Laxified

 The Different Road Patriots (DRP)Girls Lacrosse Club was first formed in January of 2001. The club had many successful performances at lacrosse festivals and tournaments. This group traveled throughout New York State and beyond to develop local, North Country talent. Girls lacrosse was new to this area but was growing fast. Several members of the 2001-2004 Patriots went on to have successful college lacrosse careers and many of those members are now coaching at every level of girls lacrosse from youth to college.  The original Patriot members have dedicated themselves to reactivating the club to benefit players of all ages. 

In  June of 2009, former members and coaches of the 2001-2004 Patriots revived DRP. It began with a small group of 18 kids and a July Tourney at West Gennny High School. This team took third place in its first tourney. In the fall of 2009, this group went on to win the championship game  at SU Lax Fest and at the Golden Goal Festival. The club expanded quickly, entering modified and JV teams in fall tournaments. Membership soon began to include youth members with the Patriots ranks soon exceeding 125 players. The club also hosts local clinics and camps. DRP will not interfere with school team schedules or activities. Club activities run from June through March.  

Members must be committed to improving their lacrosse skills, competitive play and advanced knowledge of the game. If the member has a desire to be on tourney team, they must put in their time to club activities. Players for tournament teams are chosen from girls who participate in seasonal club sessions. Roster positions are also based on a player's competitive skill level.   

Sportswomanship is a priority of this club. Good sportsmanship towards fellow parents, teammates, coaches, opponents and officials is mandatory! This club has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. Un-sportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. If this type of behavior occurs, the offender will be addressed and his or her daughter's future in the club will be compromised. Please think before you act - the kids are the ones who will suffer.

Each member must display PRIDE and RESPECT in self, teammates, coaches and family.

DRP coaching staff is dedicated to developing North Country players,  It is the club’s goal to teach advanced skills, strategies and a knowledge of the game to girls in grades 2 through 12.  DRP coaches, players and families are committed to representing the North Country with the finest skills and sportswomanship at competitive tournaments.  

Patriot Director and Coach: Whitney Vecchio  ( NYS scholar athlete )(04 GB Grad and Lemoyne College grad 08) Holds leading scoring records both in high school ( scored over 550 high school career points ) and college. Vecchio was a high school All American in her Junior year. In that same year she was a silver medalist in the Empire State Games. While playing  Lacrosse at Lemoyne she set single season assist and all time leading assist records. Whit also ranked second highest all time points. While at Lemoyne her team won back to back MAAC Conference Championships. In 2008, she was member of the all region team and was second in scoring in the nation for Division 1. Whitney is a member of the 2008 Team USA who won silver in the Australia Lacrosse Games.  She has directed and coached camps of various levels ranging from first grade through college. She was JCC assistant lacrosse coach at JCC in 2009. She has also assisted the South Jeff Lacrosse

program for the past two seasons.

Patriot Coaching Staff: All Patriot staff bring a plethora of experience to our young north country players. All have are very competitive and share a passion for the sport of lacrosse. The staff shares their tenacity for athletics and enjoys sharing their knowledge and passion for lacrosse. All coaches have had very successful high school and college careers.

Kylie Rosette also a 04 GB grad ( NYS scholar athlete )and Lemoyne Coleege grad of 08. In High School Kylie recorded over 450 points.  Rosette also a member of the Lemoyne college lacrosse team who won back-to-back Championships. During those seasons, Kylie received  MAAC tournament MVP honors and was instrumental in Lemoyne's success. For years she has taught at a variety of camps and clinics. For the past two seasons Kylie has assisted General Brown High School Lacrosse program.

Jen Williams brings years of competitive high school and college sports experience. She experienced very successful high school and college careers. in 2006, she began as head coach of lacrosse at South Jefferson. She has guided this young program, in just four years to the 2010 semi-finals of Section 3 playoffs (only loosing to two state final four teams). In 2001 - 02 she was the assistant basketball coach at Cortland University before moving on to coach Varsity girls basketball at Newfield High School until 2006. Most recently she coached basketball at Jefferson Community College from 2007 to 2010.

Katie Rivers also a local girl. She is a WHS grad of 2004 where she was the teams lead goalie. Katie went on to play all four year at Buffalo State College. While at Buff State she earned SUNYAC all tournament team 2007, all ECAC/SUNYAC Goalie 2007. In 2009 she was an assistant lacrosse coach at Jefferson community College. This season she assisted at General Brown High School. Katie has also coached camps for many years.

Tia Morgia  graduated from WHS in 2003 where she was a member of the Academic All American Team in 2002-03. Tia went on to play for Nazareth Lacrosse team 2004-07. While at Nazareth, Tia earned NYSWCAA 2nd Team all star 06, first team Empire 8 conference 05-07 and 2nd team Northern NY Region 05-06. While at Nazareth her team won back-to-back Empire 8 conference Championships in 05 and 06. After College, Tia was an assistant coach at St. John Fisher for two years. During this time the team won an Empire 8 Championship launching them into the regionals of the NCAA tournament.

Matt Emerson, a 2003 WHS graduate where he was a Frontier League All Star in Lacrosse. Following a successful high school career, Matt was recruited to play for the Division 2 lacrosse Power House Lemoyne College. While at Lemoyne College Emerson 3 National Division 2 Championship titles. Upon graduation from Lemoyne, he joined the coaching staff at LC while pursuing his Master Degree. Matt  joined the Lemoyne Sports Medicine Division in the Fall of 2007. He later became a Strength and Conditioning coach for the college's Mens Lacrosse Team. In 2009, he was an assistant Mens Lacrosse coach for Lemoyne College.

**** Additional Staff is added for different events as needed. We also host college coaches as guest coaches for our clinics. We had the pleasure of hosting Gary Gait of Syracuse University last winter. Also during the winter,  DRP hosted St Lawrence University Coaches Jodi Canfield and Ashley Pike. Lemoyne College coaching staff and players traveled up Rte 81 to teach a clinic sponsored by the Patriots.