2011 Men's Lacrosse Preview
Expectations are high for the Geneseo men's lacrosse team as the Blue Knights enter the 2011 campaign as the #13 team in the USILA Division III poll. Head coach Jim Lyons (Drew '88) begins his 11th season coming off a 10-4 record after dropping the SUNYAC title game to Cortland last season. Geneseo returns their top five scorers to the squad, including honorable mention All-America attack Craig Lange (Syracuse/Christian Brothers Academy), along with two-time honorable mention All-America defender Joe May (Homer). Lyons challenge will be to replace the graduated Dennis Costanza, a first team All-America pick and NCAA Division III Goalie of the Year.
Lange paces the offense after posting 28 goals and 34 assists in 2010. The speedy attackman centers the Blue Knights from behind the cage and stands ninth on the Geneseo career scoring chart with 161 points. Junior Brendan Kurpis (Yorktown) and senior Bobby King (Huntington/Harborfields) flank Lange as Kurpis led the team with 36 goals in 2010 and King posted 16 points on 11 goals and five helpers.
Senior Evan Bryant (Amherst/Williamsville North) scored 12 goals with four assists in a relief role last season and Lyons is high on first year James Purpura (Pittsford/Sutherland), who scored 168 career points and earned All-Greater Rochester recognition. Junior Bob Brannigan (Auburn) is a St. Joseph's transfer, while first years Shane Feldman (Melville/Half Hollow Hills) and Trevor Hayward (Brockport) complete the attack.
Geneseo's offensive midfield boasts a pair of strong lines. Junior Jeff Watson (Camillus/Marcellus), who scored 12 goals and 18 assists in 2010, teams with sophomore Tim Hayden (Phoenix/Baldwinsville), who had 17 points on 13 goals and four helpers, and sophomore Tim Burgess (Syracuse/Westhill), who transfers from 2010 National Champion Onondaga C.C. Senior Scott Cost (Warners/West Genesee) anchors the second line after posting 18 goals and six assists in 2010, while first year John Wettack (Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island) earned high school All-America honors last season. The Blue Knights welcome back senior Ray Ryan (Syracuse/Corcoran), who sat out last season after contributing 24 points on nine goals and 15 assists in 2009.
Senior Kevin Centore (Syracuse/Westhill) and junior Tim Besio (Camillus/West Genesee) will see significant playing time and are joined on the third line by junior Mike Fandrich (Auburn). The midfield group is supported by sophomores Andrew McNulty (Huntington Station/Walt Whitman) and Brendan Crowley (Syracuse/Marcellus) and first years Greg Harris (Huntington Station/Walt Whitman) and Yanni Dischley (Dix Hills/Half Hollow Hills West).
Sophomore Frank DiSanti (Melville/Half Hollow Hills East) replaces the graduated Erik Baranowski on face-offs, while first year Joe Cicio (Northport) serves as the reserve. Sophomore John Felix (Scarsdale) and first year Kyle Kerrigan (West Islip) start as defensive midfielders, with sophomores Chris Topping (Webster/Schroeder) and Matt Marano (Rockville Centre/Southside) and Cicio as depth at the position.
Sophomore Bob Mascia (East Aurora) is the team's top long-stick midfielder, while sophomore Jeff Dunworth (Katonah/John Jay) battles for playing time.
May, who led the defenders with 40 groundballs and 21 caused turnovers, anchors the Geneseo backline. Junior Joe McCormack (West Islip) and sophomore Derek Drance (Huntington/Harborfields) join May in the starting group after combining for 31 groundballs and 17 caused turnovers in 2010. Junior Tom Gordon (Bay Shore/West Islip) is a man-down specialist and will play on all penalty-kill situations, while sophomore Erik Waltz (Kirkville/East Syracuse-Minoa) and first years A.J. Glagolev (Webster/Thomas) and Jules Zidi (Yorktown) expect to see playing time.
First year Ryan Zaremba (Bayshore/Army Prep) begins as the top candidate to replace Costanza in net. Zaremba backstopped West Islip High School to a State Championship in 2009. Junior Noah Berg (Rochester/Brighton) and sophomore Michael Greubel (North Merrick/Mepham) compete for the reserve stop, while first year Adam Perri (Auburn) serves as the fourth goalie.
The Knights open up their season Wednesday, March 2 at Lycoming with their home opener coming on April 13 versus Brockport at 4 p.m.