February 17, 2006

Matt Kerwick '90

Consistency

That is the hallmark of Head Coach Matt Kerwick’s preseason regimen. The 2006 Hobart lacrosse team will be in peak physical form from Bucknell to Cornell and, if all goes according to plan, beyond.

As soon as the final horn sounded on the 2005 season, Kerwick and his staff turned their attention to improving the team’s 7-7 record. To that end, each Statesman was asked to take a hard look in the mirror and determine if he had done everything to make himself the best athlete and best student he could be. All 24 returning players redoubled their efforts to improve their conditioning to avoid the short lapses in effort that proved costly last season.

Two of the team’s five goals for this season are to be in top condition on Feb. 25, the start of Hobart’s 104th lacrosse season, and to have a 3.0 team grade point average for the semester. Both goals speak to consistency.

In 2005, the Statesmen put a scare into No. 5 Georgetown, No. 8 Syracuse, and No. 10 Massachusetts. Hobart lost to all three, but by a combined total of just five goals. A narrow margin like that can often be attributed to something as seemingly inconsequential as a single ground ball. Kerwick has stressed the importance of playing a 60-minute game to reverse those 11-9, 13-12, and 14-12 losses.

The graduation of the Class of 2005 claimed six starters, including Hobart’s first two-time All-American at the Division I level, defenseman Greg McCarthy; a two-year starter in goal, Dan Valente; and one of the top playmakers in school history, attackman Nate Hill.

The team welcomes back three of its top four scorers from a year ago, including 2005 ECAC Lacrosse League Rookie of the Year and 2006 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American Daryl Veltman. The Statesmen also have all-star players in All-ECAC second-team midfielder Chris David, and preseason All-American faceoff specialist John Soden.

Here’s a position-by-position look at Hobart:

ATTACKMEN

Gone are Hill’s 143 career points, but the Statesmen feature of quartet of players who will keep the high speed offense moving.

The first first-year to lead Hobart in scoring since 1971, Veltman (left) is one of the best shooters in recent Hobart history and has continued to develop his skills beyond his prodigious rookie campaign. Senior captain Mike Conklin is the model of consistency. Seemingly flying under opponents’ radar, he enters his senior year 19th among active Division I players in career scoring (63-11-74). Their running mate will be a rotation, at least to start, of first-years Jeff Ryan and Jeff Colburn. Both are already very good players and expected to get much better.

Juniors Justin Porter and Jamie MacDonald also could figure into the mix, while first-years Jared Franklin and Sam Orr will provide depth.

MIDFIELDERS

The coaching staff will need to find replacements for starters Chris Scanlon and Nate Molinari, who combined for 27 goals, 22 assists, and 91 ground balls. That said, the coaches couldn’t be more excited about the depth and talent the 2006 Statesmen will feature in the midfield.

Seniors Patrick Meade and Mark Conklin, and junior Chris David will form the top line, if only because of their veteran status on the roster. Sophomores Nick Currie, Sean Murphy, and David O’Quinn are a potent trio pushing to supplant Meade-Conklin-David as Hobart’s top option.

Meade (right), a team captain, is a strong defender, a speedster in transition, and has a blistering shot on the offensive end; Conklin is a steady, possession midfielder; and David is the line’s top offensive option, finishing third on the team with 26 points in 2005.

Murphy was one of just two first-years to play in every game last season, recording seven goals and an assist, while Currie made steady progress, increasing his minutes as the year went on. O’Quinn sat out last season due to injury, but the coaching staff expects him to surprise opponents with his athleticism.

Senior Nick Wilbur, junior James Dussich, and sophomore Jimmy Farmer have the talent to form a third line or force the coaches to find a spot for them on one of the top two lines. Wilbur, in his second season since transferring from Butler, has grown into the Hobart system and is ready for an expanded role; Dussich too has made steady progress and is poised for a breakthrough season; and Farmer played d-middie last season, but has shown a greater inclination on the offensive end of the field.

First-years Brandon Buchmayr, Matt Smalley, and RK Galey are the top midfield prospects in the Class of 2009. Buchmayr is an incomparable talent who will contribute right away; Smalley will see time on the wing during faceoffs; and Galey is a faceoff specialist with the offensive and defensive skills to be more than a FOGO.

On faceoffs, Hobart will sport one of the top one-two punches in the nation in junior John Soden and sophomore Dan Spinella. Soden finished the 2005 season ranked eighth in winning percentage (.605) as the Statesmen’s undisputed No. 1. Over the summer, Spinella was named the faceoff man on the Vail Shootout All-Tournament team and has battled Soden to a draw throughout the preseason. The two are expected to split time at the X in 2006.

Defensive midfielders were a weak spot for the Statesmen last season. Senior Alex Jessup, whose effectiveness was limited by injury in 2005, is back in top form. He’ll be joined by classmate Michael Solomon with support coming from first-years Jamie Sprague and Marcus Craigwell.

Senior Andrew Narog, one of the best ground balls guys on the team (130 career GBs), returns as the team’s top long stick midfielder. The team captain is a great leader on and off the field. First-years Ricky Evans, a fierce competitor, and Freddy Leighton-Armah, a natural athlete, will offer depth at long stick middie and on close defense.

DEFENSEMEN

McCarthy, the first Statesman named to the Tewaaraton Award preseason watch list, and John Tammaro leave two starting spots on close defense open, but the coaching staff is excited about the talent ready to fill-in.

Senior Matt Murphy (left) returns for his fourth season as a starter. A team captain, he has a nose for ground balls that will earn him time on the wing during faceoffs and loves to move forward in transition as evidenced by his four career assists. He will be joined by the three-man rotation of juniors Chris Keough and Matthew Ranaghan and sophomore Rafe Mattingly.

Finally 100 percent after a knee injury slowed him for much of ’05, Keough will move from long stick midfielder to close defense this season. He has been the team’s most consistent performer in preseason practice and is poised for a breakout year.

Ranaghan earned two starts a year ago and played in all 14 games. He grew into his responsibilities in 2005 and is ready to put together a complete season.

One-on-one, Mattingly is Hobart’s top shutdown defenseman. He is the complete package of tenacity, speed, strength, and intelligence.

Junior Wesley McDonald, who spent the fall semester studying in Ireland, is also right there talent-wise and will play quality minutes.

GOALIES

Valente was a solid performer in goal, finishing sixth in career saves (392). He was a vocal leader and is the first Division I Statesman to produce a career goals against average of less than 10 (9.51).

Senior Mike DeSantis is the heir apparent. He has played in only 209 minutes over the past three seasons, but that’s 208 more than anyone else on the roster. DeSantis is a talented stopper with a flair for making accurate, quick-strike outlet passes, a perfect fit for Hobart’s up-tempo, high-caliber offense.

Junior Brandon Baer and first-year Brad Hester will provide DeSantis with competition. The coaching staff isn’t afraid to use anyone of the three, leaving the Statesmen with excellent depth in the cage.

SCHEDULE

Hobart will square off with nine teams ranked in the Inside Lacrosse preseason coaches poll, including top 10 squads No. 5 Syracuse, No. 6 Georgetown, No. 8 Cornell, and No. 9 UMass. The Statesmen kick things off on Feb. 25 in Haverford, Pa., when they renew their series with former Patriot League rival Bucknell. Another neutral site contest, this one at Hershey Park Stadium, against No. 21 Ohio State follows seven days later.

Hobart plays its lone home game in March on the 11th against Hartford when the Hawks visit Geneva for the first time. A five-game road trip is next, featuring match ups with the Hoyas and Orange.

The Statesmen will get a brief reprieve from the road on April 8, when Penn State comes to Boswell Field followed by trips to UMass and Canisius.

Hobart will close out the season with three straight home games. St. John’s will make its first trip to the legendary “Boz” on April 22. A week later, the Loyola Greyhounds will visit Geneva for the first time since 2003.

The Statesmen close out the regular season under the lights of McCooey Field against Cornell in the oldest rivalry in college lacrosse. The teams will tangle for the 126th time.