2007 season preview

March 2, 2007

NORTON, MA- Entering the spring season with Pilgrim League postseason experience for the first time since 1999, the Wheaton College men's lacrosse team has a foundation to build upon following its first Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament title game appearance last May.

With one recruiting class under his belt that comprises nearly half of his 26-member squad, second-year head coach Peter Toner indicates the program's next steps are to host and win a Pilgrim League Tournament game. The Lyons last hosted in 1998 but haven't won a conference tourney contest in four tries. In 2006, Wheaton went 9-7-1 and finished third in the nine-team league at 6-2, as the Blue and White posted victories in seven of its last eight regular season games.

"Our guys have a lot of confidence in our big Pilgrim games," said Toner. "They understand if they play the way we're coaching them to play and do the little things, we'll put ourselves in position to have success. Mistakes cost us early games last year. Guys now understand what we're doing, why we're doing it and why we'll be successful if we do it."

Toner is joined on the coaching staff by his second former Springfield College player in as many seasons, as Brian Endicott, who played for the Pride from 2002-04, begins his inaugural campaign. Endicott reunites with Toner, who was a six-year player and coach at Springfield prior to Wheaton.

The coaching staff acknowledged a transition phase last season, as everything was new, different and coming at the team really fast, but that grace period has ended and the expectations are evident. "That is something that has come to another level in the last year," stated Toner. "Picking up this fall was seamless, as we informed the freshmen of how we do things and had the upperclassmen work on repetition. It's been easier where we now say something and everyone knows what we're talking about."

With that being said, Wheaton will need to rely on its 17 freshmen and sophomores as much as its nine upperclassmen to make a push at its first Pilgrim League title, as 12 first-year athletes were recruited with the understanding they'd have to play right away and fill big roles based on the numbers situation. The Lyons return six players who started at least nine games, but Wheaton will have to replace a significant amount of offense following the graduation of its top three scorers.

Toner touts his defense as the strength of this year's team. "We're playing some young guys on the defensive end but it feels like a veteran group," added Toner. Senior tri-captain Chris Hade (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Dwight-Englewood School) will lead the defense after returning to his natural position of long-stick midfielder. Junior Tom Ahern (Holliston, MA/Holliston) is a returning starter, sophomore transfer F.J. Buckley (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) had high-level experience at Washington College, and freshman Jack Hall (Newton, MA/Newton North) finishes off the defensive unit.

Hade is Wheaton's lone returning Pilgrim League All-Conference selection, as he was third on the team with 54 ground balls. It is anticipated he will be backed up by sophomore Nate Mauer (Alexandria, VA/Episcopal) and freshman Jeff Pereira (Miami, FL/Ransom Everglades School). Sophomore SeanPaul Jones (Cambridge, MA/New Hampton School), who recently joined the team, should also see time as a defenseman.

Behind the defensive front is a three-horse race for the starting goalie position, which is between junior Jeremy Beech (West Newbury, MA/Governor Dummer Academy) and freshmen Schuyler Horn (New Hartford, CT/Kingswood-Oxford School) and Alex Lewis (Westfield, NJ/Westfield). Beech started all 17 games for the Lyons last spring, posting a 9.70 goals against average with 183 saves and a .545 save percentage in nearly 947 minutes.

Defensive midfielders consist of senior Taylor Palmer (Cross River, NY/John Jay), sophomore Jeff Gomer (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and freshman Warren Garceau (Guilford, CT/Canterbury School). Palmer played in 15 games as a junior, while Gomer led the team with 80 ground balls and 113 face-off wins. Gomer and Garceau are expected to play dual roles in the spring, spelling the offensive midfielders on occasion. Rounding out the defensive middies are junior Chris Hart (Center Harbor, NH/New Hampton School) and freshmen Connor Compton (Deering, NH/Saint Mark's School) and Kitt Watson (Stamford, CT/Saint Luke's School).

Toner labeled senior captain Trey Helms (Cockeysville, MD/Saint Paul's School) as making an unselfish move from attack to midfield. He was fifth on last year's team with 27 points. Junior captain Richie Rasamny (Redding, CT/Joel Barlow) and first-year Drew Schaffer (New Haven, CT/Loomis Chaffee School) round out the offensive midfielders. Rasamny turned in 23 points, 47 ground balls and 86 face-off wins a year ago.

The attack features seniors Markus Ricci (Wayland, MA/Wayland) and Andrew Rohan (South Hadley, MA/Avon Old Farms), sophomore Marco Barbone (Newton, MA/Newton North) and freshman Tim Horan (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire). Rohan and Ricci, who contributed 31 and 26 points, respectively, in 2006, will split duties between attack and midfield positions, while Barbone makes the tough transition from defense to attack.

First-year players Sky Sabin (Katonah, NY/The Harvey School) and Conor Whitney (West Hartford, CT/Kingswood-Oxford School) provide depth up front, while classmate Adam Demos (Wilbraham, MA/Wilbraham and Monson Academy) will most likely be sidelined due to injury.

Remaining healthy will be key for the Lyons, whose season-opening five-game stretch against non-conference teams begins at home against New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) foe Bates College on March 10. Wheaton next travels to Colorado College before returning home to face Colby College. Prior to opening their league slate on the road at Clark University on March 31, the Lyons play NCAA Tournament participant Eastern Connecticut State University on March 24 and Trinity College on March 28. The Pilgrim League Tournament is slated to begin on May 2.

"Our goal with those early games is to be playing the best lacrosse we can by the time the first league game comes around," said Toner. "If we play well early on, learn from our mistakes and continue to improve by playing better teams, then we should have a great opportunity to win some league games. Our guys are excited to play this schedule, as this is how your program grows."

Toner is confident his team can handle the schedule put in front of it and wants his players to focus on only what they can control. "I'm hoping they adopt the attitude that no matter who we're playing, if we put the helmet on and do our stuff the way we want to do it, we'll be fine," added Toner. "I don't think there's a team on our schedule we can't beat. We're going to know where we stand the week leading up to the Bates game. Our intention is to get there healthy and have guys ready to go."

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 3/2/07.
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Upcoming Schedule

6-Mar Sat University of New England A 1:00pm
11-Mar Thu Keene State A 4:00pm
25-Mar Thu Colby H 4:00pm