As the men's lacrosse team gears up for its season−opener this Saturday, and preseason Div.−III rankings place four NESCAC teams within the top 20 in the nation — Middlebury, Tufts, Wesleyan and Bowdoin — what is in store for the Jumbos this time around? The Daily has compiled a round−up of where each NESCAC team stands in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation:
Amherst: After a promising 3−1 start to its 2009 campaign, Amherst soon fell off the pace, managing to compile just a 6−8 record on the year, getting dispatched by No. 1 Middlebury in the quarterfinals. This year, Amherst will be looking to improve, but with the graduation of nine seniors, the road won't be easy. Fortunately for the Lord Jeffs, they retained their 2009 leading scorer in current senior tri−captain Thomas McDonnell.
Bates: With two wins already under their belt in the 2010 season, the Bates Bobcats are already off to a much better start than last year, when they began their campaign 0−4. Though last year's leading scorer Tyler Moore graduated, the Bobcats still have their No. 2, 3 and 4 scorers from 2009 returning. That bodes well for Bates as it tries to climb out of the NESCAC cellar.
Bowdoin: With a 10−6 overall record (6−3 NESCAC), the Polar Bears roared to a No. 2 regular season finish in 2009. Bowdoin's season came to an end, though, with a 10−8 loss to Tufts in the NESCAC semifinal. But with junior Jake McCampbell back in goal and the number three through five scorers all back, Bowdoin cannot be counted out.
Colby: Finishing the 2009 season just above .500 (8−7 overall, 4−5 NESCAC), the Mules fell into the middle of the pack at No. 6 by the end of last season. With the loss of top−scorer Caddy Brooks to graduation, the team will look to senior Whit McCarthy, who placed fourth in the conference with 2.73 goals−per−game last season.
Connecticut College: Gaining the title of NESCAC cellar−dweller, the last−place Camels sported just one conference win in the 2009 season and a 6−9 record overall. In goals alone, Connecticut College came in ninth place last season with 72 total, 42 fewer than first−ranked Tufts. This year, the team may look to rebuild with the help of a stacked roster of underclassmen as well as returning senior Steve Dachille, who led the team with 35 goals, and senior goalie Mark Moran, who was second in save percentage.
Middlebury: Despite finishing first in the regular season last year, the Panthers have not faced similar success in the NESCAC tournament, losing two years straight in overtime matches of the semifinals round when ranked No. 1 in the conference. Though Middlebury sat just behind Tufts in goals, assists and points last season, the Panthers may face difficulty this season offensively with the graduation of top scorers Skyler Hopkins, Tom Petty, and All−American Mike Stone.
Trinity: After a solid 6−2 record going into April last season, the Bantams squad (10−6 overall, 4−5 NESCAC) had some success in NESCAC action, but stronger conference teams like Middlebury, Wesleyan and Bowdoin eventually got the best of them. Though the team finished the 2009 season with quarterfinals elimination from the NESCAC Tournament, the Bantams have reason for optimism this year. Slated to return this season is senior Harper Cullen, who was third in the conference with 48 goals.
Tufts: In 2009, the Jumbos led the NESCAC in goals, goals per game, assists, assists per game, points and points per game. Finishing third in the NESCAC, they made it to the conference finals, where they fell to No. 4 Wesleyan. This year, led by juniors D.J. Hessler and Ryan Molloy, Tufts is ranked No. 9 in the nation and will look to claim the NESCAC crown it missed out on last year.
Wesleyan: The defending NESCAC champions, the No. 11 Div. III team in the nation and the sixth−best team of the past decade, according to Laxpower.com, the Wesleyan Cardinals have quite the pedigree. But the graduation of 14 seniors, including USILA Div. III Defenseman of the Year and first−team All−American Spike Malangone, the Cardinals may have some holes to fill. Chief among the returning players is senior quint−captain Jon Killeen, who was last season's second leading scorer for the Cardinals. With a season−opening, 8−3 win over Salve Regina on Saturday, Wesleyan looks to be well on its way to another successful campaign.
Williams: After winning the NESCAC title in 2008, 2009 was somewhat of a disappointment for the Ephs, when they bowed out of the conference tournament in the first round. Working against a Williams resurgence is the transfer of leading scorer David Hawley and the graduation of All−Americans goalie Michael Gerbush and midfielder Brian Morrissey. Featuring just one senior on attack this year, the Ephs will rely heavily on sophomore Sam Hargrove, who led all NESCAC freshman in goals last year.
