Hans Rydquist

The Wittenberg men's lacrosse team has plenty of reasons to be optimistic - starting with the return of five all-conference veterans, the addition of one high school All-American and 10 other all-state rookies.

In the opening game of the 2004 season, the Tigers showed signs of why hopes are high for this season and beyond. In a 14-9 loss at No. 8 Ohio Wesleyan on Tuesday, Wittenberg hung tough against an outfit that claimed a 20-0 whitewashing at Edwards-Maurer Field just one year ago.

In the loss, freshman attacker Sammy Hong (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne) was one of several players who made an outstanding collegiate debuts as he recorded four goals and two assists. He was backed offensively by sophomore Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) with two goals and freshman Adam Morrison (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) with one goal and two assists.

On attack, senior Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) will be the leader after earning honorable mention All-NCAC at midfield as a junior. He is joined in the offensive zone by junior Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), an honorable mention all-conference attackman in 2003 and the team's top returning scorer after posting 26 points on 21 goals and five assists, Hong, the Ohio High School Division I Player of the Year in 2003, Morrison, freshman Matt Davis (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and freshman Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington).

In the midfield, senior captain Andy Buck (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) leads the pack. Windle and freshman Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), a first-team All-Michigan choice as a high school senior in 2003, round out the first midfield. In addition, sophomore Mike Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./CBC) and freshman Cory Griffiths (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) make up the second unit.

Senior long stick middie Andy LaBarre (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) will anchor a youthful defensive midfield. Freshmen Kevin Owens (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South), Carl Spilly (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor), Matt Wilcox (St. Louis, Mo./CBC), Jansen Wehrley (Medina, Ohio/Medina), Andy Murschel (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) and Greg Mustric (Worthington-Kilbourne) all will be counted on to contribute in 2004.

Defensively, the leader is Jim Kelley (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson), a first-team all-conference selection in 2001. Junior Bill Fortune (Grosse Point, Mich./South) and sophomore Jon Smiley (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne), a second-team all-conference choice a year ago, also return. Expected to see action are sophomore Dan Arnold (Summit, NJ/Summit) and freshmen Mark Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./CBC), Brandon Schwind (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and George Tafel (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). Senior Kyle Prussing (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) is the incumbent starter in goal after a strong junior year in which he garnered Honorable Mention All-NCAC honors.

The Tigers have another home game this weekend as St. Vincent comes calling on Saturday. That will be followed by a Spring Break road trip that includes games at Randolph-Macon and St. Mary's (Md.).