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SoCo Am U19 following an overtime victory to beat Canada Evolve U19 7-6
to win the Bronze Medal at the International Cup January, 2011 in Florida
Program Mission: The Four Corners of Success
1) Maximum recruiting exposure to over 200 NCAA schools throughout the summer
2) Advanced Skill Development at the hands of top national clinicians including current NCAA coaches
3) Facing top national competition at tournament events that we are well prepared for due to very productive training camps
4) To provide all of our players with a true "college lacrosse experience" where they are playing with players from over a dozen different states, rooming with them in the overnight setting, and being coached by NCAA staff during our training camps in college-type practice settings
Our Successful Format
Our focus will be on our chief goals of maximize advanced player development and collegiate recruiting exposure for several top high school lacrosse players. The close-knit nature of our training and competition venues will allow our team to build rapport quickly on and off the field. While we desire a team that is wholeheartedly effortful and committed, we do not want our schedule of training and competition to dominate the boys’ summers. Players will have roughly two full, intermittent weeks of training and competition from late June through late July with 10 days off in between the two sessions. Our players will achieve a maximum of development and exposure in our condensed format, yet have several weeks of time to themselves to participate in other individual recruiting events, work summer jobs, and spend time with family and friends.
Southern Combat American Schedule: Summer 2012
Coaching Staff
TEAM DIRECTORS - Nolan Godfrey and RJ Dawson
HEAD COACH - Matt Synowiez
Head Coach Matt Synowiez took over the University of Tennessee men's lacrosse program in the fall of 2005 after serving as an assistant coach during the 2004-2005 season primarily helping with the offense. Coach Synowiez grew up in Easton, Maryland and started playing in the 4th grade for the Talbot Lacrosse Association. He played Defense from 4th grade through 6th grade in the TLA program. He transitioned from Defense to Midfield in the 7th grade. Matt again changed positions as a freshman at Easton High School when he moved to Attack. He was primarily an Attackman until his junior year when he became a Midfielder/Attack combo player. When Matt graduated from Easton in 1997 he had the opportunity to continue his playing career at Guilford College. Guilford College is a NCAA Division III program and is a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Matt was the leading scorer in the ODAC Conference his Sophomore year before a knee injury prematurely ended his season during their 5th game of the year. Coach Synowiez rehabbed and continued playing his junior and senior seasons and graduated from Guilford College in May, 2001 with a Major in Business Management and a Minor in Accounting.
ASSISTANT COACH - Mike Vitulano
Coach Vitulano is an offensive assistant coach for the University of Tennessee. Vitulano is a native of Fairfield, CT. He played collegiate lacrosse at NCAA Div III Wesleyan University. As a midfielder, he helped his team to the first two NCAA DIII tournament appearances in school history, including a trip to the final four his senior year. He finished his career with 92 points. His coaching experience includes two seasons coaching at the middle school level for MetroLacrosse, a non-profit, inner city organization in Boston. Currently, he is in his second year of training in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at The University of Tennessee. He does research on risks for childhood problem behavior and sees patients through the university's clinic.
1) Maximum recruiting exposure to over 200 NCAA schools throughout the summer
2) Advanced Skill Development at the hands of top national clinicians including current NCAA coaches
3) Facing top national competition at tournament events that we are well prepared for due to very productive training camps
4) To provide all of our players with a true "college lacrosse experience" where they are playing with players from over a dozen different states, rooming with them in the overnight setting, and being coached by NCAA staff during our training camps in college-type practice settings
Our Successful Format
Our focus will be on our chief goals of maximize advanced player development and collegiate recruiting exposure for several top high school lacrosse players. The close-knit nature of our training and competition venues will allow our team to build rapport quickly on and off the field. While we desire a team that is wholeheartedly effortful and committed, we do not want our schedule of training and competition to dominate the boys’ summers. Players will have roughly two full, intermittent weeks of training and competition from late June through late July with 10 days off in between the two sessions. Our players will achieve a maximum of development and exposure in our condensed format, yet have several weeks of time to themselves to participate in other individual recruiting events, work summer jobs, and spend time with family and friends.
Southern Combat American Schedule: Summer 2012
| TRAINING AND TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE |
| DATES EVENT VENUE |
| June 1-3 SoCo Player Showcase JP2 HS Hendersonville, TN |
| June 4-6 SoCo Nashville Team Showcase JP2 HS Hendersonville, TN |
| June 6-9 SoCo American Team Training Camp Darlington School Rome, GA |
| June 10-12 SoCo Atlanta Team Showcase Darlington School Rome, GA |
| TRAVEL SCHEDULE |
| DATES EVENT DEPART ARRIVE |
| June 1 Arrival in Nashville Player's home Hendersonville, TN |
| June 6 Travel to Darlington School Hendersonville, TN Rome, GA |
| June 12 Return home Rome, GA Player’s Home |
| *NOTE: We will provide pickup and dropoff at Nashville and Atlanta airports if needed |
| ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYER FEE SCHEDULE |
| INCLUDES |
| - All tournament team fees and player fees - Transport to Darlington School from Nashville |
| - All hotel costs during both Nashville events - Specialized, personal skill development plan |
| - All meals during training camps and tourneys - Premier team coaching staff |
| - Premier facilities for training camps - NCAA guest coaching staff in training camps |
| - Team gear (helmet wrap, gloves, stick wrap, |
| shooting shirt, practice shorts, game shorts, |
| reversible jersey, team polo shirt for travel) |
| DOES NOT INCLUDE |
| - Travel for players at the beginning and end of the entire program (from home on 6/1 and 6/12) |
Coaching Staff
TEAM DIRECTORS - Nolan Godfrey and RJ Dawson
HEAD COACH - Matt Synowiez
Head Coach Matt Synowiez took over the University of Tennessee men's lacrosse program in the fall of 2005 after serving as an assistant coach during the 2004-2005 season primarily helping with the offense. Coach Synowiez grew up in Easton, Maryland and started playing in the 4th grade for the Talbot Lacrosse Association. He played Defense from 4th grade through 6th grade in the TLA program. He transitioned from Defense to Midfield in the 7th grade. Matt again changed positions as a freshman at Easton High School when he moved to Attack. He was primarily an Attackman until his junior year when he became a Midfielder/Attack combo player. When Matt graduated from Easton in 1997 he had the opportunity to continue his playing career at Guilford College. Guilford College is a NCAA Division III program and is a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Matt was the leading scorer in the ODAC Conference his Sophomore year before a knee injury prematurely ended his season during their 5th game of the year. Coach Synowiez rehabbed and continued playing his junior and senior seasons and graduated from Guilford College in May, 2001 with a Major in Business Management and a Minor in Accounting.
ASSISTANT COACH - Mike Vitulano
Coach Vitulano is an offensive assistant coach for the University of Tennessee. Vitulano is a native of Fairfield, CT. He played collegiate lacrosse at NCAA Div III Wesleyan University. As a midfielder, he helped his team to the first two NCAA DIII tournament appearances in school history, including a trip to the final four his senior year. He finished his career with 92 points. His coaching experience includes two seasons coaching at the middle school level for MetroLacrosse, a non-profit, inner city organization in Boston. Currently, he is in his second year of training in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at The University of Tennessee. He does research on risks for childhood problem behavior and sees patients through the university's clinic.
