2022 Senior Co-Captains; Riker Pratt, Liam Murphy & Oscar Lindenthal

by Doug Bailey

Pleased to announce our senior co-captains for 2022

Riker Pratt, Liam Murphy and Oscar Lindenthal

Our three captains for 2022 were a scrappy bunch in Middle School Physical Education students. Competitive really isn't the word for it, rather they took most plays in whatever activity (good, bad or ugly) as strictly personal!

Their leadership won't be any different... they just never accept anything but their own best effort, as well as expect their teammates' best at all times!

Riker Pratt:

Midfield, Attack, SSDM, EMO or MD, FO... frankly, wherever his team needs him at any given moment!

Riker helped make his 2021 Team's journey a complete success. I was rereading what I wrote in the Dec 2020 portion of a certification I did on Riker, and frankly I'm not sure how to better describe his ability other than to say, he helped us every step of the way to the State Championship Final in Florida and did everything asked of him at any given moment! We will count on him as a leader on the field (which he already is), but also with a leadership role in the locker room, and off the field of play as someone who can unite his team in our efforts for our challenging 2022 season schedule and into the 2022 playoffs.

Riker is a multi-talented lacrosse player. He simply has become either a great offensive or defensive player, or both at any one time. He's an extremely competitive player on gb's or frankly anywhere on the field. Okay, so let me get serious here: If I need a EMO player who I can count on in any position around the perimeter to make a play.. well it's Riker! If I need an offensive player to take some reps at both middy and attack in any of our formations...well it's Riker! If I need a dominating defensive middy who can also lead the transition to offense... well it's Riker! If I need a change up FO player who has multiple counter abilities... well it's Riker! If I need a wingman on the face-off who understands what to do and how to play the wing for our teams success or fight relentlessly for a groundball... well it's Riker! If I need a play anywhere on the field at any given moment that can change the course of the game at any given time... well it's Riker! So what does a good coach do that helps keep Riker poised for his next assignment... keep challenging with game time moments, where he knows he can make the difference without burning him out by leaving him on the field the whole game (which is tempting but certainly unwise).

2021 Summary: 94 shots, 34 goals, 16 assists, 3 Take-Aways, 26 Gb's. Helped guide his team to Class 1A District 8 Championship, Regional Championship and a State Championship Runner Up.

*All District Team FHSAA Class 1A District 8, 2nd Team Midfield

*TCPalm 1st Team Midfield

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Liam Murphy:

Goalie, Defense

I'm not usually speechless, but just watch his highlight tape. If he isn't the best 2022 goalie in the country, I'm just going to ask you to show me who is better! I've had the privilege to coach some outstanding goalies in my time, ie Alex Ready (Univ of Denver), Peter DeLuca (Jacksonville Univ), Gunner Waldt (Bryant Univ), Charlie Pease (Roanoke Univ), and Brian Neff (Ursinus). Brian Neff and Peter DeLuca both earned All America status in their times with their college teams, and Liam is much like both Brian and Peter, tall and lanky, yet athletic as can be! No one was better in and out of the cage in the country in 2021, and yes, his play certainly one of the reasons we made it to the Florida State Championship this past 2021 season!

2021 Season & Highlight film: https://youtu.be/nEMNbvWqFXE

*243 Saves, Goals Allowed 150 in 21 games; 62% Save Percentage, 26 GB's, Liam scored two goals in State Regional Playoff. Helped guide his team to Class 1A District 8 Championship, Regional Championship and a State Championship Runner Up.

*All District Team FHSAA Class 1A District 8 First Team Goalie

*TC Palm 1st Team Goalie

*All Florida South Region 1st Team- US Lacrosse Chapter 1st Team Goalie

In December of 2020 I wrote: Liam Murphy also had a spectacular Fall Ball season with both Dukes 2020 HS Elite (National) and his hometown team, DukesFLA-Team Maverick. He's always been a very good goalie especially in his role of playing up at the HS level; but as you will see some outstanding work in his Fall 2020 tape, which is a combination of some Dukes HS Elite and DukeFLA-Team Maverick play. What do I mean by that? His progression and maturity in the net is really emphasized in his "patience" in the net. He's just not having any "guessing moments" when he's making saves. He's also becoming very good at setting up the shooter to get the opponent to shoot where he wants the shooter to shoot. Got to love that! Second, he has become the best clearing goalie in Florida, and I would venture to say the nation. Lest you think I'm overexaggerating, let me point out that I've coached some very good ones (Alex Ready- Denver, Peter Deluca- Jacksonville, Gunner Waldt- Bryant, Charlie Peace-Roanoke, Brian Neff- Ursinus)... Liam can play goalie as good as any one of them at this stage in his career, but is without a doubt the most accomplished clearing goalie out of them all at this stage). 2020 Fall Tape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy08ZdX0zMs He has really captured the essence of position as the QB of our offense once the ball is on the ground on our defensive end, and it's amazing to watch all he has learned and applied his work on the field. Really looking forward to his Spring HS season, as he is still a very coachable young man, and at this point in his still young HS career, has positioned himself to work to become a candidate to become the best goalie in the nation at the 2022 grad year level. I have no doubt that he has the will and the talent to become that dominating of a player.

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Oscar Lindenthal:

Attack, Middy.

2022 Co-captain Oscar Lindenthal, has an off-ball prowess best described as brilliant, a crafty on-ball game that is sneaky good & is a superb finisher. His application of math/science skills is next level both on & off the field of play. Can't wait to see where he ends up going to play lacrosse and further his education!

2021 Summary:

*117 shots, 66 goals, 12 assists, 25 GBs; helped guide his team to Class 1A District 8 Championship, Regional Championship and a State Championship Runner Up.

*Class 1A District 8 1st Team Attack

*TC Palm 1st Team Attack

Spring 2021 Highlights: https://youtu.be/J9lxwnw8Kj4

Oscar is a clutch player, very coachable and is a very heady baller who can also outsmart more experienced, and more athletic defender(s). Mr. Clutch! Oscar has become the player on the team that when we need a goal he can help make it happen. No matter if it's creating, finishing or running down a gb, he is all in! He led Saint Edward's in scoring against a solid top 10 schedule in FLA HS ball in 7 games in 2020...the "cut short" COVID season! He is just super tough and really is one of our go to players!

All that said first and foremost, Oscar is a wonderful young man, who is gifted academically (but I also know has worked hard to be the scholar he is), and has a very personable nature. Put him on the court or field, his competitive spirit is off the charts! Oscar always impresses me with his gentle, kind and polite manners off the field/court, but on the court or field he turns into a beast! That isn't a bad thing!

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Last but not least, I'm just excited to have these three young men as our leaders this coming Spring of 2022. We have an intense schedule, an athletic roster that will surely develop and grow their chemistry on and off the field, as well a work ethic and motivation to get "Back in the Saddle Again" if you know what I mean! (Click on Back in the Saddle Again)