NORTON, MA- Fresh off savoring a season of firsts that led to the initial league tournament victory in Wheaton College men's lacrosse program history, the Lyons are relishing the opportunity to return to the field and work toward adding a couple of other firsts to their resume with their sights set on a Pilgrim League Tournament championship and an inaugural appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

There's no question Brian Endicott has lofty expectations for a first-year head coach, but the difference is that he brings a certain level of familiarity to the program. Endicott worked as an assistant in spring 2007 before serving as the interim head coach the next fall. Knowing he is the third coach in the upperclassmen's short time, Endicott aims to make this spring memorable for the outgoing seniors.

"These guys have played through a lot of adversity," said Endicott. "I'd like to send them out the best way possible, which would be an NCAA berth for the first time in program history. We're set up pretty well to put ourselves in a position to compete for a league tournament title. I hope it will be a memorable experience either way for them, but anything less than the NCAAs will be a letdown."

Peaking at the right time in winning five of its last six games in 2008, Wheaton finished with an 8-9 record, including a 5-2 mark in Pilgrim play. The Lyons advanced to their first league tournament final since 1996 while hosting a Pilgrim tournament contest for the initial time since 1998. Tying for second place in the eight-team league, the Blue and White hadn't finished higher than third dating back to 1998.

"Depth and youth are the strengths of this year's team," said Endicott. "We're looking at five attackmen battling for three positions and having three solid lines of midfielders, which is a major turning point for this program. We don't have to run the same guys all game. As for our youth, we have several guys who are eager and ready to learn and, with a small senior class, we have a lot of experience to gain. These guys are going to get experience quickly, and it's only going to benefit the program moving forward."

Endicott and assistant coach Tom Ahern '08, a former all-region and all-league player, realize the team's lack of seasoning poses a challenge, but it's one they hope is short-lived. "The challenge is getting freshmen acclimated to the different speed of the college game," added Endicott. "We want to make sure everyone is on the same page, as guys are getting used to playing in a new system because they all come from different systems."

Understanding adversity could strike over the course of the season, Endicott is driving home the message of sticking together for better or worse. "We're one unit," said Endicott. "We win and lose as a team, celebrate as a team and are punished as a team. We want the players to hold each other accountable."

For veteran leadership, Endicott will lean on senior co-captains Marco Barbone (Newton, MA/Newton North) and Jeff Gomer (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury). A versatile player who has seen time nearly everywhere on the field, Barbone anchors this year's defensive unit after tying for third on the team in ground balls as a junior. A mainstay in the midfield, Gomer won over half of his face-offs last year while leading the squad in ground balls and finishing fourth in the Pilgrim in ground balls per game. In addition to Gomer taking face-offs, Endicott looks for him to play both offense and defense.

Acknowledging strong depth at attack and in the midfield, Endicott is also witnessing a healthy competition in the cage, as juniors Schuyler Horn (New Hartford, CT/Kingswood-Oxford School) and Alex Lewis (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) are competing for the starting goalie job. Horn saw most of the action in 2008, posting a 7-8 record with a 9.20 goals against average in 15 starts. Lewis, who has taken great strides according to Endicott, played in five contests as a sophomore, making two starts while going 1-1.

In front of the junior tandem will be Barbone lined up with sophomores Phil Chapman (Shaker Heights, OH/Western Reserve Academy) and Garrett McLean (Randolph, NJ/Randolph). Classmate Cody Powers (Scarborough, ME/Scarborough) is making a strong bid for the starting long-stick midfielder slot after picking up 12 starts as a freshman, while junior Jeff Pereira (Miami, FL/Ransom Everglades School) should see ample time there. Sophomores Drew Kirstein (Scarborough, ME/Scarborough) and George Reiche (Cumberland, ME/North Yarmouth Academy) are also in the mix at long stick.

Senior SeanPaul Jones (Cambridge, MA/New Hampton School) is expected to see the field as a defenseman after missing last season with an injury, while first-year James Casaletto (Peabody, MA/Peabody) provides depth in the back.

Gomer leads one of the deepest midfielder corps in recent memory. Junior all-league selection Drew Schaffer (New Haven, CT/Loomis Chaffee School), classmates Warren Garceau (Guilford, CT/Canterbury School) and Tim Horan (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire), and sophomore Bobby Barry (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) are all making strong cases to be starters, as is freshman Conor Finn (Kennebunk, ME/Kennebunk), a Division I soccer transfer from the University of Tulsa.

Schaffer, who tied for the team lead last year with 13 assists, was fourth in goals and points with 16 and 29, respectively. Horan has successfully transitioned over from attack, where he finished his sophomore slate with 10 goals and 12 assists. Garceau, who shared the majority of face-off duties with Gomer last season, won nearly half of his attempts while scoring nine goals. According to Endicott, he will play during man-up opportunities in addition to both offense and defense. Barry will also be looked upon to play on the offensive and defensive ends while handling some face-off duties.

Also vying for midfield line spots are sophomores Peter Buongiorno (Pittsburgh, PA/Winchester Thurston School) and Will Henry (Alexandria, VA/T.C. Williams) and freshman David Schroeder (Nashua, NH/Nashua North). Buongiorno and Henry should have increased roles offensively, as Henry is a former attackman, while Schroeder could be asked to do a little bit of everything, including taking face-offs.

Rounding out the midfielders are senior Chris Gogan-Tilstone (Amherst, NH/Souhegan), juniors Andrew Brunhofer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and Connor Compton (Deering, NH/Saint Mark's School), and freshman Charlie Willauer (Duxbury, MA/Proctor Academy). Brunhofer, Compton and Gogan-Tilstone are slated to contribute on the defensive side of the ball, while Willauer could play defense but will mostly be used on offense while having a hand in draws. Compton will also be called upon to take face-offs.

Wheaton's attack features sophomore all-league selections Ben Cederberg (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and Chris Landers (Manchester, MA/Proctor Academy). Landers, who was named Pilgrim League Rookie of the Year last spring, earned all-conference first-team honors, while Cederberg was tabbed to the second squad. Landers ranked fifth in the league with 29 goals and tied for fifth with 39 points as a freshman, leading the team in each category, while Cederberg tallied 21 goals, 11 assists and 32 points.

In the mix for the final attack position are sophomore Duncan Smith (Centerport, NY/Harborfields) and freshmen Mike Harrington (Sturbridge, MA/Bancroft School) and Billy McNamara (Mansfield, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School). A converted midfielder, Smith totaled 13 goals in 2008. Sophomore Corey Best (Brentwood, TN/Ravenwood), who is fresh off the swimming & diving season, will vie for time in the attack.

Having already scrimmaged against New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) foes Bowdoin College and Tufts University, each of which were receiving votes in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) preseason poll, the Lyons are prepared to open their campaign against a tough Keene State College squad on March 11. That game is the first of four straight on the road before Wheaton begins its home and conference slates against defending Pilgrim League champion Springfield College on March 28. The Pride was 20th in the USILA preseason poll. The four-team league tournament is scheduled to begin on April 29.