Castleton Men's Lacrosse Set to Open Season
from press release
CASTLETON, Vt. - After earning its first regular
season North Atlantic Conference (NAC) title, but losing to Mount
Ida for the sixth-straight season in the NAC Championship last
season, the Castleton State College men's lacrosse team has
something to prove in its 2010 campaign.
"We are optimistic about our chances for another shot at the
conference title in 2010," said reigning NAC Coach of the Year Dave
Wiezalis. "Graduation of some key contributors at both ends has
created new opportunities for returners as well as talented
newcomers to prove themselves."
Despite losing defenseman Patrick Duffy (All-Conference
First-Team), goalkeeper Mike Mamunes (All-Conference First-Team)
and defenseman Jason Jakimer (All-Conference Second-Team), Wiezalis
is very confident in his 2010 club.
"This may be one of the most well rounded teams since I have been
here," said Wiezalis.
Wiezalis is quick to make that judgment considering the highly
touted recruiting class he and Graduate Assistant Coach/Defensive
Coordinator Brian Kingsbury have brought in this season.
Nohea King, a high school All-American at Bellows Free Academy in
St. Albans, Vermont, headlines the 2010 recruiting class. King
along with Sam Bailey, who transferred from Western New England
College, will look to replace Phil Barry and Ryan Bartlett on the
attack.
Barry notched 41 points last season good enough for third overall
on the team while Bartlett tallied 36 points (fifth overall).
Castleton should boast a high powered offense as the Spartans
return leading goal scorer Mike Martinez (34 goals), top
point-getter Kevin McCarthy (52 points) and Jake Rick who tallied
43 points last season.
Freshmen Andrew Francis, Ryan Cave and Adam Farmer will look to
shore up the gap left on the defensive side of the field this
season. Cave garnered many accolades at East Lyme high school in
East Lyme, Conn. being selected as a 2008 and 2009 All-ECC
First-Team member and he earned a spot on the First-Team All State
squad.
Farmer (South Burlington HS / South Burlington, Vt.) was selected
to the First-Team All-State team, Green & Gold Player of the
Year and helped South Burlington win the Division I State
Championship.
Alex Brands rounds out Castleton's recruiting class as he will
compete for time at midfield for the Spartans this season.
The Spartans start their season Sunday at home when they play host
to Western Connecticut State University at 2:00 p.m. A rematch of
the last six conference finals will take place April 3 when the
Spartans travel to Newton Centre, Massachusetts to take on Mount
Ida at 1:00 p.m.
