Le Moyne Athletics : Dolphins swim at the deep end, key losses from national title team do little to dampen enthusiasm (by Dave Rahme) Post-Standard

February 16, 2007

Dolphins swim at the deep end
Key losses from national title team do little to dampen enthusiasm for another run.

By Dave Rahme
Staff writer, Syracuse Post-Standard

Direct link to story: http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?/base/business-0/1154770083107940.xml&coll=1

The Le Moyne College men's lacrosse team has reached the enviable pinnacle of sport reserved for only a few elite teams. The Dolphins, with a record of 100-11 this century and two Division II national championships in hand, reload every season rather than rebuild regardless of who departs.

It is why head coach Dan Sheehan can bid farewell to 2006 defenseman of the year Travis Tarr, All-America close defender Chris Doran, second-team All-America faceoff specialist Chris Moore, second-leading scorer Jason Longo, do-everything midfielder/attackman Ryan Lewis and star defensive middie Nate Evans and still look forward to another national-title run this season.

"Our approach is one game at a time," Sheehan said, "but you can always see in the distance. Every single one of our kids knows where the national championship is being played this year."

That would be Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, where Le Moyne won its first NCAA championship in any sport in 2004. Despite the significant losses to graduation, the Dolphins have enough talent remaining to enter the season ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Senior Matt Cassalia (West Genesee), the D-II midfielder of the year, is back. So is senior Jared Corcoran, the D-II goalie of the year. They are joined by fellow preseason first-team All-Americans Mike McDonald, who led the team in scoring last season (41 goals, 20 assists) at attack; middie Alex Bily (West Genny; 14-8); and close defender Matt Juriga.

Nick Gatto (Henninger), the junior-college player of the year last season, is on board to bolster an attack that already features McDonald, junior Brian Cost (West Genny; 30-16) and senior Ed Street (CBA; 17-8). Joining them are sophomore Tim Spillett (West Genny), who transferred from Albany, and freshman Keith Vetter (Jamesville-DeWitt).

Since Sheehan can only use three attackmen at a time, he has told the extras to be prepared to run some at the midfield, which is equally loaded. Tarr and Doran will be tough to replace, but having Corcoran return for a fifth year (he redshirted as a freshman) should ease the transition greatly.



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February 16, 2007 Dolphins swim at the deep end Key losses from national title team do little to dampen enthusiasm for another run. By Dave Rahme Staff writer, Syracuse Post-Standard Direct link to story: http://www.syracuse.com/articles/sports/index.ssf?/base/business-0/1154770083107940.xml&coll=1 The Le Moyne College men's lacrosse team has reached the enviable pinnacle of sport reserved for only a few elite teams. The Dolphins, with a record of 100-11 this century and two Division II national championships in hand, reload every season rather than rebuild regardless of who departs. It is why head coach Dan Sheehan can bid farewell to 2006 defenseman of the year Travis Tarr, All-America close defender Chris Doran, second-team All-America faceoff specialist Chris Moore, second-leading scorer Jason Longo, do-everything midfielder/attackman Ryan Lewis and star defensive middie Nate Evans and still look forward to another national-title run this season. "Our approach is one game at a time," Sheehan said, "but you can always see in the distance. Every single one of our kids knows where the national championship is being played this year." That would be Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, where Le Moyne won its first NCAA championship in any sport in 2004. Despite the significant losses to graduation, the Dolphins have enough talent remaining to enter the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Senior Matt Cassalia (West Genesee), the D-II midfielder of the year, is back. So is senior Jared Corcoran, the D-II goalie of the year. They are joined by fellow preseason first-team All-Americans Mike McDonald, who led the team in scoring last season (41 goals, 20 assists) at attack; middie Alex Bily (West Genny; 14-8); and close defender Matt Juriga. Nick Gatto (Henninger), the junior-college player of the year last season, is on board to bolster an attack that already features McDonald, junior Brian Cost (West Genny; 30-16) and senior Ed Street (CBA; 17-8). Joining them are sophomore Tim Spillett (West Genny), who transferred from Albany, and freshman Keith Vetter (Jamesville-DeWitt). Since Sheehan can only use three attackmen at a time, he has told the extras to be prepared to run some at the midfield, which is equally loaded. Tarr and Doran will be tough to replace, but having Corcoran return for a fifth year (he redshirted as a freshman) should ease the transition greatly.