By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/25/10
Maryland junior defenseman Brett Schmidt (Upper Dublin) believes this is the year the Terrapins can win the Atlantic Coast Conference lacrosse championship and make a run at a Division I National title.
“Expectations are really high for the team,” said Schmidt, an Inside Lacrosse Pre-season Honorable Mention All-American who had 33 groundballs and 23 caused turnovers last year. “We have seven pre-season All-Americans. Not that that matters too much. Of course, the goal is the national championship, but the shorter goal is the ACC championship.”
Maryland, which last won the ACC crown in 2005, will host the ACC championships April 23 and 25 The Terps are coming off last year’s 10-7 campaign that saw them reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament for the 29th time. Maryland will return eight starters and the 2010 schedule kicks off in Louisville, Ky., with the Terps’ first-ever trip to Bellarmine on Feb. 20.
With the Division I men’s season less than two weeks away, Phillylacrosse.com presents its annual list of Philly players that are on the rosters of the Top 20 teams from the Lacrosse Magazine Top 20 preseason rankings.
1. Duke – Two freshmen and former rivals have put themselves in position to make an immediate impact. Defenseman Billy Conners (Malvern Prep) and goalie Dan Wigrizer (Haverford School) are both expected to see time.
2. Syracuse – Freshman goalie Matt Lerman (Episcopal Academy) has impressed and may redshirt to maintain his four years of eligibility.
3. Virginia – Senior defenseman Ken Clausen (Hill School) is a two-time All-American and junior midfielder John Haldy (Haverford School) had 11 goals as a sophomore. Sophomore defenseman Peter Borror (Haverford School) played in four games last year and hopes to see more time.
4. North Carolina –Sophomore midfielder Chris Layne (Malvern Prep) contributed regularly at defensive midfield last year but should run on one of the top offensive middie lines. Sophomore middie Matt Conte (Malvern Prep) also hopes to see increased time and freshman attackman Conor Steidle (Malvern Prep) is vying for time.
5. Johns Hopkins – Junior attackman Kyle Wharton (Haverford School) led the Blue Jays with 34 goals last year. Junior face-off specialist Matt Dolente (Malvern Prep) won just over 50 percent of his draws and added three goals and five assists. Junior long stick midfielder Eric DiProspero (Unionville) is vying for time. Freshman defenseman Tucker Durkin (La Salle), the Phillylacrosse.com Player of the Year in 2009, should see time as a top reserve and freshman Grady Stevens (Unionville) is looking for time as a reserve face-off specialist.
6. Cornell – Sophomore goalie Brian O’Donnell (Germantown Academy) is a reserve goalie and freshman defenseman Mike Bronzino (Conestoga) is looking for time.
7. Princeton – Senior Paul Barnes (Haverford School) won 48.5 percent of his face-offs and senior Ryan Morrell (Tatnall School, DE, Glen Mills, PA) is looking for time at attack. Princeton is being coached by first-year mentor Chris Bates, the former coach at Drexel and a former standout for the Philadelphia Wings who started the program at Archbishop Ryan.
8. Maryland – Junior defenseman Brett Schmidt (Upper Dublin) was an Inside Lacrosse Pre-season All-American. Redshirt sophomore Justin Blye (Downingtown East) will see time at midfield and younger brother and freshman redshirt Owen Blye (Downingtown East) could make waves at attack. Freshman goalie Niko Amato (La Salle), the 2008 Phillylacrosse.com Player of the Year, may see time immediately.
9. Hofstra – Junior LSM Adam Mojica (Springfield-Delco) and sophomore LSM Mark Mullen (Germantown Academy) are fighting for time.
10. Notre Dame – Senior Mike Creighton (Malvern Prep) is a senior captain and anchor for the defense after notching 34 groundballs last year. Senior defensive middie Adam Felicetti (Central Bucks East) played in every game last year as a key sub and junior Tim Bemer (Malvern Prep) appeared in eight games at midfield. Freshman Tyler Andersen (Radnor) seeks to contribute on defense
11. Harvard – Freshman attackman Peter Schwartz (La Salle) is expected to make an immediate impact. Freshman Robert Frisbie (Germantown Academy) is a reserve midfielder following his father, Robert (Class of 1975) and uncle, Richard (Class of 1971) to Harvard lacrosse.
12. UMBC – Senior defenseman Brian Schneider (Hatboro-Horsham) made a big comeback after missing the 2008 season due to a concussion. He made seven starts and is a key this year. Freshman attackman Dave Brown (Hill School) is looking for time.
13. Navy – Junior goalie Mike Haas (La Salle) is competing for the starting spot after not seeing any time last year. Junior defensive middie Marty Gallagher (Haverford School) played in all 16 games last year and posted 16 groundballs while senior defenseman Gordon Lawson (Central Bucks East) also played in all 16 games as a reserve. Junior defenseman Michael Hirsch (Perkiomen Valley) played in nine games last year and sophomore middie Brad Brinkmann (St. Joseph’s Prep) is looking for time.
14. Georgetown – Freshman LSM Tyler Knarr (La Salle) is recovering from knee surgery due to a recurrence of the problems with his ACL that plagued him through his scholastic career. He is questionable for the season. Sophomore Kurt Watkinson (Haverford School) is looking for time at attack.
15. Brown – Freshman goalie Wills Curley (Malvern Prep) is seeking time.
16. Loyola – Senior defenseman and co-captain Steve Layne (Malvern Prep) established himself as Loyola’s premier markdown defender last year, while getting named to the All-ECAC Second Team. He collected 48 groundballs and is an Inside Lacrosse Pre-season All-American.
17. Massachusetts – Junior attackman Mike Wilus (North Penn) is a reserve and freshman attackman Colin Fleming (St. Joseph’s Prep) is looking for time.
18. Stony Brook – Junior defenseman Bryan Reinert (Parkland) played in 11 games last year and will vie for time.
19. Denver – New head coach Bill Tierney has a large group of young Philly players to choose from: sophomore defensemen Matt Tract (Radnor) and Liam Resch (Penn Charter); freshmen midfielders John Cugini (Springfield-Delco) and Sean Snodgrass (Hill School); and freshman attackman Kenny Lankford (St. Joseph’s Prep). Tract transferred from Lehigh and Resch appeared in nine games last year, starting two.
20. Bucknell – Sophomore defenseman Doug Emrich (Haverford School) and freshman face-off specialist Wills Miller (Haverford School) are vying for time.
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