February 14, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College lacrosse team will open the season as one of the favorites to win the Patriot League Championship. The Statesmen share the spotlight in the preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors with Bucknell University.

Winners of two of the past three Patriot League Championships, Hobart received 64 points and six first place votes. The Bison also received 64 points and six first place votes. Army received the other two first place votes and finished third in the voting with 58 points. Lehigh, Colgate, Lafayette, and Holy Cross round out the preseason poll.

Last season, the Statesmen finished the Patriot League slate with a 5-1 record in a three-way tie with Army and Bucknell. Hobart earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament based on the final regular season RPI ratings.

The Statesmen return seven starters, including three first-team All-Patriot League selections: senior attackman John Bogosian (Kent School/Massena, N.Y.), midfielder Tim Booth (Waterloo/Waterloo, N.Y.), and senior defenseman Brad Neuberth (Westminster/Riverside, Conn.). Hobart also returns two second-team selections: senior goalie Mike Borsz (West Genesee/Camillus, N.Y.) and sophomore attackman Nate Hill (Hamburg/Hamburg, N.Y.).

An Inside Lacrosse preseason honorable mention All-American, Bogosian has led Hobart in scoring in each of the past two seasons and is on pace to become just the second Statesman to play four Division I seasons and score 100 career points. Following a 37 point-performance in 2002, Bogosian boasts 55 goals and 34 assists for 89 points in 33 career games.

A preseason third-team All-American, Booth is one of the most dominant midfielders in the nation. He led Hobart and the Patriot League in faceoff percentage (.598) and ground balls (6.21/gm), while ranking ninth and 11th in the nation in those categories, respectively. An exceptional two-sport athlete, Booth was a D3Football.com honorable mention All-American linebacker this past fall, leading Hobart’s football team to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons.

A converted midfielder, Neuberth needed little time to acclimate to his new position, starting 10 games at close defense last season. He turned in one of his finest performances last season against Georgetown attackman Steve Dusseau. The Tewaaraton Trophy nominee (player of the year) entered the game averaging more than four goals per game, but Neuberth limited him to just a single goal. It was the only time all season Dusseau did not score at least two goals.

The Statesmen open the 2003 season, the program’s 101st season, at 2:30 p.m., on Feb. 23. Hobart will face off with Butler at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field in Baltimore.