LYCOMING COLLEGE MEN’S LACROSSE STILL SEARCHING FOR CONFERENCE TITLE

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s lacrosse team enters its second season under the direction of head coach Shawn Rosa in 2003. The Warriors, who have been runners-up in the conference the past four seasons, will again set their sights on a Middle Atlantic Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA playoffs.

“Our goals haven’t changed this season. The program has achieved a certain level of success, but it’s time to take the next step,” said Rosa. “The conference seems to get stronger every year, so it will be a challenge just to get back to the championship game, but I’m confident we’ll be right in the thick of things again.”

Expected to set the tone for the season are co-captains Ryan Bergstrom (Sr./Hagerstown, MD; Smithsburg) and Dan Wilcox (Jr./Corning, NY; Corning East). Bergstrom is one of only two seniors on the team and will be counted on to pass on his knowledge and experience to the younger players. He will again be a key part of Lycoming’s attack after recording 12 goals and five assists a year ago. Wilcox, a junior, will be the leader of the attack. Last season he was the Warriors’ top-goal scorer with 43 goals to go with 12 assists. Wilcox has the size and speed to be a dominant finisher at this level.

Joining Bergstrom and Wilcox on the attack will be sophomore Dave Kirschner (Newtown Square, PA; Marple Newtown) and junior Sean Malone (Calgary, Alberta; Sir Winston Churchill). Kirschner will be responsible for creating scoring opportunities for the team’s top scorers. In his rookie season, he assisted on 18 goals while scoring 12 of his own. Malone adds depth and a left-handed stick to the attack.

The Warriors will also look to get some offensive production from their midfield. Junior Dave Dormond (Bryn Mawr, PA; Haverford) returns after scoring 19 goals and recording six assists in 2002. Chris McQuade (Lower Gwynedd, PA; Wissahickon), a sophomore, tallied five goals and three assists last year and is poised to have a breakout season in 2003. Shaun Bonnes (Ridley Park, PA; Ridley), a junior, also scored five goals last season. He adds depth and scoring ability to the midfield. Mickie Llano (Victor, NY; Victor Central) joins Wilcox as the only seniors on the squad. He brings some valuable experience to the center of the field. Junior Will Posner (Gettysburg, PA; Gettysburg) has a strong shot and a never-ending desire to learn the game. Junior Jason Tosh (Painted Post, NY; Corning West), a very intelligent player, brings security to the midfield with his ability to control the ball.

Sophomore Joe Karam (Clinton, NY; New Hartford) and freshman Dan Thomer (Philadelphia, PA; Archbishop Ryan) will play more defensive roles for Lycoming. Karam is a solid athlete with tremendous footwork. Thomer adds both size and speed to the middies, and has the potential to be an impact player early in his career. Sophomore Ryan Green (Binghamton, NY; Chenango Forks) also possesses both size and speed and will be a strong two-way middie for the Warriors.

Junior Frank Loughran (Bala Cynwood, PA; Harriton) returns as the starting long-stick-middie after earning second-team all-conference honors in 2002. Loughran has great feet, is very aggressive and is a respected leader in the center of the field. Loughran will share time with freshman Scott Baker (Westminster, MD; South Carroll). Baker is a very smart, disciplined player whose potential will make it difficult to keep him off the field. Baker will likely see time on defense as well.

Handling the majority of face-off duties this season will be junior Rob VanderWeile (Hardwick, NJ; Blair Academy). Last season, VanderWeile won 57% of the faceoffs he took. This season he will look to not only win faceoffs, but also increase his offensive production on the attack. Fellow junior Brett Bonanni (Lansdale, PA; North Penn) will also take some faceoffs for Lycoming. He is a very similar player to VanderWeile but will play a more defensive role when on the field. Freshman transfer Ian Martin (Newark, DE; Delcastle Tech) could also see some action on faceoffs. An athlete with both size and speed, Martin could add a significant spark to the Warrior attack.

Defensively, Lycoming will again be a young team. Junior Brian Leland (Timonium, MD; Dulaney) brings the most experience to the unit and is the Warriors’ best takeaway defenseman. Sophomore Mike Crouse (Hampstead, MD; North Carroll) had a solid freshman campaign and is a much improved player this season. His size and speed will be valuable assets for the defense. Fellow sophomore Dylan Dupuis (Flemington, NJ; Hunterdon Central) moves down low this season after splitting time at defense and long-stick-middie last season. Dupuis adds important leadership and knowledge to the back of the defense. Junior Erik Peterson (Painted Post, NY; Corning West) also brings experience and leadership to the unit. Sophomore transfer Vinny Iadevaia (Hampstead, MD; North Carroll) and freshman Mike Miller (Clifton Heights, PA; Upper Darby) will also compete for playing time.

Goalkeeper may be Lycoming’s deepest position with three athletes who all have the ability to start. Junior Sean Powers (Drexel Hill, PA; Monsignor Bonner) saw the most time in net last season and is perhaps the most vocal leader of the trio. Powers best assets are his size and his ability to move the ball back up the field. Christian Willaum (New Milford, CT; New Milford), also a junior, started five games last season and saw action in seven contests. Willaum takes up less space in the cage than Powers but is quicker and has great instincts. Sophomore Erik Shepski (West Chester, PA; Unionville) will also compete for the Warriors’ starting role. Shepski has a good balance of size and quickness in the cage but needs to improve his play when moving outside the net.