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Yinzers Top 10 lacrosse players from Pittsburgh
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Yinzer Report: Top 10 2015s, 2016s, 2017s, and 2018s

The best Pittsburgh has to offer heading into fall ball.

This list has been put together using the help of club coaches, college coaches, highlight videos, and in person evaluations. Ranking players, like recruiting, is an inexact science.

Where possible we have included additional notes, athlete’s highlight tape, and summer achievements. We’ve also included their club team to the best of our knowledge. Most lacrosse players are playing on multiple club teams these days so forgive any exclusions.

2018

10. Jimmy Wilkenson – Upper St. Clair – Midfield – Pittsburgh Select

9. Andrew Moyer – Mars – Midfield – Keystone Team

8. Connor Alexander – Mt. Lebanon – Goalie – Pittsburgh Select, Keystone Team

7. Mike Steliotes – Pine Richland – Defense – Low & Away

6. Olimpio Grieco – Mars – Attack – Keystone Team, Brine Pennsylvania Team

5. Kenny Giarla – Mt. Lebanon – Midfield – Pittsburgh Select

4. Jake Giotto – Quaker Valley – Midfield – Low & Away

3. Will Delaney – Peters – Midfield – Low & Away

2. Sam Rothschild – Mt. Lebanon – Attack – Pittsburgh Select, Keystone Team

1. Ben Delaney – Peters – Attack – Low & Away

2017 

10. Patrick McNally – Mt. Lebanon – Defense – Low & Away

Great size and left handed which gives Mt. Lebanon a big time wrinkle against ball carrying right handed attackmen.

9. Calvin Sargent – Moon – Attack – Low & Away/True

Equally adept at feeding or scoring. Made a massive impact as a freshman this past spring. Can also face off.

8. Evan Juncal – Pine-Richland – Middie – Low & Away

One coach called him the best kept secret in the WPIAL. Secret is out. Similar in build and style to Sargent.

7. Connor Brumfield – Mt. Lebanon – Middie – Low & Away

More than capable face off option and a physical dodger. Will command a pole if Brian Ward isn’t on the field.

6. Teddy McClain – Sewickley – Defense – Low & Away – Adrenaline Black Card

Great frame and length at 6’3” and willing to bully less confident attackmen.

5. Clayton Krol – Shady Side – Middie – Titanium

Clutch goals in the WPIAL finals. Will play a much bigger part in SSA’s offense in 2015. Mentioned by IL this summer in a tournament recap.

4. Ben Mulholland – Sewickley – Middie – Low & Away

Pure goal scorer from the midfield. Has range from deep. Also comfortable scoring on the run.

3. Chris Woodings – Shady Side  – Face Off Middie – Green Turtle/Titanium – Semi Finals of IL Invitational Face Off Contest

Younger brother of 2015 Robby Woodings. Looks to be as commanding at the X.

2. Greg Ferringer  – North Allegheny – Defense – Low & Away

Tremendous size and strength allowed him to be a starter this past spring. Not many freshmen start on defense at NA.

1. Cian Malcom – Chartiers Valley – Attack – Low & Away – All Star at 205, MVP, Hotbeds

The rare lefty with athleticism. Has the ability to dodge, feed, and score from several distances.

2016

10. Jackson O’Neill – Sewickley – Goalie – Low & Away

His size takes a chunk of the net but his technical ability makes it really hard on shooters.

9. Greg Bayne – Seneca Valley – Defense – Low & Away

Tactical defenseman that gets to take some more chances with goalie Paul Cundiff behind him.

8. Adam Reimer – Pine Richland – Attack – Low & Away – All Star at MVP

Versatile righty with a lot of slickness inside. Willing to inside roll and take the punishment to score.

7.  Dan Lee – Mt. Lebanon – Attack – Low & Away – All Star at MVP, Hotbeds

Can score off the dodge, time and room, and off ball, but does most of his damage off ball thanks to the attention his teammates command. Works really hard to get open and enjoys scoring goals.

6. Bennett Faloni – Peters Township – Midfield – Low & Away – All Star at MVP

A pit bull that will be asked to do more for Peters in 2015 with the graduation of their three starting attackmen.

5. Nick Tommasi – Mt. Lebanon – Long Stick Middie – Low & Away – All Star at MVP, Hotbeds

One thing to make an all star game. It’s another to stand out, which Tommasi did at the Hotbeds ASG. Athletic, mean, and willing to take chances and often rewarded.

4. Max Jaffe –  Shady Side Academy – Attack – Titanium/American Revolution – Black Card

Night and day changes in his development from freshman to sophomore year. Will have the keys to the SSA offense in 2015. Visited Richmond, Hobart, and Furman at the conclusion of the summer.

3. Levi McCrady – Fox Chapel – Midfield – Green Turtle – All Star at King of the Hill, Elite 100 

A bazooka for a shot, essentially automatic with hands free inside of 11. Drawing Patriot and Ivy League attention.

2. Doc Szlachetka – Shady Side Academy – Long Stick Middie – Titanium – Committed to Air Force 

One of the most polished defensemen in Pittsburgh last year. Easily the hardest last name to pronounce and spell on our list.

1. Brian Ward – Mt. Lebanon – Midfield –  Low & Away – Committed to Yale – All Star at MVP, Hotbeds 

Former high school quarterback will score with either hand on the run or time and room so you might as well shut him off.

2015

10. Sam White – Mt. Lebanon – Attack – Low & Away

Despite his stature, willing to hang out inside and put the ball in the back of the net.

9. Ryan Means – Pine Richland – Midfield – Low & Away

A selfless multi tool middie that gets forgotten a bit due to the presence of Wilden, Newcamp, and other Rams. Would be a top middie option on other teams.

8. Matt Lee – Mt. Lebanon – Goalie – Low & Away – Committed to Swarthmore

Lights out against North Allegheny in the WPIAL semi final. Committed this summer.

7. Bryan Newcamp – Pine Richland – Midfield – Low & Away

Determined goal scorer with the ability to finish on the run or off ball. An excellent compliment to teammate Scott Wilden.

6. Sal Merante – Peters Township – LSM – Low & Away

Incredible motor. One of the few defensemen in the country still playing with a mean streak.

5. Paul Cundiff – Seneca Valley – Goalie – Low & Away – Committed to Delaware – All Star at MVP

Cundiff continues the string of D1 goalies coming out of Pittsburgh. Smaller frame but quick hands.

4. Robby Woodings – Shady Side – FOGO/Midfield – Titanium/Green Turtle – Committed to Army

Dominated competition in Pittsburgh and has added an offensive skill set to his game since last summer.

3. Scott Wilden – Pine Richland – Middie – Low & Away – Committed to Hofstra

Committed since August 2013, Wilden is a deft playmaker from the midfield.

2. Kyle Rullan – North Allegheny – Attack – Brine Pennsylania

Typically,  the son of a coach is just really smart and tries hard. Kyle is really smart, competes non stop, runs NA’s offense, has a flair for the dramatic, and is one of the best attackmen in Pittsburgh.

1. Brian Kelly – Mt. Lebanon – Attack – Low & Away – Committed to Mercer, All Star at Hotbeds

A natural attackman that midfield this past spring due to personnel issues. Expect him to be named All American again in 2015.

Notes

This was not at an easy task, I don’t envy what Ty Xanders has done for the past several years.

The 2018s were of course the most difficult because we’ve seen them the least amount of times. But, after watching the Keystone team tryouts, Low & Away practice, and PSL at NXT this summer, we feel good about the names selected.

Would have been on the list but, they are no longer in WPIAL. Goalie Tucker Gilman, a 2014 Shady Side grad, is taking a post grad year at Avon Old Farms. Midfield Peyton Manko (2017) left Freeport for Kiski.

Stayed tuned to @4onetwolax for Yinzer recruiting updates.