As the Eagle lacrosse program enters its ninth varsity season, head coach Kurt Glaeser hopes for a jump to the next level. A 9-4 campaign in '93 was a spring - board to a " meatier " 1994 schedule, in which a young team los t four games by a total of five goals en route to a disappointing 4-8 record.
To say that the addition of '94 Division III national champion Salisbury State to the '95 schedule improves the competition is a bit of an understatement. To a man, however, veterans are excited about the high caliber of upcoming opponents. Glaeser, fresh off a solid recruiting year, is - to invoke a cliché - "cautiously optimistic."
The '95 Eagles look to make an impact with a blend of strong returnees and incoming talent. Glaeser welcomes back the top two scorers in Mary Washington history, three other All-Capital Athletic Conference players and several '93 veterans who did not play last season. Add to this mix as many as 10 potentially immediate contributors, and the Eagles could be surprisingly strong.
According to Glaeser, the '95 Eagles will be "thick at attack. " Junior Bill Mclean (Tow son, MD) has score d 82 goals in two season s to rank second in MWC annals. Joining Mclean on the All-CAC Second Team was Kyle Aldrich (So. /Gard e n City, NY) after a 14-goal, 15-assist season. Sophomore Craig Siemes (Setauk et, NY) is a third returning starter; he scored nine goal s with six assists in '94. Veteran Kurt Bratten (Jr. Staatsburg; NY) joins newcomers Stuart Sears (Arlington, VA) - a First-Team Washington Catholic Athletic Conference choice - Todd Eckle (Dublin, OH), Joe Foley (Fallston, MD) and Phil Russell (Fairfax, VA). Depth at attack could result in a spill-over at midfield, according to Glaeser.
In the midfield, several returnee s and a talented group of recruits should help the Eagles reload. MWC career scoring leader Aaron Reed (Sr./Silver Spring, MD) had 38 of his 90 career goals in '94 while earning Second-Team All -CAC laurels. Junior Bryan Eckle (Dublin, 0H) is a solid all-around player who scored 12 goals last season. Chris Johann (Sr./West Chester, PA) was an All-CAC choice in '93. Veterans should push for playing time, as will newcomers Greg Ahern (Hicksville, NY), Mark Kelaher (Setauket, NY), Chris Sicuranza (Herndon, VA) and Brady Russell (Mclean, VA). Transfers Tony Barone (Plainview, NY), Deni s Tarpey (Massapequa, NY), both from Farmingdale (Ny) Community College, and Brandon Rowe (Bloomfield Hills, MI; Connecticut College) bring offensive potential to the midfield.
An improving defense features First-Team All-Conference senior John Millett (Seaford, NY) and Second Team junior Scott Kapin (Sudbury, MA). Steve Sharpe (So./Chantilly, VA) - who saw substantial act ion as a freshman in '93 - will battle veterans Pat Lohmeyer (So ./Newtown, CT) and Alan Russo (Jr. Herndon , VA) and newcomer Dave Camporesi (So ./Manlius , NY) for top defensive spots. Freshmen John Schmauch (Huntington, NY) and Ryan Walker (Babylon, NY) will also push for playing time, according to Glaeser.
In goal, juniors Marc McCrudden (Virginia Beach, VA) and Chris Williams (Ridgewood, NJ) lead what Glaeser calls "the strongest group of netminders in school history. " McCrudden split time with now-graduated Eric Amtsberg in '94, posting a .606 save percentage while allowing less than 12 goals per game. According to Glaeser, freshmen Peter Blake (Vero Beach, FL) and Kishan Khona (Mechanicsburg, PA) are also talented prospects.