Season Preview: No. 12 Men's Lacrosse Looks for Breakout Season in 2010
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Harvard
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After posting an 8-5 overall record and 3-3 mark in Ivy League
play last spring, the Crimson looks to continue to improve under
John Tillman, The Frisbie Family Head Coach for Harvard Men’s
Lacrosse, who is entering his third season on the program’s
sideline. The Crimson returns its top five scorers from 2009 and is
ranked 12th in the LaxNews and Inside Lacrosse preseason national
polls.
Defender Billy Geist and attackman Travis Burr will serve as team
captains and are joined by 27 players from last year’s squad.
In addition, Harvard welcomes 16 freshmen, an incoming class rated
third in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. Jack Doyle a midfielder was
the No. 2 ranked newcomer in the country, while midfielder Alex
White appeared No. 32 on the list.
Tillman, who is joined on the coaching staff by Kevin Warner, who
is also in his third season with the Crimson, and new assistant
coach Rob Cross, expects the Crimson to continue to climb the Ivy
League standings in 2010.
“The strengths of our team are chemistry, dedication and
work ethic,” Tillman said. “Our players have worked as
hard as any and have made a real commitment to our program by
stepping up efforts in the offseason. Our players are getting more
comfortable with our systems after the adjustment period of our
first few seasons. If we keep working hard and getting better, our
team has the potential to have a lot of success in the conference.
“
ATTACK
Junior Dean Gibbons, who ranked second on the Crimson in scoring
last season has the potential to be one of the Crimson’s main
standouts at attack once again in 2010. Gibbons, an All-Ivy League
honorable mention choice, scored 21 times last spring, and with two
seasons under his belt at Harvard, is one of the veterans of this
unit. Sophomore Kevin Vaughan provides a lot of energy and had an
outstanding fall season after amassing five goals and seven assists
as a rookie in 2009. Classmate Jeff Cohen, Harvard’s scoring
leader with 34 goals, including five on man-up opportunities, and
41 points a year ago, is coming off an Ivy League honorable mention
season. Cohen, who stood seventh in the nation with 2.62 goals per
game, was also tabbed as the NEILA New England Rookie of the
Year.
Freshman Peter Schwartz also had a strong fall season and will be
competing for minutes at the attack position.
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Travis Burr, a senior co-captain, leads the midfield. Burr is a
dangerous dodger, has a great feel for the game and never gets
flustered. Burr’s 16 goals in 2009 ranked third on the team
and he was honored as a NEILA All-New England second-team
selection. Senior Jason Duboe, a two-time Inside Lacrosse Preseason
All-America honorable mention pick and two-time All-Ivy League
honoree, continues to improve and round out his game and netted 12
goals last season. Last year, Duboe was second on the squad with
eight assists and grabbed 12 ground balls. His play on defense and
ground ball work were important last year down the stretch.
Sophomore Terry White had a strong freshman year, collecting eight
ground balls and notching seven goals. Senior Jesse Fehr (six goals
and a team-high 11 assists) and junior Dave Dobrosky (two assists)
provide leadership and skill at the position. Sophomore Mark
Scalise demonstrated great improvement during the offseason and
will compete for time at midfield.
Newcomers Jack Doyle and Alex White showed promise during the fall
workouts. Fellow freshmen Jeff Molinari, Ryan Stevens and sophomore
Andrew Pataki, who has continued to improve his offensive skill,
provide the Crimson with depth and ability at the offensive
midfield position and could provide an immediate impact.
FACEOFFS
Harvard features the tandem of juniors Christian Oberbeck and
Andrew Parchman, who gained valuable experience with faceoffs in
2009. Oberbeck won 60 of 114 (.526) and had 15 ground balls, while
Parchman grabbed possession of 69 of 121 faceoffs (.570). picking
up 26 ground balls.. Parchman’s winning percentage ranked
ninth in the nation. Alex White and Jack Doyle also faced off in
high school and could see action there.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Freshmen Peter Berg, Rick Molé and Pat Fiorvanti have all
improved during the fall season and have been practicing at a high
pace. Sophomore Daniel DiMaria, who grabbed 15 ground balls as a
rookie, and senior Ben Smith (14 ground balls) provide leadership
and experience. Freshman Brad Cappellini, an intelligent defender,
sophomore Evan Roth, who is skilled a getting the ball off the
ground will compete for playing time.
CLOSE DEFENSE
Billy Geist, a co-captain and Inside Lacrosse Preseason
All-America honorable mention pick, will lead the defense. Geist
was named to the All-Ivy League honorable mention team last year
after grabbing 20 ground balls and helping the Crimson rank third
in the nation in scoring defense (6.69 goals allowed per game).
Harvard was also successful on 81 percent of its man-down chances,
good for third in the country.
DiMaria, who played a number of positions for the Crimson last
year, will also see action at close defense. Sophomore Paul Pate
and freshman Jason Gonos are tough defenders, who have steadily
improved since the fall.
GOALKEEPING
With the departure of three-year starter Joe Pike ’09 to
graduation, senior Sam Michel, sophomore Christian Coates and
freshman Harry Krieger will compete for the starting job. Each of
the three goalies impressed during fall workouts and all are
expected to compete for playing time between the pipes for the
Crimson this upcoming season.
