2008 Season Outlook

Head coach George McCormack is anxious for his fifth season at Williams to begin and who could blame him?

McCormack has lifted the Williams program back into a top tier team in NESCAC, which is arguably the best conference in the nation with three teams ranked in the top twenty in the 2008 USILA pre-season poll.

Last spring the Ephs doubled their NESCAC win total to six, advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time and defeated Middlebury for the first time in 14 years while also defeating archrival Amherst on the road for the first time in 10 years. McCormack's laxmen were also the only team to defeat Tufts in a NESCAC regular season contest.

The 2008 season should also be an exciting year for the Ephs.  The March 3rd U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) top twenty-five poll had the Ephs listed among the few just outside the top 20 receiving votes. The Ephs will return nine of their top 10 scorers from 2007, a solid midfield, tested defenders, an experienced goalie and four of five players who earned All-NESCAC honors in last spring.

Dixon Hargrove '08

Leading the Eph attack will be a dynamic pair of seniors – Michael Vrla and Dixon Hargrove, both First Team All-NESCAC selections a year ago. Vrla netted a team-high 31 goals and assisted on four for 35 points. Hargrove tallied 12 goals but assisted on a team-high 29 to lead the Ephs in points with 41.

McCormack will also have 20-goal scorer Tim White, a junior attack man back. White also recorded 10 assists (30 points). Joining White at the attack position are three sophomores.  Richard Reuter who scored 11 goals and assisted on nine (20 points), Michael Grover and Christian Henze.  

Two first year attack men who look to press for playing time are Tommy Murray and David Hawley.

"Having a veteran attack group returning is a big positive," notes McCormack. "The seniors should give us the consistency we are looking for, while also providing the leadership that our younger players need."

Michael Vrla '08

Back to compete in the midfield is junior Kevin Connolly who scored 15 points with nine goals and six assists. The senior class will make up the majority of a strong midfield.  Senior co-captains Mike Lewen and Andy Camposeo will be joined by classmates Stew Gilson and Andrew Roberto.  Junior Eric Muller, sophomore Bryan Wrapp and first year Matt Cranshaw look to see time and round out an athletic midfield.  

Working at the defensive midfield will be junior Ryan Powell and sophomore Adam Benjamin.  First year Dylan Shultz and Jay Petricone will also see time there.

Battling for the face off position will be junior Mike Smith, sophomore David Blitzer and first year Corey Jacobs.

"We are looking for our midfielders to provide our team with great transition offense and defense," says McCormack. "Our seniors are looking to set the tone for the entire group."

Brian Morrissey '09	Nick Fersen '08

Sean O'Grady is the only All-NESCAC selection from 2007 who was lost to graduation, but junior Brian Morrissey, All-NESCAC Second Team, returns to anchor an Eph defense that has made impressive strides over the past few years. Joining Morrissey is four-year starter and senior co-captain Nick Fersen.

To complement Morrissey and Fersen, McCormack will have a stable of five sophomores and a large group of first years to choose from. Of the five sophomores Andrew D'Ambrosio saw the most action appearing in 13 games, Oliver Merrill played in nine and Marco DeMeireles, and John Kleinert each played in three contests.

Six first years will vie for time on defense – Michael Ryan, Rob McDonald, David Fitzpatrick, Aaron Flack, Adam Hines and Alex Mendels.

"We are excited about our depth at the defensive position," states McCormack. "The competition should bring the best out of all of them."

Michael Gerbush '0

Manning the goal is junior Michael Gerbush who earned Second Team All-NESCAC honors last spring when he played all but 12:46 in goal and recorded an 8-6 record. In 829:37 in the net Gerbush allowed 96 goals (6.94) and registered 157 saves for a .621 save percentage. "Michael has been very solid in goal since taking over the starting position," says McCormack. "We look forward to having him back in the cage this year."

Sophomore Stephen Vrla, younger brother of Michael will battle with first years Brian Malchoff and Henry Mills for time in goal.

McCormack's Ephs will open the season on March 8th at Colby in a NESCAC contest. The Ephs will first focus on trying to win the Little Three title and then go after the NESCAC title in search of their first trip to the NCAA Div. III Lacrosse Tournament.

"We are excited about the 2008 lacrosse season," McCormack says.  "The competition will be tough week in and week out and we understand that we need to bring a consistent effort every game to experience a successful season."