After finishing a disappointing 4-8 last season, the Saint Vincent College men’s lacrosse team hopes that some key changes will help boost its performance this year.

“Our record last season was disappointing, but we had a lot of circumstances beyond our control that we’ve taken a bit of a different approach to this year,” said assistant coach Mike Ermer.

One of those new approaches is utilizing the team’s depth, something which has become a definite strength for the
squad.

“It took us a while to develop depth,” said Ermer. “It wasn’t until the middle of April last year that we started to feel comfortable playing a lot of guys.”

The team won three of their final four games last year, in part because they began to run more players onto the field.

“We feel we can run four or five different midfield lines this year,” said Ermer. “We’ll have healthier and fresher legs all game.  We’d love to be able to run the best guys all the time, but the more guys we can run out there, the more effective everyone will be.”
 
At the attack position, the team is particularly deep.  Evan Chateauneuf, in his fourth year, will be expected to take a senior leadership role, while hard-working sophomore teammate Zach Wilfong should combine with Chateauneuf for a formidable one-two punch. 

Mike Fishman, Bucky Holt, Nick Aspiotes, and Mark Duman will also contribute time on the field.  Several freshmen attackers could push for playing time too, including Ryan Kearney, Jason Powell, and Brendan Egan, who have each stood out during the preseason.

The midfield position is led by a pair of seniors, Gavin Bates and Luke Swerdlow.

“I really think that Gavin and Luke will give the team direction this year,” said Ermer. “The seniors will give the team direction, and the underclassmen will push us in that direction.”

Others at the midfield position include senior Roger Hattrup, juniors Karl Kornides and Eamon McDonough, sophomores Neil Quinn, Mason Fast, Jared Bowman, and T.J. Roney, and freshmen Jake Dick, Vinnie DeSantis, Jarrid Johnson, Pat Finneran, Pat Bursch, Clark Williams, and Sam Futrovsky.

On defense, junior Shea Anderson leads the group.  Anderson and senior Rob Mulshine will anchor the position, in which there will be much competition for playing time.

“Having such competition is a good problem to have,” said Ermer. “With all the defensemen fighting for playing time, it really speaks to the depth of the team.”

Other defensemen are senior Dan Quinn, juniors Mark Fields and Max Posival, sophomores Marcus Croley and Jess Montler, and freshmen Brendan Cannon, Kevin Murray, Josh McCloskey, Joe Arnes, and Bubba Durket.

In goal for the team will be sophomore Jon McMahon, who will be backed up by junior Jim Donahue and freshman Nick Kunz.

“Jim and Nick do a great job, but this really looks like Jon’s spot,” said Ermer. “We’re looking for him to have a big season, and we think he can have a big impact on how we play.”

If the 2008 men’s lacrosse team seems young, it would be because they are.  24 of the 40 players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“The young guys will see playing time quickly, and that will help determine how well we will do,” Ermer said. “We have a bright future – the future is now.”

The team has also taken different approaches to more detailed aspects of the program, including more running in the preseason, taking better advantage of the available athletic facilities, and adopting a more businesslike attitude, from the coaches down to the players.

“We’re really working hard this year, not just for physical stamina, but for mental toughness,” said Ermer.

From top to bottom, the 2008 men’s lacrosse team seems to have taken on a fresh approach to things, but in the end, the goal will be to return to the traditional St. Vincent style of lacrosse.

“We’ll be better than last year,” Ermer said, “as long as we get back to our root philosophy of playing fast lacrosse.”