The Racquette

Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nick Steblenko Men's Lacrosse team captains, (clockwise from top left) Steve Tristan, AJ Lalonde, Chris Kowalczyk, and Conor O'Neill.

Last year the Potsdam Men's Lacrosse team finished with a 4-2 conference record and earned third place in the SUNYAC. They also earned a bid to the ECAC playoffs where they were the fourth seed. Unfortunately, they would drop the game to RIT and finish the season 7-8 overall.

Head Coach Rick Berkman was pleased with his team's improved play last season because they have finished fourth in their conference for the past six seasons.

"It was a good experience for the kids to move up one spot and hopefully move up one more spot this year", said Berkman. "We've got a lot of guys that have a lot of good experience."

This year's experience comes from returning players such as midfielder Corey Reinhart, who was an All-SUNYAC selection as well as the team leader in points last season. Defenseman, and team co-captain, AJ Lalonde was a 2nd Team All-Conference selection last year, and Long Stick Midfielder Dan MacRae, has already been forecast to be a 1st Team All-Conference selection for this season. "He's a player that's really doing well, and I think everyone in the league knows about him now," Berkman stated.

There are 18 newcomers for Potsdam this season, including two goalies, both of which are going to be vying for the starting spot over sophomore Billy Richards. Freshmen Pat Corbine and Kalvin Thomas are going to be Richards' competition and will probably be on his heels all season long. Having SUNY Cortland alum and 2006 Division III national champion goalie Ben Gaebel as assistant coach this year should really improve the goaltending on the field.

"It's going to be up to Coach Burke and I'm just going to give it my best shot," said Richards regarding the starting position.

The top competition in the SUNY Conference will be Cortland, who is ranked third in the nation, as well as Geneseo, ranked 17th.

"Every game is going to be a battle," stated Berkman. "There's no easy game in the conference."

The regular season begins on March 18th against Cazenovia here at Potsdam. On this day, the battle of trying to win the conference and return to the ECAC playoffs will begin.

"We've got our work cut out for us," said Richards. "We've got to keep fighting the way most teams do."

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