WILLIAMSTOWN, MA
-- Williams men’s head lacrosse coach George
McCormack along with his staff and team are excited about the
upcoming 2010 season and the challenges that await them. Looking
back at the 2008 and 2009 campaigns the bar has been set very high
in regards to NESCAC Championships, NCAA playoffs and Little 3
Championship.
The 2008 team won the program’s first NESCAC title, while
also advancing to the team’s first NCAA Tournament game. The
2009 team made the NESCAC playoffs for the fourth year in a row,
while also winning the Little 3 Championship outright for the first
time in 10 years. These accomplishments are major milestones in Eph
men’s lacrosse history, but what makes them even more
significant is that Williams plays in the most competitive and
highly regarded Division III conference in the country.
While the NESCAC schedule is always challenging, the out of conference schedule is also extremely competitive. Year in and year out the Williams College men’s lacrosse team’s strength of schedule is ranked as one of the highest in the nation. The 2010 schedule is no different, with games scheduled against #3 Roanoke, #17 Endicott, Union, Randolph Macon, and Plattsburgh.
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| Andrew D'Ambrosio '10 |
The Ephs accrued some significant losses on both offense and defense from last year’s team that will be hard to replace. Defensively, Brian Morrissey (LSM) and Michael Gerbush (Goalie), both All Americans and four-year starters, were lost to graduation. Ryan Powell and Elijah Weeks who were two of the best defensive midfielders in NESCAC also graduated. On offense, leading scorer David Hawley (Mid/Attack) transferred and Kevin Connolly (Midfield) graduated. To fill these holes coach McCormack will be looking to some experienced upperclassmen and some up and coming sophomores and freshmen.
GOALIE AND CLOSE DEFENSE
Competing for the vacant goalie position are senior Stephen Vrla, junior Henry Mills and sophomore Evan Cohen. At the close defense All-NESCAC senior captain Andrew D’Ambrosio will lead the way with fellow senior Marco Demeireles. Junior close defenders include David Fitzpatrick, Alex Mendels, Adam Hines, and Chris Liu. The sophomore close defenders are David Doggett and Barry Frett. In the freshmen class, Mack Von Mehren, Ben Allison, and Chad Lorenz will compete for playing time.
LSM AND D-MID
At the long stick midfielder position two juniors and two sophomores will compete for playing time. The juniors are Michael Ryan and Aaron Flack and the sophomores are Greg White and Rob McDonald. Senior Adam Benjamin will anchor the defensive midfield position. Juniors Jay Petricone and Chris Edmonds will also be counted on for contributions along with freshmen Darryl Brown
FACE-OFFS
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| Corey Jacobs '11 |
Junior Corey Jacobs returns at the face-off position. Jacobs is one of the premier face-off men in NESCAC and has led the Ephs in face-off wins the past two seasons. Complementing Jacobs at face-offs are senior David Blitzer and sophomores Mike Ryan and Michael Acierno.
MIDFIELD
At the offensive midfield position All-NESCAC junior Matt Cranshaw will make a positive impact along with senior captain Rich Reuter. Senior Bryan Wrapp and junior Corey Jacobs are also ready to contribute along with sophomores Michael Acierno and Charles Gephart. Freshmen Will Stewart and Colton Growney should also vie for playing time.
ATTACK
At attack sophomore Sam Hargrove returns after
leading all freshmen in NESCAC in scoring last year.
Sophomore Mike Ryan also returns after getting considerable time
last year. Junior Tom Murray and sophomore Tim Goggins will be
looked to for contributions.
Lone senior attackman Michael Grover is coming back from knee
surgery and looking to contribute right away. Freshmen Evan
Dedominicis rounds out the attack position.
OUTLOOK
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| Tommy Murray '11 |
"Offensively, we will need to be unselfish with the ball, while aggressively going to the cage in both our settled and transition offenses,” notes coach McCormack. “Defensively, we will stress communication between players, while remaining sound in scheme, aggressive in tempo, and physical in our play.”
“As a team we will demand from each other that we step it up in regards to ground balls and riding to enable us to control the momentum of the game. Great senior leadership is required for us to be successful, but we also need playmakers from every class to contribute.”
The season begins March 13th at home on Renzie
Lamb Field, when the Ephs host NESCAC foe Colby College at 12:00
pm.
