Ten NCAA Storylines to Follow

Posted By on February 1, 2013

The NCAA season is opening tomorrow with High Point taking on Delaware. What are the stories to watch this season throughout college lacrosse?

  1. Syracuse Loses Galasso to Foot Injury – Whatever plans the Orange had in their pockets with UNC transfer, Nicky Galasso, it will have to wait another season. The attackman has decided to get surgery on his foot after an injury he suffered last year at North Carolina that limited him to man up situations only. Now, Coach Desko and his coaching staff are in a tough position and have a big question to answer, what do they do with Jojo Morasco? Invert? Attack only? Midfield only? The Orange have had their share of troubles, Galloway getting sick right before the Maryland playoff game in 2009 is one example. Al Cavalieri stepped up big time and helped the Orange to championship weekend and another ring. However, that was only one game; this particular situation is for an entire season. I’m sure what Coach Desko comes up with, it will take lots of planning and careful consideration.

 

  1. Loyola Greyhounds, Can They Reiterate? – With the loss of Eric Lusby, who set the all time scoring record in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse tournament, can Loyola get back to Championship Weekend? During their game against the USA Men’s National team, they showed that they can hang with professional players. Mike Sawyer got knocked around like a rag doll, but shook it off. Jack Runkel made some great saves during his time in net, but at times did show weakness and seemed to slump at times, he will have to wake up and get into tournament mode early if the Greyhounds want to make a statement and another run.

 

  1. Lehigh Mountainhawks – Where do they go from last season? Graduated are the Lao-Gosney brothers, who, between them, scored 47 points (43G, 14A) and wreaked havoc at the midfield. Returning are attackmen David DiMaria (47 points, 24G, 23A) and Dante Fantoni (43 points, 23G, 20A). Defensively, everyone returns. Short stick defensive midfielder Noah Molnar, close defenders Mike Noone, Ty Souders, Lukas Mikelinich and goaltender Matthew Poillon, who showed his true colors last year as a freshman making 162 saves (.591%). The third spot is wide open on attack for the Mountainhawks, Junior Kyle Stiefel (12G, 0A) and Freshman Dan Taylor (11G, 6A), have a great possibility of taking that spot. Replacing the twins Lao-Gosney will be difficult. Brian Hess (9G, 3A) is the only first line midfielder returning. Patrick Corbett (18G, 5A) was a top prospect last year. Matt Smith (3G, 1A) and Ryan Snyder (2G, 1A) will have to work hard and impress Coach Cassese to earn a spot on that first line. Lehigh has the tools to be a contender again, it’s a matter of living up to the hype for the Mountainhawks.

 

  1. Peter Baum – Can he live up to his Tewaaraton Trophy winning junior year?

 

  1. Maryland Terrapins – They have been to the big dance twice, coming up short both times. With Cummings, Snider and Shakespeare graduated, who will step up and take their place? Blye (20G, 20A), and Haus (16G, 17A) are the top two point leaders returning, along with Cooper (10G, 16A) and Chanenchuk (18G, 7A).

 

  1. Georgetown Hoyas New Coach, Kevin Warne – Warne, the defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland the past two years (2011, 2012), appearing in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship game both years. He replaces Dave Urick who was the head coach at Georgetown for 23 years, winning over 220 games. In fifty years, the Hoyas have only had eleven head coaches, Warne is now number twelve. Kevin has big shoes to fill as Urick’s replacement, look for Georgetown’s defense to be revamped.

 

  1. Division II: Salisbury (23-0) – Matt Cannone 130 points (63G, 67A), Sam Bradman 99 points (71G, 28A) and Eric Krum 90 points (67G, 23A) all graduated and take with them, their 319 combined points (201G, 118A). Do the Gulls have what it takes to repeat and possibly go undefeated again? History can explain itself with Salisbury, except for a few occasions, of players stepping up and the team heading to the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse finals. The Gulls have their sights set on the gold trophy again heading into 2013.

 

  1. Division III: Dowling (13-2) – With a late season loss to Limestone, 15-7, Dowling College met the Saints in the Division 2 NCAA Men’s lacrosse championship game. This time, the Golden Lions took home the win, 11-10, and the golden hardware for the first time in program history. They return 3 out of their six top point scorers on offense, bringing back attackers Sr. Billy Richardson (16G, 19A) and Sr. Michael Brennan (27G, 5A) and midfielder Tom Cleary (20G, 1A), who was a freshman last season. Lance Swan may be the man between the pipes, as both senior goalies graduated; sending starter Ryan Dougherty out on top with 150 saves (.605%). The Golden Lions have a big target o their back going into 2013, the pressure is unimaginable.

 

  1. Women’s Division I: Northwestern Wildcats (20-2) – For the seventh time in program history, the Wildcats Women’s lacrosse team won the Women’s Division I NCAA Championship. They have been a force to reckon with since 2005, when they started their repetition of victory. The Wildcats repeated as champions from 2005-2009 and started again in 2011 and now 2012. Do the purple and white have what it takes to go on another five year run? We’ll see on February 8 when they take on Massachusetts.

 

  1. Women’s Division 1: Syracuse Orange (19-4) – Losing 8-6 in the National Championship game probably hasn’t sat well with Head Coach Gary Gait. However, after the best season in the team’s existence, the women in orange and blue have been ranked number 1 overall to start the 2013 NCAA season. So far, they have held their own, defeating Jacksonville 21-8 in their season opener. Next up for Cuse is a tough Maryland squad, who won the NCAA’s in 2010. Coach Gait and his squad will get to avenge their loss to the Wildcats on March 30 at Northwestern.