Editor's Note: For the first time ever, WestSideLax will be ranking the best western elite club teams in the nation. The judging criteria and rankings were based off the following categories: Summer 2011 wins, coaches feedback, strength of schedule, college commitments, and observed performance   

Alcatraz Outlaws

Summer 2011 Tournaments: King Of The Hill, Gait Cup


       The Alcatraz Outlaws were formed in 2008 by former St. Ignatius (CA) coach Greg Angilly, along with fellow coaches Braden Edwards and Dave Grose. Since the club’s initial inception, the Outlaws have rapidly risen to prominence on the club circuit, seemingly elevating the Northern Bay area into “hotbed” status in the eyes of hungry NCAA recruiters. With over 20 NCAA Division I commits in the past three seasons, it would be safe to say that the Outlaws are the team to beat in Northern California. The Outlaws are built from Northern California’s elite players from such programs as: St. Ignatius, San Ramon Valley, Piedmont, SF University, Foothill, and Marin Catholic.

       In the summer of 2011, the Outlaws participated in both the Gait Cup in Gettysburg, and King of the Hill Tournament in Haverford, Pennsylvania. At the Gait Cup, the Outlaws had a fantastic run to the finals beating club rival EDGE Elite from Canada, and the Chesapeake Rock before falling to Laxachusetts in the finals. Also reaching the finals at the Haverford King of the Hill tourney, the Outlaws again would fall one game shy of tournament champs, losing again in the finals to a familiar Laxachusetts team.

      Coach Angilly says he had a new Outlaws team memeber step up as a "new hero" during every game in 2011. With a staff of blue-chippers at every position, the attack is led by Duke commit Chad Cohan (St. Ignatius 12’), and is joined by a tandem of rising juniors Wiley Osborne (Menlo 13’) and Jack McCormick (DLS 13’). At midfield, the Outlaws are paced by a core of future DI players including: Mike Hernandez (Piedmont 12’/Michigan), Jordan Weiss (San Ramon Valley 12’/Penn State) and Man Ghiassi (University 12’/Middlebury). At close defense in 2011 was the trio of Sommer Stein (Marin Academy 12’/Haverford), Griff Boudreau (Bellarmine 12’/Providence), JJ Ntshaykolo (Thatcher 13’) who are aided by talented LSM Charlie Ford (St. Ignatius 13’). Look for the Outlaws again the summer of 2012 as they return to the Gait Cup and King of the Hill tournaments.

Coach Angilly on the Outlaws: "As the coaches of the Alcatraz Outlaws, we are thrilled with the success of our club to date and excited about the future. We feel a quote from a 2011 parent captures the essence of who we are: Dave, Braden and Greg took a group of boys and parents from ALL over Northern California and helped them become a family. In a few short practices they shaped them into a team that played unselfishly and successfully. Each practice focused on the fundamentals for both offense and defense with coaches teaching and demanding good technique. The Alumni game was like being at an NCAA All-star game and the Easton gear was great...... It was the most important thing in lacrosse that Michael has ever done. How can we describe the experience – awesome, incredible, and ridiculously fun."