The 2006 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team has reason for optimism as first-year Head Coach George Harris brings with him a new system and an opportunity for a fresh start. With 20 returning letterwinners, including the core members of what is expected to be a solid defensive unit in 2006, a foundation for future success is evident.
In goal, the Tigers actually have a great deal of depth, starting with senior captain Kevin Adams, who appeared in nine games a year ago and played 450 minutes. Adams had a goals against average of 11.33 and a saves percentage of .503. If offseason injuries limit Adams in 2006, junior Pat Garlock and sophomore Andy Shively are quality replacements. They combined to appear in nine games a year ago, finishing with 61 saves between them.
The strength of this year's squad is at the defensive end of the field as three All-North Coast Athletic Conference performers return - senior captain Bryan Arnold, senior Jonathan Smiley and junior Brandon Schwind. Junior Mark Morrell is also back in the fold, joining with Schwind and Arnold to form a strong defensive core. Sophomore Dylan Baun, senior Mike Morrell and Smiley comprise the defensive midfield unit. Schwind was the team's top man on ground balls in 2005, while Mike Morrell took the majority of the face-offs a year ago and is penciled in as the team's face-off specialist again in 2006. Also figuring prominently in the team's plans in 2006 are junior Jansen Wehrley, sophomore Chris Martin and freshman Steve Koppenhafer.
Offensively, the Tigers return three of their six players who reached double figures in scoring a year ago. Senior captain Cory Windle, a midfielder who has been among the top scorers in each of his first three collegiate seasons, quarterbacks the offensive attack. He is coming off a season in which he contributed 13 goals, second-most on the team, and seven assists. Windle is joined in the midfield by junior Jay Shimko, who had 13 points a year ago, and sophomore Mike Provost. At the attack, junior Travis Moore, who scored 11 goals in 2005, is the team's most experienced player, and he will be joined by sophomores Brandon Hulett and Jon Van Vranken and freshman James Hunter, who also could see time in the midfield. Also expected to contribute in the midfield are freshman Sam Henderson and freshman Andrew Goldstein.