Top Scoring Boys’ Lacrosse Players
Friday, May 25, 2012
Mount Has the Firepower
Mount St. Charles senior Ben Handanyan has clinched the state scoring title in 2012, finishing the season with an RIIL-best 75 points on 54 goals and 21 assists.
Handanyan was part of a three-pronged scoring attack for the Mounties, who finished the season at 6-8 in the Division II North. Freshman Theodore Fenton and senior Nicholas Blair also finished in the top ten in points.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMount St. Charles head coach Doug Allen described Handanyan as “one of the best players in the state, regardless of Division.” The Mounties finished the season 6-8 in the Division II North.
“If he were in Division I, he’d be one of the best players in Division I,” Allen said. “He’s just that good a player. He’s so accurate…he can put the ball where he wants it from ten yards out. A lot of goalies aren’t used to that,” Allen said. “It makes it very difficult on them for sure.”
“One of our parents on the team is always taking pictures, and he took one of Ben just as he was releasing one of his shots,” Allen said. “You could see the form…the power…just the way you’re supposed to do it. He’s got one of the hardest shots in the state.”
Handanyan will be attending the University of Delaware in the fall to pursue an engineering degree. Allen expects him to try out for the school’s lacrosse team, which competes in NCAA Division I.
Theodore Fenton finished fourth in total points (55), and led the state in assists with 35. Fenton also put up 20 goals for the high-scoring Mounties. “Teddy is such a creative player,” said Allen. “His ability to think on his feet is what makes the difference. A lot of teams run set plays…but we’re able to run our offense fluidly through our big three just passing and cutting because they both have such a great feel for the game.”
Nicholas Blair finished seventh with 50 total points on 25 goals and 25 assists.
“Nick would be the first option on a lot of teams,” said Allen. “He’s great at getting himself open and is smart enough to find the seams when Ben or Teddy is being double teamed. All three of them can put the ball wherever they want, which makes it easy to score.”
Midfielder Brady O’Donnell led all of Division I in scoring, putting up 58 points on 35 goals and 23 assists and helping lead La Salle Academy to yet another banner season. The Rams finished 12-0 and captured the top seed in Division I.
“In my opinion, Brady is the best scorer in the state,” said Steve O’Donnell, La Salle head coach and Brady’s father. “He’s the toughest matchup out there… lefty or righty. He can score, he can feed… and he did it against the best competition, because we went out and played a very difficult schedule.”
Liam Donovan of Portsmouth finished second in Division I with 47 points on 26 goals and 19 helpers.
“Liam is a very good player,” O’Donnell said. “He probably doesn’t get the credit because he matches up with the other teams’ best defensemen every game.”
Portsmouth finished the season at 3-8.
The Top Ten
East Greenwich High School (13-1) captured the Division II South title, and attackers Kyle Carosotto and Ethan Zink were two of the major reasons why. Zink finished second in the state in scoring with 73 points on 43 goals and 30 assists, and Carosotto put up 51 points (37 goals, 14 assists) for the Avengers.
“Ethan is a good athlete, he’s very strong going left and right, and he’s very aggressive,” O’Donnell said. “He’s one of the big reasons why [East Greenwich] had the type of season they had.”
Wheeler's Adrian Stone and Nicholas Zigerelli each had outstanding individual campaigns for the Warriors. Zigerelli led the team with 36 goals (49 points), and Stone has put up 30 goals and 24 assists for a team-high 54 points.
“Adrian is a big, strong athlete,” O’Donnell said. “He’s able to score most of his points with his power.”
Jonathan Sharp of Division II North-leading Providence Country Day rounds out the top ten, having tallied 47 points on 27 goals and 20 assists.
