2014 SEASON OUTLOOK Expectations are high as the Saint Joseph’s men’s lacrosse pro-‐ gram enters its inaugural season in the Northeast Conference in 2014. The Hawks return 23 letterwinners, including all 10 starters, and welcome 19 newcomers under the direction of third-‐year head coach Taylor Wray. OFFENSE The Hawks return last season’s top four scorers in sophomore attack Pat Swanick, junior attack Matt Sarcona, junior midfielder Mike Dougherty and senior midfielder Johnny Simanski, a core that combined for 57 percent (59-‐of-‐103) of SJU’s total goals in 2013. A 2013 CAA All-‐Rookie selection, Swanick (22G, 6A) led the team with 28 points and ranked in the top five of every offensive category. With Sarcona (14G, 5A) also on the front line, the lead-‐ ing and second-‐leading scoring duo from last season is expected to show explosive scoring potential in 2014. Dougherty (13G, 8A) and Simanski (10G, 7A) will patrol the midfield this season. Dougherty enters this year after a team-‐best 81 shots on a team-‐best 43 shots on goal last season while Simanski ranked in the top five in all offensive categories for the Hawks. With a combined five seasons between the veterans, Dougherty and Simanski will be significant factors on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field in 2014. With the highly anticipated return of redshirt junior Ryan McGee (4G, 3A), who recorded seven points in just two games last season and owns career numbers of 42 goals and 21 assists, SJU’s offensive unit has the opportunity to make a mark in the NEC this year. Another returning group of considerable notice is the midfield quartet of juniors Josh Cavanaugh (4G, 5A) and Rob Watts (5G, 2A) and sophomores Richard Gabelman (3G, 2A) and Bryan Garrahan (4G, 2A). All four saw action in all 16 games in 2013 and provide substantial depth off the bench for the Hawks. Junior Kyle Bruun (2G) and sophomores Joe McErlean (1G, 19GB), Matt Blasco (2G), and Chase Elliott, and will also return to the offensive end of the field this season. Newcomers Miles Davis, Michael Rastivo, Robert Raucci, Parker Self, and Ray Vandegrift will add to the attack, while Tyler Cliggett, Anthony Joaquim, Mike Lanham, Danny Manning, Brian McNamara, Marcus Milione, Kevin Reidinger, and Evan Wolf will be expected to make contributions in the midfield. FACEOFF Senior midfielder Will Abbott returns as SJU’s faceoff special-‐ ist after posting a .450 percentage (118-‐of-‐262) in 2013. Abbott also ranked second on the team in ground balls (37). Classmate Billy Annesley will also see time at the X and enters 2014 with a career faceoff percentage of .361 (56-‐of-‐155) while freshmen Charles Giunta (.560 face-‐off percentage as a senior), Mike Lanham (FCA face-‐off champion), and Danny Manning (.750 face-‐off percentage as a senior) also have considerable high school experience from the X and could be contributors this year.
Senior midfielder Johnny Simanski (left) and junior goalkeeper Dustin Keen
DEFENSE The defensive unit is set with the junior trio of Kevin Barrow, Will Farrell, and Jack Moran. Farrell led the team in ground balls (44) and caused turnovers (24) last season while Barrow (22GB, 12CT) and Moran (16GB, 9CT) were also solid on the back line. The three defensive veterans started all 16 games last season to com-‐ bine for 82 ground balls and 49 percent (45-‐of-‐92) of SJU’s total caused turnovers. Juniors Dylan O’Donnell and Guy Talarico, sophomores Cameron Riley and John Winchell, and freshmen Charles Giunta, Connor Kubikowski, Shane Taggert, and Jared Wolf will look to add to the defensive unit. GOALKEEPERS Junior Dustin Keen earned the starting role between the pipes for the Hawks last season and returns as SJU’s starting goalkeeper in 2014. Keen had a standout sophomore season, starting all 16 contests to boast a 9.90 goals-‐against average and .503 saves per-‐ centage in 860:16. Keen averaged 10.25 saves against nationally ranked opponents and made 10-‐plus saves on seven different occasions in 2013. Freshmen T.J. Jones and James Superka will back up Keen in goal. OVERALL "We've still got a lot of question marks in our line up," said Wray. "There's going to be a lot of shuffling over the next three weeks. There are 20 practices and three scrimmages to watch the guys compete and evaluate who's going to be in what roles on February 15th. One thing I can say is this is the tightest it's been over the last two years in terms of the separation between players at each position."
2014 SAINT JOSEPH’S MEN’S LACROSSE MEDIA GUIDE 2