dave Derr scored once each in support of goalie Matt Orlando who made eight saves.
Paul Ament, Dave Kiefer, Matt Seiboth, Alan Krawitz and Matt Koehler scored for Haverford (6-5, 0-3). Pat Miller was credited with nine saves.
Delaware County Daily Times - April 19, 2002
JOHN LOHN jlohn@delcotimes.com
Boys Lax Notebook: Now is time for Haverford to get it done
One month. That's the amount of time Haverford High School has to establish itself as playoff worthy and pass or fail the test that will determine its postseason fate. After opening the season with four wins in as many outings, the Fords have dropped four of six decisions, in the process posting a 6-4 record.
Now, though, is the portion of the season that will make or break the Fords. Starting today with a matchup against Springfield, the Fords enter the heart of the Central League slate. Win four games in league play and a playoff berth is a near guarantee. Win three and it's bubble time. Win two or fewer and the season ends without a playoff invitation.
Yeah, there's a lot at stake for Haverford. Nonetheless, the Fords are using the slow-and-steady approach.
"We're not even talking about the playoffs, not at all," said coach Walt Udovich. "We have to go one game at a time. We're not looking ahead. Our seniors have to put the team on their shoulders and carry us.
"After suffering a 15-3 loss to Saint Joseph's Prep earlier this week, Haverford bounced back to take a 12-10 decision from Monsignor Bonner Wednesday. The win was a necessity considering the number of challenging league games that await the Fords.
The victory over Bonner featured balanced scoring, exactly what Haverford needed entering the season. For the year, the Fords have four players -- Alan Krawitz (25 goals), Dennis Mann (23), Matt Seiboth (15) and Paul Ament (15) -- with 15 or more scores.
Longstick Matt Murphy, headed for Hobart College, has also been a key offensively, frequently sparking the transition game.
"That was an important win for us," Udovich said, in reference to the Bonner game. "It was huge to bounce back. It was a game that could turn our season around heading into the thick of the league.
"I knew coming into the season that we couldn't have one guy do all of the scoring. We had to have a few guys come through. It's been very pleasing to see that."
©The Daily Times 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - April 11, 2002
JOHN LOHN jlohn@delcotimes.com
Alan Krawitz packaged five goals and pair of assists and Paul Amentt scored four times to go with three assists as the Fords (5-2) snapped a two-game losing streak. Matt Seiboth chipped in with two goals and two assists and Dennis Mann scored a pair of goals for Haverford, which held a 9-2 lead at halftime. Dave Kiefer added a goal with Matt Koehler contributing three assists in support of goalie Pat Miller (eight saves).
Haverford Press – April 10, 2002
By Ken Lynch
Boy’s Lacrosse: Despite Haverford’s loss in its first league game to Marple Newtown, avid lacrosse watchers looking to see who’s likely to make hay during the just-opened Central League season would be wise to keep an eye on how the Fords have handled non-league competition in the early stages of the season. On April 2, the undefeated Fords captured their fourth win, outlasting Garnet Valley, 15-7, in a game at Coopertown Elementary School. Once again, Alan Krawitz powered the Fords with four goals, white steady Paul Amentt added three tallies and an assist. Dave Kiefer, Bill Lyons, Dennis Mann, Andrew Patrillo, Ryan Ramplin, Mark Trainor and Matt Seiboth also scored for Haverford, the latter scoring twice. Dave Jones, Tim Kaufmann and Matt Murphy again dominating defensively, and goalie Pat Miller boosted his season-save total by four.
Delaware County Daily Times – April 4, 2002
The drought is six years old now, dating to 1995 when Bob Bush patrolled the sideline and Karl Baur powered the offense. Matt Murphy was an elementary school student then, the last time Haverford High School qualified for the Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Tournament. He was also relatively new to the game, having recently traded (this is a familiar lacrosse tale) leather and aluminum for a pocketed stick. Now a senior, much has changed for Murphy. No longer is he a lacrosse newcomer. Rather, he's a talented longstick headed for a collegiate career at tradition-rich Hobart College. One thing, however, has stayed the same for the 6-3, 200-pounder: He's never -- nor have his teammates -- accepted a postseason invitation. Soon, that scenario may change. Through four games of this infant season, Murphy has guided Haverford to an impressive start, a surge that has produced a quartet of victories, all by decisive margins. "It's a big deal to us to make the playoffs," Murphy said Tuesday, after a sterling defensive effort in a triumph over Garnet Valley. "My sophomore year, we were so close to making it. And even last year, just a couple more league wins would have helped. Before I leave, I want that playoff experience. I'm tired of watching everyone else. I want to qualify for the playoffs. "If that result is found, Murphy will be a leading reason for the squad's success. Although stiffer competition awaits -- in the form of the Central League slate -- Haverford can take satisfaction in the way it has cruised through its early nonleague schedule. In outscoring the opposition by a dominating 56-17 margin, the Fords are allowing only 4.25 goals-per-game. Murphy has been right in the middle of that staunch defense, providing tight coverage in addition to scooping up numerous ground balls and sparking the Haverford transition game. "He's been great," said Haverford coach Walt Udovich. "He listens well and he's worked more than anyone, whether it be lifting or going to camps. He knows so much about the game. "A shortstop-pitcher during his younger days, Murphy turned from baseball to lacrosse eight years ago when his uncle, former Upper Darby lacrosse coach Mike Kayser, introduced Murphy to the game. Still, there was a long way to go. Initially a midfielder-attackman, Murphy didn't make the move to defense until his sophomore year. But by the time the season opened, Murphy was entrenched in a starting slot he hasn't come close to yielding. "There was too much standing around in baseball," Murphy said. "In lacrosse, there's more intensity and more athleticism. It was something different to get into. "When I moved to defense, I had messed around with a longpole before. It just came to me. It's a lot easier to make a move on an attackman than the other way around. Sometimes you miss the spotlight of offense, but that's all right. "Judiciously, Murphy has remained involved in the Haverford offense, the result of quality speed and his ability to maneuver up the field. In the win over Garnet Valley, Murphy distributed an assist in addition to registering some solid scoring opportunities for himself. Murphy's total package wasn't lost on the coaching staff at Hobart, a former Division III power that made the jump to the Division I ranks in 1995 and competes in the Patriot League. Murphy, along with The Haverford School's Aaron Lovenworth, were the only two defenders recruited by the Statesmen. "I felt Hobart was the best place for me," said Murphy, who also considered Bucknell and Loyola. "I think I'll have the best opportunity to play there. They want me to come in there and play a role as soon as possible. "Meanwhile, Murphy will focus on guiding Haverford to a postseason berth. Without question, the road toward that goal is daunting, what with the Central League ranking as -- perhaps -- the top league in the state. At the same time, the Central League's depth has been rewarded in the past, with as many as seven of the league's 10 teams receiving a bid to the PSLA Tournament. Will Haverford be one of those teams this season? Maybe. "I think this is the best team we've had since I've been here," Murphy said. "We're knit together pretty close. I think this team can make the playoffs."
Haverford Press – April 3, 2002
News of Delaware County – April 3, 2002
Delaware County Daily Times – March 26, 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - March 23, 2002
Delaware County Daily Times - March 21, 2002
Excerpt by John Lohn
At Haverford, the Fords were hit hard by graduation, including the loss of All-State goalie Brian Burke, who will be replaced by junior Pat Miller. Dennis Mann and Allen Krawitz, both 20-goal scorers a year ago , are coach Walt Udovich’s leading attackmen and will receive support from midfielders Paul Amentt, Matt Seiboth and Matt Koehler. That midfield trio combined for 21 scores last season. Defensively, Hobart-bound Matt Murphy returns as one of the elite longsticks in the league and will be joined by Kevin Kime and Tim Kaufmann. Dave Jones, a longstick midfielder, is also expected to play an important role, along with middies Dave Kiefer and Ryan Ramplin.
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