Cory Windle
The 2004 edition of Tiger lacrosse is gearing up for another exciting season, and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, according to fourth-year Head Coach Vinnie Lang (Oswego State '84).
First, Assistant Coach Norm Riker (Springfield '94) has joined the coaching staff along the sidelines. Riker, whose first assignment is to head up the Wittenberg women's soccer program, brings a wealth of lacrosse knowledge to the Tiger staff. After a successful lacrosse career at Springfield (MA) College, Riker served as an assistant soccer and lacrosse coach at Vassar College for eight seasons, and in his first year at Wittenberg he was integral part of an outstanding women's lacrosse season while serving as an assistant coach for that program. The energy and expertise that Riker and fellow assistant coach, Sandy Boyce (Ohio State '01), bring to the program are welcomed additions. Add in the return of five all-conference veterans, the addition of one high school All-American and 10 other all-state rookies, and the Tigers expect to be well-prepared for an exciting 2004 season.
Attack
The Tiger attack has plenty of talent, along with some question marks concerning game-day experience. Led by senior Hans Rydquist (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson), who was named Honorable Mention All-NCAC at midfield as a junior after scoring 14 goals and four assists, and junior Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), an honorable mention all-conference attackman in '03 and the team's top returning scorer after posting 26 points on 21 goals and five assists. Rydquist brings considerable experience, as well as quickness and creativity, to attack after running with the first midfield for three years. Carlson is an outstanding finisher, and, though not a big target, he has a knack for finding the open spot on the crease to put the ball away.
Four talented freshmen are vying for the final starting spot, led by Sammy Hong (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne). Hong brings a bagful of awards to Tigerland, including 2003 High School All-America, first-team All-Ohio and the Ohio Division I Player of the Year. He is a pure shooter who is a creative transition player as well. Freshman Adam Morrison (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) will serve as a quarterback for the offense. A tall and rangy athlete who can finish, Morrison's strengths are his ability to dodge and feed. Freshman Matt Davis (Medina, Ohio/Medina) is a crafty player with a good scoring sense after earning Honorable Mention All-Ohio in 2003, while freshman Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington) was a second-team All-Ohio selection a year ago who has excellent vision with great scoring touch around the net.
Lang looks for big things from this group. "Though short on experience, there is no shortage of explosive offensive power from this bunch," he said. "We should be able fill up the nets if they can live up to expectations."
Midfield
With a wealth of young talent and several established veterans, numerous players can make substantial contributions to the team at midfield. Leading the pack will be senior captain Andy Buck (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson). A face-off and defensive specialist his first three years, Buck will be counted on to provide scoring from the midfield this year. With 10 career goals on 28 shots, he makes his opportunities count. Joining him on the first midfield is sophomore Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). A tremendous athlete with explosive scoring ability, Windle returns to the first midfield after a four-goal, 10-assist freshman campaign. Talented freshman Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), a first-team All-Michigan choice in 2003, rounds out the first midfield. Shimko is an athletic middie with a hard shot and a nose for the goal.
Sophomore Mike Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./CBC) leads the second unit. Morrell, a hard worker, is expected to play a more significant role this year. Rookies Cory Griffiths (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), an Honorable Mention All-Ohio, and Eric Gooch (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls), a first-team All-Ohio choice, round out the second unit. Adding depth to the midfield are sophomores Carl Harmon (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto), a hard-nosed face-off specialist, and Martin Bremer (Western Spring, Ill./Lyons Twp.), as well as freshmen Fred Bauer (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) and David Ross (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington).
Defensive Midfield
Senior long stick middie Andy LaBarre (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer) will anchor a youthful defensive midfield. LaBarre, a former goalie, brings tremendous work ethic and determination to the field every day. Freshmen Kevin Owens (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and Carl Spilly (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor) bring tremendous athletic ability and speed to the table and should see considerable duty backing up LaBarre.
The short stick defensive midfield situation is an interesting one. "We have a group of freshmen with speed and a variety of abilities that are frightening," Lang said. "Time will tell how good they will be. Experience is the ultimate variable".
Matt Wilcox (St. Louis, Mo./CBC) is a burner whose motor never stops. Jansen Wehrley (Medina, Ohio/Medina) is a converted long stick middie who brings size, speed and stamina after earning second-team All-Ohio as a prep athlete a year ago. Andy Murschel (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls), a quick, athletic former goaltender, was a first-team All-Ohio selection and Division III Player of the Year in 2003. Greg Mustric (Worthington-Kilbourne) is a determined athlete who will also be counted on to contribute.
Kyle Prussing
Defense
Experience is the strength of the Tiger defense. Providing both experience and leadership to the unit will be Jim Kelley (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson), a first-team all-conference selection in 2001. Kelley is one of the four team captains, and he will serve as a strong presence in front of the net. Also returning to the defense is junior Bill Fortune (Grosse Point, Mich./South) a physical defender with two years of starting experience under his belt, and sophomore Jon Smiley (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne), a second-team all-conference choice a year ago whose speed and ground ball ability lead to a lot of offensive opportunities.
Bringing some youth to an otherwise experienced group are sophomore Dan Arnold (Summit, NJ/Summit), freshmen Mark Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./CBC), Brandon Schwind (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and George Tafel (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). Rounding out the defensive corps are Tom Kincaid (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy), a second-team All-Ohio selection in 2003, and Frank Mackovitch (Oak Lawn, Ill./Culver Military Academy).
Goalkeeping
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. Prussing is a great instinctive goalie who can make the great save look easy. Prussing will be pushed for playing time, however, as athletic sophomore Kevin Adams (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and freshman Pat Garlock (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles), a second-team All-Ohio selection in 2003 and a technically sound keeper, wait in the wings for playing time.
"At anytime, any of three could start," Lang said. "We have the luxury of having three great goaltenders. The hardest part of my job this year is going to determining that No. 1 guy. We have that much confidence with our keepers."