Weekend Recap

The Newtown Golden Eagles started their 2013 campaign with two games on the CanAm's opening weekend.

Friday night's matchup was an "away game" for the NGE as they met the Pinewoods Smoke on the floor at the Gil Lay Arena.  The fans were out in full force as the two teams from Cattaraugus were set to battle it out for the 1-0 start.  

The opening period saw the Golden Eagles find the net early and often, scoring five unanswered goals to end the period 5-0.

The second period was all Pinewoods as the NGE offense stalled while the defense managed to halt a strong run from the Smoke.  Newtown managed to hold onto the lead and finish the period 8-7.

The final period started with Newtown netting two quick goals to gain a little breathing room.  The defense held Pinewoods to a single tally in the third and the score was 11-8 with time running down.  After Pinewoods got called for a hand-ball in the crease, Drew Stevens sealed the game with a penalty shot goal. 

He would finish the game with 2 goals and 4 assists.  The other top scorers were lefty Preston Lay with 3g,1a and newcomer Tyler Strassburg with 1g,4a.
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The second game of the weekend took place at the Cattaraugus Community Center as the Golden Eagles took on the Buffalo Creek Thunder (1-0) in a 3:00pm matinee game.

Shots were flying but goals were scarce as the NGE took a 2-1 lead in the first that would hold till the end of the period.  

After two quick goals by the Thunder in the second, the NGE found themselves trailing for the first time of the young season.  Head Coach Mike Stevens called a timeout and the Golden Eagles pulled it together after the break.  Second year defender CJ Stevens sparked the scoring with a breakaway goal.  Newtown finished the second period with 4 more unanswered and a 7-3 lead.

The third was controlled by Newtown as the defense, anchored by goaltender Clint Jones, held the Thunder to just one goal in the third and four in the game as the Golden Eagles took the 11-4 win.

Leading scorers for the NGE were Donald Stevens with 3 goals and 3 assists, Rudi George with 2g,2a,  Wes Jackson with 1g,4a, and Preston Lay added 3 helpers in the contest.

2013 Schedule

*****PLEASE NOTE ALL HOME GAMES WILL NOW BE PLAYED AT GIL LAY ARENA*****

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Fri       4/26               Pinewoods              Gil Lay                         8:00pm

Sun     4/28               Buffalo Creek          CCC                            3:00pm

Fri       5/03               Onondoga               CCC                             8:30pm

Fri       5/10               Tuscarora                CCC                             8:00pm

Fri       5/12               Allegany                  ACC                             3:00pm

Wed    5/17               Tonawanda              Logan                           8:00pm

Thu     5/18               Six Nations              CCC                             7:00pm

Fri       5/24               Buffalo Creek          Riverside                     8:00pm

Sun     5/26               Rochester                Canandaigua                 3:00pm

Sat      6/01               Allegany                   Gil Lay                         7:00pm

Thu     6/06               Tuscarora                Smokin Joe’s                8:00pm

Sat      6/15               Pinewoods               CCC                             7:00pm

Sat      6/29               Six Nations               ILA                              7:00pm

Sun     6/30               Rochester                 CCC                            3:00pm

Fri       7/05               Onondoga                Tsha’                           8:00pm

Sun     7/07               Tonawanda               CCC                            3:00pm

All-Star Game – July 6^th

First Round Playoffs – Best of 3 – July 12-14

Second Round Playoffs – Best of 5 – July 19-27

Championship – Best of 7 – August 2-16

Meet the NGE: Trace White

20 Year Veteran
Tracy "Trace" White

#25 Trace White

Position: Defense

Shoots: Right

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 225

2012 Stats:
15 games - 3 goals - 10 assists - 10 pim - 13 points

When did you first start playing lacrosse?

I remember my first game when I was 6 years old. My grandfather, Grant Stevens, took me to the arena to play against Six Nations. But I know I had a stick in my hands before that.

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

My favorite memory was winning the Presidents Cup in 2000 with my brother Kevin and all of my cousins. We had won the bronze and silver the two years before.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

My favorite players growing up were Marty, Tim, and Chuck Stevens because they're my uncles and I looked up to them.

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

It means everything to me to play for Newtown. This is where I grew up and I love to play for my family and community.

What is it like being a veteran leader for the Golden Eagles?

This is my 20th year on the men's team, so I've been a veteran for awhile, but it's ace. I remember some of the younger guys were the ballboys for the team and now I'm playing with them!

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

We have a lot of talent and if we keep working hard we will be get back to where we want to be.

Kevin White Memorial Champs

The Third Annual Kevin White Memorial Tournament was a great weekend of lacrosse from start to finish.  The Newtown Golden Eagles came out on top after going 3-0 in pool play and winning both of their playoff games.

 Left to Right: Josh Kacprzak, Ryan Maciaszek, Preston Lay,
Jake Davis, Brian Stevens, Linden Stevens, Marty Stevens.
Front Row: Father and Son Drew and Koy Stevens

Friday night marked the start of the NGE's tournament run as they took on the Rawgus Boyz, a tournament team comprised of mostly Pinewoods Smoke players from the CanAm.  Prior to the opening whistle, Drew Stevens' son Koy was honored by some members of the Reading Rockets who play for the NGE.  Specifically older cousin Linden Stevens who presented Koy with the limited edition game jersey he wore on Autism Awareness Night for the Rockets a few months back.  Moments after the presentation of the jersey both teams were lined up for the opening draw.  After being locked in a 0-0 stalemate for almost 10 minutes, Newtown opened the scoring with a powerplay goal from Preston Lay.  Rawgus Boyz followed up with an inside finish and an outside shot to take the lead 2-1.  Their only lead of the game would be short-lived as Bobby DeFreze answered back with an outside shot of his own to tie the game up heading into the second period.  Newtown pulled to a 6-3 lead in the second with scores from Donald Stevens and Roy Isaac, hanging on for a four goal victory in a fast paced and physical matchup that ended 10-6. Scoring was led by a hat trick from Lay.

Saturday's schedule called for stormy weather as the Golden Eagles took on both the Buffalo Creek Thunder of the CanAm and the Ohiyo' Thunder tournament team.  In the day's first game the NGE Jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first.  The second period ended 8-2, with the NGE able to turn it back on in the third and finish the game 13-4.  The night game wasn't much different as the Golden Eagles controlled from the opening faceoff taking a 6-1 lead in the first period, expanding to 13-1 in the second, and putting 8 more up to finish 21-3.  Many players were in the scoring mix, leading the way were Wes Jackson with four tallies and Linden Stevens with 8 assists.

Championship Sunday rolled around with your NGE as the #1 seed in pool A, playing the #2 seed in pool B the Native Sons, a talented tournament team that draws from the CanAm and surrounding leagues.  Newtown opened the scoring with a quick stick from forward Rudi George, but the early lead would not last. The Golden Eagles offense stalled, and found themselves down by as many as four goals in the contest, with the second period ending 6-3 in favor of the Native Sons.  Down but not out, the Golden Eagles chipped away at the lead.  After a breakaway twister by transition man Justin Stevens, the NGE found themselves down 8-7 with 6 minutes left in regulation.  Forward Morgan Montour netted the game tying goal with 5 minutes left in the game.  As the clock ticked down and the defense held fast, it was Montour again on a nearly identical play, catching a feed from fellow righty Bobby DeFreze and burying it bottom left from 10 yards out.  The NGE won the closest game of the tournament 9-8 in thrilling fashion and were able to escape late game antics with cool heads and no suspensions.  Montour finished with four goals, and DeFreze added 6 assists in the nailbiter.

After beating Onondoga 6-3, the Rawgus Boyz met the Golden Eagles in the 2pm Championship Game, the latest edition in the longstanding lacrosse rivalry between Pinewoods and Newtown.  Emotions ran high for the NGE after the semi-final game, and they came out firing.  Controlling the rematch from the start and taking an early lead they would hold till the final buzzer.  Rawgus Boyz goaltender Beask Seneca had to leave the game in the early second period due to muscle cramps.  In a great showing of sportsmanship, he received applause from the NGE bench and fans as he went down the boards and tapped gloves with every player on Newtown.  In the final game it was the defense's turn to get on the score sheet as Ryan Maciaszek scored on an outside shot and Josh Kacprzak, Justin Gill, and Jake Davis all scored on breakaways for the Golden Eagles. Wes Jackson and Preston Lay added three more a piece.  The game got chippy when team captain Justin Gill left the game with an upper body injury after a questionable check.  Both Butch Jimerson and Justin Stevens hit the showers early after receiving two separate fighting majors just minutes apart.  Any animosity was left on the floor as the NGE took the victory 16-7.  Both teams shook hands and remained on the floor for the awards ceremony.  Rawgus Boyz captain Darren Brooks received the 2nd Place trophy and prize money with applause from both teams as did longtime Golden Eagle Trace White who received the championship trophy and prize money from the tournament held in his brother's honor.  


Team Notes:
Goaltenders Craig Seneca and Clint Jones split time and played stellar all weekend behind a stout defense that boasted a mere 5.6 goals against average for the tournament.  The offense finished with a 13.8 goals for average.  Preston Lay was the tournaments high scorer with 12 goals and 8 assists (in three pool play games.)  Linden Stevens won the MVP award.  The team is coached by Mike Stevens, Chad Stevens and Brian Stevens, all former standout players for the NGE.