PLL's Stars & Stripes Classic Focused on Respect, Reverance

CHESTER, Pa. — Regular attendees at Premier Lacrosse League weekends are familiar with the usual sights and sounds of the Premier Zone.

For the uninitiated, the Premier Zone is a fan fest with games, vendors, activations and all sorts of fun to be had just outside the stadium. At the PLL semifinals at Subaru Park on Sept. 1, the Premier Zone was a little bit bigger than usual.

This wasn’t a typical PLL weekend. Next to the fastest shot booth and league sponsors showing off their products were green berets standing next to a Chinook helicopter and Navy SEALs showing off go fast boats.

Semifinal weekend included the Stars and Stripes Classic, an event now in its second year featuring players representing the Green Beret Foundation (GBF) and Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). The teams played a game under PLL rules and raised money for both foundations. Army men’s lacrosse coach Joe Alberici served as coach for GBF, and Navy men’s lacrosse coach Joe Amplo coached the NSF team.

“It’s an absolute honor to be part of all of this,” Alberici said. “My thanks to the PLL, the Green Beret Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation for putting it on. The men who play in the game, to witness these warriors battle on another field, I’m so appreciative to be a part of it.”

“I’m blessed to be part of this,” Amplo said. “It’s an unbelievable weekend between the Navy Seal Foundation, the Green Beret Foundation and the PLL. These guys were treated like superstars through the weekend, and rightfully so. They’re the heroes of our country. There were moments I was blown away by how hard these guys were playing to represent who they represent and to compete against each other.”

Since last year, players from the teams have found more opportunities to play, be it in men’s leagues or other opportunities. The success of last year’s event meant even more interest in this year’s. GBF President and CEO Charlie Iacono said that this year, there were over 100 players interested in playing.

Navy Seal Foundation CFO Scott Burke said it was a similar number for their team.

“I was really impressed with the number of guys who played in this last year and got to summer leagues and knew what to expect,” Alberici said. “They came in much more ready for the experience after having that first experience. The guys are down in North Carolina playing pick-up weekly. That wasn’t something that was part of this before.”

The SEALs got out to a quick 2-0 lead, though the Green Berets showed plenty of dodging ability in the early going. The SEALs hit a two-pointer early in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 4-0.

While the Green Berets kept creating good looks at goal, they couldn’t put one home until late in the second. Turnovers in the clearing game became a major issue for the Green Berets, as the SEALs were able to capitalize on miscues and turn them into goals.

At the half, the SEALs led 7-1.

“To sum it up, it was around second chance opportunities,” Alberici said. “The SEALs did a great job. They were very good capitalizing on any failed clears, any ground ball situations. I think we counted up about seven of their 10 goals that came from those situations.”

At the halftime break, the Quantico Marching Band performed and a video honoring Brendan Looney played. Every facet of the game was focused on respect and reverence for the armed service branches being honored on the field.

In the second half, the Seals picked up where they left off. An early two-point attempt was saved, but they were able to jump on the rebound and put it up to push their lead to 8-1. The Green Beret struggled on the clear and gave the SEALs extra possessions.

With the extra chances, they pushed their lead to 9-1. The Green Berets got one back late in the third to make it 9-2, finally converting some of their possession time into goals.

“I’m blown away by how quickly they can act and operate as a team,” Amplo said. “It’s no surprise because they truly are the world’s elite team. But to observe that in a short amount of time, it’s remarkable.”

Late in the third, the Green Berets found some life, hitting a two-pointer to cut the margin to 9-4. They kept creating good looks on offense, but shooting woes kept them from clawing back. They got as close as 9-5, but the SEALs were able to hold off and come away with a 10-5 win.

The event has plenty of room to continue to grow, and that continues to be a goal for both foundations and the PLL.

“The success of year one really set the foundation and the building blocks for year two,” Iacono said. “Last year we were on EPSN+, this year we’re on ESPNU under the lights. These are the small things; Rome wasn’t built in a day. My vision for this game is to have it grow and become a must attend or must tune-in event for any kid that plays lacrosse. We have a such an opportunity to demonstrate to the American public the great work the Green Beret Foundation does and the incredible work that these men who put on their uniform each day and go to work to defend our freedoms; they’re deserving of an audience.”

While repeating as winners of the game was a consideration for fans, it wasn’t really on the minds of the Navy SEALs players.

“The way we operate as a team is so mission focused,” Amplo said. “And it’s the mission that’s right in front of them. It’s the next play in this environment, it’s the next moment. There were times in this game where it got wildly sloppy. I’m sure in their world, there’s sloppiness or chaos that occurs, and they just focus on what’s right in front of them. So, for us, it wasn’t about the result, it was the fundamental things along the way that allow us to come out with a victory.”