Offense Needs to Catch Up with Stingy Defense

Offense Needs to Catch Up with Stingy Defense

Nielsen, Walters Anchor Veteran Unit that Supports Main

February 16, 2009

TOWSON, Md. – A proven commodity.

Or a group of young, untested players with the potential to excel.

Which best describes the Goucher College men’s lacrosse team as it prepares for its ninth season under the direction of head coach Kyle Hannan?

It would be hard to argue against calling the defensive unit a proven commodity since, on average, the Gophers allowed only 5.75 goals per game in 2008 and all of the key components are back.

In Andy Nielsen (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) and Max Walters (Rocky River, Ohio/St. Ignatius), the Gophers have two close defensemen who have already started a combined 63 games since they first arrived at Goucher. Plus senior Austin Main (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) is entering his third season as the starting goalkeeper, coming off a year in which he ranked third among all Division III netminders with a 6.04 goals-against average.

Hannan believes sophomore Justin Dunn (Denver, Colo./Mullen), a converted attackman, can step right in and be the third starter on close defense. Ben Veldman (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Twp.) and Joey Cowen (Golden, Colo./Golden), both juniors, are waiting in the wings.

When the situation requires a long-stick midfielder, junior David Jadin (Chanhassen, Minn./The Blake School) and senior Karl Koch (Denver, Colo./Colorado Academy) are ready, willing and able; senior Dan Abrams (Dover, Del./Dover), junior Nick LaBricciosa (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) and freshman Pat Peddicord (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) are the top three short-stick defensive midfielders on the depth chart.

The coaching staff has complete confidence in Main’s back-up, junior Chris Stricklin (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley).

“We’ve had some outstanding defensemen at Goucher in the years I’ve been head coach and there’s no doubt that Andy and Max rank right up there with the best of them,” proclaimed Hannan. “We’ve really been impressed with how easily Justin Dunn has made the switch from attack to defense and we know there will be no drop-off when we bring Ben and Joey in.

“Obviously Austin had a remarkable year for us last season. At times he was spectacular. Still, if the situation calls for it, we wouldn’t hesitate for a second to put Chris Stricklin in because he really pushed Austin in fall ball and again in preseason.”

At the other end of the field, however, it would be a huge stretch to describe the offense as a proven commodity. Since at least three freshmen will be in the starting line-up on attack or in the midfield when the Gophers open their 2009 campaign against Guilford on February 21, there are simply too many young, untested players to do that.

“It’s a whole different ballgame on offense where we were hit a little harder by graduation,” admitted Hannan. “I think we’ve brought in some young men who are going to do some amazing things over the next four seasons, but we’ll have to wait and see how quickly they all develop.”

On attack, Sam Fitzpatrick (Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe), who supplied the Gophers with 28 goals and 22 assists for a team-leading total of 50 points last season as a junior, will likely have freshmen Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) and Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) starting along side him.

“Although he’s going to be playing with two freshmen, I look for Sam Fitzpatrick to have his finest season in 2009,” Hannan predicted. “There will be some hurdles along the way that we’ll have to clear, but I can’t wait to see how dynamic our attack is after we get some games under our belts.”

The third freshman who is likely to start right away is Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College). Hannan envisions him running with seniors Brian Hoge (Crofton, Md./Arundel) and Alex Boucher (North Wales, Pa./Germantown Academy), who were both All-Landmark Conference performers last season, on the first midfield. The second line could pair freshman Jackson Lane (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) with senior Adam Pietrocarlo (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier Central) and junior Jake Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine), who will also spell the attackmen.

“Although, as a group, our midfielders aren’t as experienced this year as they were last season, we’ve gained in the areas of speed and quickness,” according to Hannan. “This year’s midfield also possesses more playmaking abiliities. It’s going to be able to set up goals as well as it can score goals.”

Hannan can’t wait for the proven commodity and the group of young, untested players with potential to excel to become one: “When our young, exciting offense catches up to our veteran, stingy defense, this could be a very special season for Goucher lacrosse.”