By Brett Hughes

Prior to the weekends games, I had reached out to certian RISE UP BOYS and asked them to write me a letter about what they had learned over the weekend as students of the firstround of the NCAA tournament. It could be about a player, a team, or a common trend they picked up on througout the weekend. These boys will always view the game as entertainment, but I wanted them to actively take a moment and view the game as if they were getting ready for a test... A four year test of lacrosse I.Q. and ability to learn the college game.  All the boys had a great time with it and I was so impressed with what they came back with.

One of the future Quarterbacks of the NCAA Matt White and I had talked prior to the games and I just knew this kid was going to come up with something right on the money. To be the conductor of Ridgefield High School in Conn. and a future leader of the Virginia Cavaliers high powered offense, I expected Matt to "get it" this weekend. He did, picking up on things that do not pertain to his position, but he is right on the money with his observations about the total game.

Brett,

From watching the games this weekend, i think the thing that really stuck out the most to to me was the importance of goalie play in the NCAA tournament.  It's obvious that nobody is a dud in the net playing for these teams, but for instance in the UVA vs. Nova game the nova goalie wasn't really in a good groove facing those shooters from Virginia.  Same thing wth the Duke v. Navy game.  Another key thing that i payed attention to was faceoffs.  Carolina, UVA, and Hopkins all looked like they had a great advantage in that spot with Walterhoefer, Gaudet and Dolente winning lots of draws for their respective teams.
 

Two things you will see consistently are coaches and analysts talking about  the importance of exactly that in the playoffs. when everyone is on an even playing field, the X-Factors come up huge.

By Brett Hughes

Week 1 of the ESPN RISE player tracker kicks off with some of the best high school lacrosse players weighing in with the best advice they have ever been given.
 
We will catch up with players weekly to discuss lacrosse and life and get to know these future college athletes a little better.

This past week in Maryland, brothers Quinn and Jake Haley, who are two-sport stars for Queen Anne's, helped lead their football team to a 5-0 start and a big come-from-behind win against Stephen Decatur High School.  The brothers are both "do everything players" for Queen Anne's team.

Last week, Quinn caught five passes for 90 yards -- including a 28-yard TD -- while causing the same type of noise on the defensive side of the ball.

Jake added over 100 yards rushing and receiving, including an 18-yard TD run. He also won the team's "Triple Threat Award" (for outstanding play on offense, defense and special teams). The bothers are currently tied for the team lead in interceptions. They also both had a chance to stop by some Division 1 power houses. Jake visited Virginia and watched the Maryland-UVa. football game. Quinn stopped by Maryland to catch an under-the-lights practice in College Park.

Up north, we catch up with some Division one bound athletes:

Matt White of Ridgefield High School helped his football team take down Staple, which not only marks another win for the Tigers of Ridgefield, but also marks the first time the school has beaten Staple in football by a score of 37-6. Ridgefield also sported its new Orange Jerseys, which White says was a surprise ... but well received. White is committed to UVa. and will be a freshman for Dom Starsia and the Wahoos next fall. Down the road a bit in Medford, N.J., Virginia commit and Shawnee High School super star football/lacrosse player Chris LaPierre continues to rack up big numbers while his team moves closer to the No. 1 spot in the state. So far, LaPierre leads the county with nine touchdowns on 459 yards rushing. His team is ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 1 in South Jersey. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, LaPierre was named the South Jersey Scholar-Athlete of the week.

	ESPN RISE
	Lawrenceville's Luke Armour is headed to Princeton next year.

Luke Armour of Lawrenceville is enjoying his offseason, but is keeping sharp so he can put together another strong spring season before leaving for Princeton to play for coach Bill Tierney. He hasn't had a lot of free time, however. Luke has worked hard over the past two years since transferring to Lawrenceville to found a branch of Kids Helping Kids, a unique community service organization that focuses on helping kids who have suffered catastrophic illnesses or injuries. He hopes to keep expanding the amazing organization in the Princeton and Lawrenceville areas.

Tobias Armour, an all-star defensemen from Choate (Wallingford, Conn.) continues to enjoy major success on the soccer field, where he has started on the varsity team since his freshman year. He also has a state cup with his premier club and has been playing with the Olympic developmental program.

Owen Van Arsdale, a junior attackman for St. Anne's Belfield, has been sidelined with a concussion for close to a month, but is looking to get back into uniform and play this week. ESPN RISE and the RISE UP boys want to wish him well. Owen will travel to Harvard after his game to visit with the coach Jeff Tambroni and spend some time in Cambridge.

ESPN RISE has also posed a question to the RISE UP boys in Week 1:

RISE: What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Owen Van Arsdale: The best advice I have ever been given was a note from one of my coaches, Dave Riddick, which outlined the concept of success and the elements to success.

Tobias Armour: "Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever."

Luke Armour: Best advice ever given to me: When I was in 7th grade, I had a conversation with Ryan McClay who was a defenseman on the NJ Pride at the time. We were talking about work ethic, and his training regimen, and he told me that when he is feeling tired, or uninspired to work out, he thinks of all of his competition out working while he is not. Ever since he told me that, I've been inspired to never take a day off and to keep the image of a beast defender trying to kill me in my mind.

Jake Haley: My goalie coach (and others): "FOCUS.  Don't think about anything but saving the ball." It's simple but it's the best advice for me.

Chris LaPierre: "You have to be able to finish someone off and sooner or later you have to step on their throat, take their will away, and come out on top."

Quinn Haley: Coach Bohanon: "Ground balls are like blood. You need blood to live. You need ground balls to win."

Matt White: My mom once told me, "Life is 10 percent what happens to you, 90 percent how you react to it.

Frank Price II:  "There's Nothing wrong with loosing, Unless you like it"  -Tony Perna- 

Check back to see how the RISE UP boys are doing. If you have a question for the RISE UP boys, e-mail at brett.hughes@espn.com. Stay good and play hard.