The Oswego State men's lacrosse team looks to start a new era in tradition as first-year head coach Ryan Martin steps in to take the reins from long-time head coach Dan Witmer. Coach Martin brings experience as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Nazareth College for the last four years. Martin has some pieces to fill in on both offense and defense, but certainly has the talent to do so to send the program in the right direction.
With eight seniors gone, including 2010 honorable mention All-SUNYAC selection Dan Wilcox, the Lakers return some very promising skilled position players along with new transfers that can step in and make an immediate impact. Headlining the returnees from last year's 6-10 squad is junior co-captain Andy Lever. Lever led the Laker offense in goals (23), assists (20), and points (43). Returning with Lever on attack are senior co-captain Marcus Peworchik (2-1-3) and junior Andy Williams (11-3-14) giving Oswego State experience and leadership. Junior Bobby Pattridge and freshmen Chris Porten, Tyler Calkin, and Bobby Horan add solid depth and talent to the attack position.
The Laker midfield lines bring a lot of experience and talent back from 2010. Junior co-captain Brad Teal (4-2-6), sophomore Adam Jean (15-2-17), junior Brett Sarubbi (3-3-6), junior Britt Leone (11-17-28), and sophomore Chad Smith (14-3-17) all bring leadership and will be at the heart of the Lakers' success this upcoming season.
Defensively, Oswego State has to replace All-SUNYAC defenseman Dan Wilcox. The defensive unit will be anchored around senior co-captain long stick midfielder Eric Zerrahn (1-4-5, 67 gbs). Zerrahn led the Laker defense in caused turnovers with 35 and will likely be matched up with the opposition's best offensive threat. Joining Zerrahn on the defensive side are juniors Jack Quinn, Jon Millet and Andy Preischel and sophomores Kyle DeRosa (13 gbs) and Josh Roetzer (38 gbs). All are capable and have the talent to earn starting spots.
Headlining the newcomers is National Junior College Champion goalie Ian O'Brien, who led Onondaga Community College (OCC) to its fourth national championship in the past five years with a 6.40 goals against average. O'Brien could make a strong case to be the Lakers' starting goalie this season after losing senior goalkeeper Judd Robinson. Coming over from OCC along with O'Brien are defensemen Eric Miccio and Zak Fazio. Miccio and Fazio helped the Lazer defensive unit hold opponents to 5.20 goals per game. Among the other new transfers is attackman/midfielder Casey Balzer from Hudson Valley Community College, attackman Mark Briggs from Cortland and midfielder Mike Burke from the University of Albany.
In goal, Oswego State lost four-year starter Judd Robinson and backup Zach Harris, but gain a promising young goalie in O'Brien. Along with O'Brien, junior Tom Gropp brings experience at the collegiate level to pass along to freshmen Bryan Martin and Tyler Trueman. O'Brien and Gropp look to push each other every day in practice to clinch the starting job, while Martin and Trueman will make the Laker shooters better prepared in practice as they adapt to the pace of the college game.
State looks to have all the tools and talent in order to get back to the SUNYAC Tournament in 2011 and compete with the likes of Cortland and Geneseo. With a number of new key position players and a defensive-minded coach, the Lakers are primed for success to achieve their expectations. "Our main goal is simple: get back to the SUNYAC playoffs," says Coach Martin. "By the time April comes around, we'll be playing our best lacrosse."
Oswego State starts the season on Saturday, March 5 at Morrisville.
2011 Roster
2011 Schedule
2010 Statistics
