Bill Fortune is one of just two seniors on the Tiger men's lacrosse roster in 2005.
The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team is preparing for what Head Coach Vinnie Lang hopes is nothing short of a breakthrough season. He has plenty of reason for optimism as the Tigers take to the field for the first time in a game that will count on Tuesday, March 1 against Bellarmine University. The game will be played at Mariemont High School in Cincinnati.
At attack the Tigers have an abundance of talent and experience, starting with 2004 North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year Sammy Hong (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne), who finished his first collegiate season with 28 goals and 39 total points. He is joined on the attack by NCAC honorable mention selection and fellow sophomore Adam Morrison (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who ranked third on the team with 43 total points and first in assists with 21 in his first season in the Red & White. In addition, senior Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington) brings senior leadership to the attack unit after struggling with injuries in 2004. Another large class of talented incoming freshmen will join sophomores Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington), who had seven goals in 2004, and Matt Davis (Medina, Ohio/Medina), a midfielder in 2004, to add depth and versatility to the attack line.
In the midfield, the Tigers must continue to receive strong play from the emerging duo of junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) and sophomore Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids). Windle was Wittenberg's lone first team all-conference selection in 2004 after leading the Tigers with 30 goals and 48 total points, and Shimko was outstanding in his inaugural collegiate campaign with 11 goals and 15 total points. Junior Mike Morrell (Baldwin, Mo./CBC) is expected to fill out the midfield for the Tigers, while sophomore Cory Griffiths (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) is also back in the fold after scoring 15 goals in 2004. Numerous talented freshmen, as well as returning sophomores Andy Murschel (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) and Greg Mustric (Worthington, Ohio/Kilbourne), will also vie for playing time.
Cory Griffiths is back in the midfield after a strong rookie campaign in the Red & White.
Three players are listed as long stick midfielders on the roster: sophomores Kevin Owens (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and Jansen Wehrley (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and junior Jonathan Smiley (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne). Smiley is a two-time All-NCAC honoree and a mainstay in the defensive end for the Tigers after leading Wittenberg with 61 ground balls in 2004.
The Tigers must improve their defense to finally get over the hump in the always-tough NCAC, and the unit starts in 2005 with senior Bill Fortune (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South), a two-year starter and honorable mention All-NCAC selection in 2004. Two other returning letterwinners, sophomores Brandon Schwind (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Mark Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./C.B.C.) also return after solid freshman campaigns.
In goal, the Tigers will be pressed to find a replacement for departed senior Kyle Prussing, a three-year starter. Junior Kevin Adams (Medina, Ohio/Medina)< will be the likely replacement for Prussing, but he will be pushed by sophomore Pat Garlock (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles) and freshman Andy Shively (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington).