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Men’s Lacrosse Sets Sights On First Empire 8 Title
Despite the loss of three-time All-American goalkeeper Dave Decker (Califon, N.J.) the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s lacrosse team enters its 127th year at Castle Point with its sights set on capturing its first-ever Empire 8 title. Posting a 9-6 overall mark and 5-3 conference record in his first season in Cardinal and Gray, second-year head coach Gene Peluso will look to pair a talented and experienced core group of veterans with a solid corps of newcomers in hopes of guiding the Ducks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.
“It is important for us to continue to improve, play better lacrosse, and build on what we’ve learned so that we’re playing our best at the end of the year,” said Peluso. “It’s our expectation every season to compete for the Empire 8 title and to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.”
Hoping to help lead Stevens – recently picked to finish fifth in the Empire 8 – to a successful 2011 season are five co-captains in seniors Zach McHugh (Delray Beach, Fla.), Brandon Faubert (Virgina Beach, Va.), Chris Laurita (South Brunswick, N.J.) and Jacob Messimer (Rush, N.Y.), and junior Alex Hofrichter (Terrance Park, Ohio).
“We have a handful of seniors and upperclassmen who lead by example. There is great leadership in our senior and junior classes and there’s a sense of urgency that permeates through our team,” Peluso said. “It’s a group that gets it and is completely focused on being coachable, working hard, and striving for their goals.”
Under Peluso’s tutelage, a pair of Ducks earned All-America accolades a year ago – including McHugh, an honorable mention honoree – while Laurita and Faubert were among four Stevens student-athletes who earned All-Conference recognition. In their first year under a new system, the Ducks averaged 10.6 goals per game, registering a .298 shot percentage – ranking fifth in the conference in both categories. Anchored by McHugh, Stevens’ defense helped hold opponents to 8.67 goals per contest, while causing 11.13 turnovers, ranking third and fourth in the Empire 8, respectively.
“We are very excited about the upcoming season. We return a lot of talent from last year’s squad and are excited to see it all come together. As a team, they’ve had a year to really become familiar with the coaches and our system and in turn, we as coaches have had a season to become more acquainted with our student-athletes and I think that’s translated into some great fall ball and an excellent preseason,” said Peluso. “They have another year of our system under their belts and are clear on the terminology, our expectations, and our coaching philosophies. Ultimately, we’re looking forward to seeing all of our hard work that we’ve put in – as a staff and as a team – to really come through fruition.”
Close Defense
Headlining the Ducks’ defense is McHugh, a senior co-captain and 2009 honorable mention All-American. The Delray Beach, Fla. native started 13 of 15 games last season, causing a team-high 30 turnovers, while picking up 54 ground balls – ranking second on the squad. Also returning to the Stevens’ defense is senior Ted Pfeifer (Crozet, Va.) who started in 12 of his 15 appearances last season, causing 17 turnovers, while collecting 26 ground balls.
“Guys like McHugh, an All-American last year, and Pfeifer have played a lot over their time here, provide us with a lot of balance, and can help anchor the squad,” explained Peluso. “As talented and experienced as they are, they’re better as a unit than they are as individuals and will play a key role in helping to replace a three-time All-American goalkeeper like Dave Decker.”
Hoping to see increased roles this season are veterans Matt Marks (Cortland, N.Y.), Tyler Burgasser (Mendon, N.Y.), and Sean Phelan (Springfield, Va.), along with freshman Brian Fahy (Eastchester, N.Y.). In seven appearances a year ago, Marks and Burgasser combined for 10 ground balls and eight caused turnovers, while Phelan tallied eight ground balls in five starts.
“Burgasser, Fahy, and Phelan will also play important roles for us this season,” said Peluso. “Phelan has great size, while Burgasser is probably one of our smartest defenders who really gets the team defense concept. Fahy has a lot of ability and range as a defender and will see some time as well.”
Rounding out the Ducks’ defensive unit are sophomores Sean Devlin (Ocean City, N.J.) and Jonathan Greco (Kings Park, N.Y.) and freshman Ross Gerlack (Bellmore, N.Y.).
Defensive Midfielders
A staple in the Ducks’ midfield, Messimer returns for his senior season on the Hudson. As a long-stick midfielder, the Rush, N.Y. native started all 15 games for Stevens last season, tracking down 35 ground balls, while ranking second on the team in caused turnovers with 20.
“Jake Messimer is arguably our top long-stick midfielder,” said Peluso. “As a senior co-captain, he has a ton of experience and gives us a great physical defender at that position.”
Also in the fold as long-stick middles are junior Tim Ballai (Kinnelon, N.J.), who made three appearances in limited time last season, and freshman Tim Culloty (Mahwah, N.J.), who will look to make an immediate impact in his first full season as a member of the Ducks.
“Culloty and Ballai should contribute as long-stick middies,” Peluso said. “Culloty is a young defenseman with good speed, while Ballai is a smart, team defense guy.”
Looking to shore up Stevens’ defensive-minded midfield are senior CJ Patella (Westfield, N.J.), juniors Charles DeCarlo (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Steve Czarnecki (Oswego, N.Y.) and Michael Steinhauser (Boonton Township, N.J.), and sophomores Mark Malecki (Hillsborough, N.J.) and Brian Seldeen (Wayne, N.J.).
“Steve Czarnecki and Mike Steinhauser should see some time as short-stick defensive midfielders, while Brian Seldeen is another short-stick middie who can do a lot for us,” said Peluso. “He’s the type of player that can help us get into the transition game with good offensive skills. Malecki, Steinhauser, and DeCarlo, who is a big, strong option for us, could also play roles as face-off specialists.”
Patella made two starts in 2010, notching three ground balls and four caused turnovers, while DeCarlo, who made nine appearances, pulled in seven ground balls, while going 21-for-57 in face-offs. Czarnecki and Seldeen combined for 11 ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers in limited action last season, while Steinhauser gathered six ground balls in 10 appearances, going 11-for-30 in face-offs.
Goalkeepers
The Ducks will look to a trio of netminders in junior Eric Yando (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and sophomores Connor Nolan (Goffstown, N.H.) and Ben Shaffer (Armonk, N.Y.) to help fill the void left by Decker, a three-time USILA All-American. Yando and Nolan combined to make three appearances as reserves in 2010, allowing four goals on 14 shots.
“All three guys will compete for time after a really competitive fall and preseason. We’re excited to see one emerge as a starter for us this year,” said Peluso. “While we don’t expect any one of them to immediately replace a three-time All-American like Dave Decker, but we believe that with the close defense and defensive midfielder units we have in place, they’ll be able to grow into the position.”
Midfielders
Perhaps the Ducks deepest and most talented unit, Stevens’ midfield, led by Laurita, a second-team all-league pick, returns three of the squad’s top four scorers from a year ago, which accounted for just over 40 percent (65-of-159) of the team’s goals.
“With nine returnees from a year ago, we have a ton of experience, talent and options in the midfield. Faubert, Laurita, who I think has the potential to be an All-American at his position, Dorne and Simone can play midfield, attack, and do anything we need them to do,” Peluso explained. “They give us a lot of versatility and it’s easy to coach a group with their ability and work ethic.”
Laurita paced Stevens’ attack last season, leading the team in points with 45 on 27 goals and a team-best 18 assists. A native of South Brunswick, N.J., the senior co-captain, also collected 23 ground balls, while forcing 12 turnovers. An Empire 8 honorable mention honoree last season, Faubert ranked third on the team in points (32) and goals (24), while tying for second in assists with eight. Senior Joey Simone (Westfield, N.J.) and sophomore Harry Dorne (Morristown, N.J.) made the most out of their appearances last year, combining for four goals and three assists.
Returning to help bolster the Ducks midfield are senior Blair Koontz (Montclair, N.J.), junior Rich Dupras (Hillsborough, N.J.), and sophomore Nicolas Philippi (Mullica Hill, N.J.). Also hoping to make an impact in 2011, is junior transfer David Williams (Fulton, N.Y.) who will join Stevens after a decorated career at perennial junior college power Onondaga Community.
“Philippi and Dupras are back in the fold and we expect to continue to watch them blossom into great options for us, while Blair Koontz has the ability to both attack and control the midfield,” said Peluso. “Williams is a transfer from Onondaga Community College who captured two junior college national championships. He’s a very smart player from a great program that we hope can make an impact right away.”
An accurate threat out of the midfield, Koontz led the Ducks in shot percentage (.483) and shot-on-goal percentage (.793) last year, while posting 14 goals and six assists in 13 appearances. Philippi and Dupras each notched nine scores in 15 appearances, with the duo also combining for nine helpers.
Adding depth to the Ducks’ midfield are junior Thomas Karam (New Hartford, N.Y.) and a talented group of freshmen in Torry Burnes (Stratford, Conn.), Sean Scrudato (Westfield, N.J.), Sean Kelley (Mahwah, N.J.), Samuel Czarnecki (Oswego, N.Y.), and Michael Frasco (Spring Lake, N.J.), all of whom will look to provide an added spark in reserve roles.
Attack
Hofrichter leads the Ducks’ attackmen after a banner 2010 in which he finished second on the team in points with 37 on a team-high 29 goals and eight assists. The junior co-captain registered a .453 shot percentage last season, putting 76.6 percent of his tries on net.
“Alex Hofrichter is a smart offensive player, returning starter and a junior co-captain,” Peluso said. “He knows what we’re running (offensively) and we’ll look to him to help lead that group based on his experience.”
Hoping to make an impact this upcoming year to help shoulder the Ducks’ offensive load are junior Kevin Rose (Garden City, N.Y.) and freshmen Christian Saley (Montville, N.J.) and Charlie Cronin (Northampton, Mass.). Rose posted 11 goals and three assists a season ago, making 15 appearances with one start.
“Kevin Rose can play both positions – midfield and attack – but we’re hoping he can be a strong attacker for us this season,” said Peluso. “Saley and Cronin are a pair of young freshmen, who have extensive high school experience and should also compete for time.”
Also in the mix this year are a trio of freshmen attackers in Justin Morgan (Collegeville, Pa.), Connor Lynch (Seaford, N.Y.), and Garrett Joyal (Branchburg, N.J.).
Coaching Staff
Looking to help Peluso guide the Ducks’ to a successful 2011 campaign are assistant coaches Matt Madalon and Eric Koch. Entering his fourth season with Stevens, Madalon played an integral role in the development of three-time USILA All-American Dave Decker. A sixth round of the 2007 Major League Lacrosse supplemental draft by the San Francisco Dragons, he competed in his first season of professional lacrosse with San Francisco from April through August in 2007, and recently completed his third professional season as a goalkeeper for the Long Island Lizards.
Koch enters his second season with the Ducks after helping to guide Stevens to a 9-6 mark last year. An All-American close defenseman at Washington & Lee University, he started as a defensive assistant at Rutgers University. Koch also served as an assistant coach at Mountain Lakes High School in Mountain Lakes, N.J., where he helped guide the Lakers to back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008. He would also go on to work and run a number of high-level camps before coming to Hoboken to coach with the Ducks.
Schedule
In order to earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2006 the Ducks must first navigate a demanding 2011 slate that features three non-conference opponents who made NCAA Tournament appearances a year ago, along with a trio of Empire 8 opponents ranked in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) preseason poll.
“We take a lot of pride in how we put our schedule together,” said Peluso. “I think overall we have a tough slate of non-conference games that should help our team prepare for Empire 8 play. It’s always been our philosophy to play a demanding schedule that will challenge us to get better.”
Stevens opens the season in the friendly confines of the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. against 2010 NCAA participant and The Commonwealth Coast Conference preseason favorite Endicott College on Saturday, February 26. The Ducks then travel to Willimantic, Conn. on March 2 for a match-up with six-time Little East Conference champion Eastern Connecticut State University.
Continuing a tough opening stretch, Stevens will face defending Pilgrim League champion and NCAA Tournament participant Springfield College on March 6 before returning home for dates with Muhlenberg College and Roger Williams University on March 9 and 12, respectively.
The Ducks will then square off with Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason No. 1 Lynchburg College on March 16 before playing host to defending Skyline Conference champion and NCAA Tournament participant Montclair State University.
Stevens opens Empire 8 play at home against Utica College on March 26. Prior to a regular season finale against Ithaca College on April 30, the Ducks must get through a grueling three-game stretch against USILA preseason No. 19 St. John Fisher College (April 9), No. 9 Rochester Institute of Technology (April 16), and No. 17 Nazareth College (April 23).
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