The 2013 College lacrosse season has been one for the ages. The championship team had five losses on the season and the number one ranked team going into the tournament had three. Favorites were nearly upset in the first round and the champion was a timeout away from making an early exit. I think 2013 could be mostly remembered for the young guns that came up to play big minutes in goal this season. No All America recipient was a senior and very few made significant contributions during games this year. Here are a couple that could make the leap to the professional ranks from productive senior years in the collegiate ranks.
Pierce Bassett – Bassett has logged a lot of minutes in between the pipes for the Jays since replacing Gvozden what seems like ages ago. He has a calm demeanor backstopping a defense that called on his shot saving ability often. Certainly helps playing in front of Tucker Durkin, two time Defenseman of the Year. Bassett calmly, but assertively, steered the ship for the Jays this past season. He made some great saves, didn’t let the easy ones go in, and coordinated the defense through a long senior year. I would expect him to be a back up for a year or two, but if given the opportunity to step in he would produce results for his team.
Andrew Wascavage – Maybe the surprise of the 2013 season. His hot streak led the Tigers to the NCAA tournament and gave Coach Nadelen a reason to smile. He anchored a relatively young team all the way around. Had the opportunity to see him a couple of times this season and he was called upon a lot to keep the Tigers in games. Against UMass, he had a long spell of sitting before being called upon to make some great saves. He single handedly got the Tigers to the tournament, leading them past the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. I think if he can get on a roster quickly, he can continue his hot senior senior season at the next level.
John Kemp – Kemp was the odds on favorite to have the most productive season of all senior goalies. Long standing as one of the best in the position and anchor of a stout Fighting Irish defense, his place in the pro ranks could have been cemented years ago. Fast forward (or rewind I guess) to the second half of his senior season when the Irish fell off to the side against teams like Detroit Mercy and Syracuse. The Irish put a lot of pressure on the backline with its offensive ineptness. Kemp maintained his level of dominance in the cage, guiding the Irish to a near defeat of Duke and a return to the Final Four. Kemp has the ability, like that of everyone in his family it seems like, to stop the ball and play every facet of the position at its best. Overall, probably the soundest pick up for a team but we will have to wait to see how that last part of his senior season may have effected his play.
Dillion Ward – Has the debate whether or not Ward should have played against Syracuse died yet? As a side note, they do not get to that game if Ward isn’t in goal for the North Carolina contest. Has the ability to be a game changer in college (see the game in Indy), but the streakiest of the group. The Canadian has the ability to learn the indoor and the outdoor game, but he will be learning the position on a much different level. Playing for someone like Stagnitta in Denver could really bridge the gap from college to professional lacrosse.
