Justin Garrison, who produced three collegiate players in his first season at the helm of the South Meck boys lacrosse program, is relocating to Chicago to join his fiancee, Nina, and has resigned as the Sabres' head coach.

"This is one of the toughest decisions of my life," Garrison said. "After some long months of every-night discussions, I have decided it is best for me to move up to Chicago as it has been my goal to be in the same city as my fiancee."

Garrison is being replaced, at least on a temporary basis, by trusted defensive coordinator Tim Murphy, who was a teammate of his at Catawba. Murphy will be a part of next year's coaching staff regardless, but is now serving as the interim head coach. His assistant will be another holdover from Garrison's staff, Miles Payne. Murphy and Payne will be in charge of South's fall conditioning program, details of which will be announced on this site soon.

Last year's offensive coordinator, Kurt Green, has also moved away from Charlotte, leaving his job at Wachovia for a position with the Allegis Group in Hanover, Maryland.

Everyone at South Meck lacrosse wishes Justin and Kurt well in their new endeavors, and we are grateful to keep continuity in the coaching staff with the return of Tim and Miles for the 2011 campaign. Garrison and Green have both said they'll be back to visit and watch the Sabres a couple of times next season.

 

Coach Justin Garrison's first South Meck lacrosse team has produced a school-record three collegiate signees, as Sabre seniors Josh Campbell, Shea Fadel and Jarrett Cook will continue their lacrosse careers as NCAA players next fall.

Campbell, a first-team all-conference middie who scored 34 goals this season and was the Sabres' Offensive Player of the Year, signed with Division III power Stevenson University in Maryland, where he will help the Mustangs improve on their semifinal finish in this year's NCAA playoffs.

Three-year starter and third-team all-league longpole middie Shea Fadel, the team's Defensive MVP in 2010, will follow in the footsteps of the South coaching staff and play near home in Salisbury for Division II Catawba.

Another three-year starter, middie Jarrett Cook, accepted a late offer from another local Division II school, Wingate, where he will play for Bulldogs coach Sonny Zeigler. Cook led the Sabres in groundballs in each of his last two seasons.

Interestingly, Fadel and Cook will now be be playing against each other annually as rivals in the Deep South Lacrosse Conference, where Wingate and Catawba are longtime members. The date for the 2011 game between the Bulldogs and Indians hasn't been announced yet, but check back on southmecklacrosse.com for details of the first Fadel/Cook showdown. 

Six South Meck boys lacrosse players took home awards Thursday night at the team's season-ending banquet held at Carmel Presbyterian Church. Seniors Josh Campbell (Offensive Player of the Year), Shea Fadel (Defensive Player of the Year), Jarrett Cook (Hustle Award) and Alex Breneman (Most Improved Player) ended their Sabre lax careers in grand fashion. Junior attackman Jordan Smith was named Most Valuable Player, while freshman middie Josh Neumann earned Rookie-of-the-Year honors. It was announced at the banquet that Campbell was named a first-team all-conference middie, with Fadel earning third-team honors as a longpole middie. It was also learned that at least two Sabre boys will be playing college lacrosse next year, as Campbell accepted an offer from Division III power Stevenson (Md.) University and Fadel will compete for Division II Catawba in nearby Salisbury. Also, Cook is considering an offer to play at Wingate, while Breneman will play club lax at East Carolina.

The South Meck boys won their second straight game in less than 19 hours April 1, going on the road to get a 12-8 come-from-behind win over Hopewell in Huntersville.

Josh Campbell and Josh Bailey each scored three goals to lead the Sabres, who defeated Mooresville 13-5 the night before to get their first win of the season. Jordan Smith and Jarrett Cook had two goals apiece, while Eli Morris scored once, as South moved to 2-7 on the season.

The Sabres trailed 7-4 midway through the third period, but some faceoff dominance by Campbell and a key play by junior middie Paul Jahn sparked a South offense that outscored the Titans 8-1 the rest of the way. Campbell won four straight faceoffs that led to Sabre goals and then, tied at 8-8, Jahn came out of a scrum with a groundball, dodged his way down the field and fed a streaking Cook for a goal to give South a lead that it would not relinquish.

Junior goaltender Grayson Stricker had perhaps his best game in goal as a Sabre, making huge stops in the fourth quarter and clearing the ball with such ease that he actually assisted Campbell on a late goal. South entered the game with only 17 players, as starting defensemen Andrew Levine and Jesse Breaux and sophomore middie Dylan Stewart were out with injuries. Called upon for his first start, junior defender Bradley French filled in well. Outnumbered at least 2-to-1 in players, the Sabres appeared to get the better of play as things wore on, seeming to wear down the Titans in the final quarter.

The Sabres are off for spring break until April 12, when they return to the field with a 7 p.m. game at Providence.

The South Meck boys and girls lacrosse teams both won games at Fred Boger Stadium Wednesday night, with the Lady Sabres nipping Ardrey Kell 8-7 in two overtimes and the Sabre boys getting goals from five different players in a 13-5 win over Mooresville for their first win of the season.

South's girls, who improved to 2-5 on the season, were led by senior Jackie Haenlein's three goals. Kristen Reeder and Skye Klink chipped in two goals apiece, while Laura Orland added one.

Sophomore Eli Morris scored a career-high five times to lead the Sabre boys, while junior attackmen Josh Bailey and Jordan Smith each added three goals. Senior middie Will Stewart and freshman middie Josh Neumann also scored for South. Jarrett Cook and Jordan Smith each had two assists, while senior middie Shea Fadel picked up eight groundballs to lead the Sabres, who travel to Hopewell today for a 5 p.m. game. The bus will leave the South parking lot at 3:00 and drinks and food will be provided for the players during the ride.