Preview: Men's Lacrosse set to kick-off inaugural season
The inaugural Men's Lacrosse season in University of Dallas history will begin on Saturday, Feb. 19, when the team travels to Southwestern University to play their first game, which starts at 2:00 p.m. CST.
After months of preparation, head coach Matt O'Connell and assistant coach Matt Hipenbecker will lead a squad of 25 players, representing 10 states in a campaign featuring 14 games from February to late April.
Dallas will host five contests in March and early April against Centenary College, Trine University, Millsaps College, Concordia University, and Baylor University. The team will also travel around the country including trips to California, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
ATTACK
Heading up the offense will be Junior captain Stephen Joseph (Orange County, Calif./JSerra) and freshman Tony Lemos (Dana Point, Calif./JSerra H.S.). freshman attack John Owen, junior attack Lincoln O'Brien (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic H.S.) and sophomore attack Joe Kaiser (Glenview, Ill.) will round out the offense.
MIDFIELD
The offensive reinforcements and defensive support will stem from a speedy midfield featuring freshman Joe Hrbacek (St. Paul, Maine/Trinity School At River Ridge), freshman Brien Lank (Mission Viejo, Calif./JSerra H.S.), junior captain Chris Kerner, freshman Cooper Johnston (San Antonio, TX), senior Andrew Kent (Keller, TX/Sunnyvale Trailer Park), junior James Cory (Brandon, Fla./Spoto H.S.), sophomore Andrew Vasicek (Bainbridge, Mass./O'Dea H.S.), senior Joe Lynne (Dallas, Texas/Guardian Angel), junior Mike Finley, freshman Nick McMahon (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound H.S.), and sophomore Sam Carter (Chicago, Ill.).
Hrbacek, Kerner, Lank, Lynne, McMahon, and Carter will operate on the offensive side of the field while Kent, Johnston, Vasicek, Cory, and Finley will be utilized in defensive situations.
DEFENSE
Anchoring the defense are freshman captain Joey Mullen (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood H.S.), freshman John Parker (Shreveport, La./Loyola College Prep), and freshman Mike Franscell (Mission Viejo, Calif./JSerra H.S.). Senior Christian Peterson (Garland, Texas/Home School), Junior Joe Finley and freshman Charles Schuberg will also be protecting the net.
GOALIES
Junior Blaise Dufrain (Manassas, Va./Seton Home School) and freshman Garret Kochner (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood West) will be minding the net for the Crusaders.
Some notes from coach O'Connell:
How has the first-year program progressed thus far through practices?
"The stick skills and overall lacrosse IQ are getting better everyday at practice and the guys seem to be getting more comfortable with each other; as long as we continue to stay committed and work hard we will continue to see improvement."
What kinds of things are you stressing in practice?
"We are stressing the fundamentals of lacrosse and playing full speed. We work on sticks skills, shooting, groundballs, and communication everyday at practice."
Who has impressed you so far?
"Stephen Joseph has done a great job of stepping up as the leader both on and off the field. Tony Lemos has got a great skill set and has the potential to make everyone around him better. Joey Mullen is a work horse and will be relied on heavily this season and new comers to lacrosse, Lincoln O'Brien, Cooper Johnston, and Chris Kerner should make impacts this season."
What excites you most about the 2011 season?
"There are several reasons to be excited about the 2011 season. The fact that we are going to be fielding the first men's lacrosse team for the University of Dallas and second NCAA Division III team in the state of Texas is nice. Being part of the expansion of lacrosse, and helping student athletes learn the game and watch them improve over the course of the season is gratifying as well."
The 2011 season will be a success, if... "We come to practice ready to work hard and get better everyday!"