STANDISH, ME - The 2010 season looks to be a very promising one for the Saint Joseph's College Men's Lacrosse team, which will be in its third year as an NCAA varsity sport this spring. The Monks earned a berth into the North Atlantic Conference playoffs as a first-year member of the league last year, which was an injury-filled campaign for the Royal Blue. Look for St. Joe's to make great strides this season, as an infusion of first-year talent is expected to provide a boost for the squad, which features an excellent, and healthy, returning core of players.

Attack:

Returning sophomore Jonathan Horgan (Hingham, MA) leads a talented group of attackmen. As a freshman, Horgan came in second in the voting for North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Year and received All-NAC Honorable Mention honors. He led the Monks with 45 goals and 62 points in 2009 and looks forward to a healthier 2010 campaign, which could mean even more offensive production this spring.

Freshman Spencer Hunt (Jeffersonville, VT) adds quickness and speed along with good finishing skills around the net. Dylan Chase'13 (West Newbury, MA) is a big, physical attackman with an extremely hard shot and the ability to be a game changer. Rounding out the attack is Alex Stone '13 (Lewiston, ME), a quick attackman from Lewiston High School, and returner Blake Edwards '11 (Glide, OR), who tallied 10 goals and 2 assists last spring and continues to improve every year. Both of these guys will see time at midfield as well.

Midfield:

Although the Monks will be without Ryan Prescott '09, who graduated last spring and took his team-high 65 groundballs with him, this midfield group appears to be the most talented St. Joe's has sported to date. Paul Dolewa '12 (Saco, ME), who finished second on the squad with 31 goals and 40 points as a rookie last year, leads a group of skilled returners. The quartet of Kody Peckham '11 (West Gardiner, ME), Tookie Amosun '11 (Gardiner, ME), Benson Pasquarello '12 (Kennebunk, ME) and Luke LaFreniere '10 (Alton, NH) combined for 44 goals and 123 groundballs in 2009 and is poised to improve upon those numbers with another year of collegiate experience. Freshmen Greg Lambert (Alexandria, VA) and Mike Greatorex (Gorham, ME) also will add some much-needed punch to the SJC midfield line.  

The Monks' defensive midfield is also greatly improved. Returning long-stick midis Andrew Moravick '10 (Biddeford, ME) and TJ Garske '12 (Federal Way, WA) provide the team with improving sticks along with excellent speed. Ross Hardaway '11 (East Boston, MA) is a captain and the true definition of a leader. Another captain, Elliot LaMarre '11 (Raymond, ME) won 56.4% of his face offs last year and will be counted on again this season at the faceoff X.

Defense:

Kyle Joseph '10 (Oakland, ME), a captain, is the only returning in-close defender, but freshman defenders Albert Comins (Newburyport, MA), Bryan Johnson (Brookline, NH) and Joe Connolly (Portland, ME) make this a much improved defense from a year ago. Team speed in the defensive end has improved along with stick skills as well as the ability to put the ball on the ground. There is no weak link in the four defensive corps, as each player brings a different skill set to the field and they are a tough group to get open against. This unit will help reduce the number of quality shots the goalies will face.

Goalies:

Returning from an injury that cost him all but the first four games last year is Marco Stefano '12 (Steep Falls, ME), a quick and  athletic keeper from Bonny Eagle High School. Stefano has proven he can make quality stops and get the ball upfield in a hurry. Joining him in the cage is Chris Driscoll (Saco, ME), a freshman goalie from Thornton Academy. Driscoll already impresses his teammates with his play and his incredible quickness. He is a true competitor and has really worked hard to be a top notch goalie.

St. Joe's showed much improvement in 2009 before injuries depleted the team's lineup. Royal Blue followers should expect Head Coach Mike Edgar and his staff to push the Monks to an even higher level this spring and, if healthy, could make a run in the North Atlantic Conference Tournament in early May.

The Monks will kick off the 2010 campaign with a pair of games against Bard College and Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, NY on March 6th and 7th. The team's first home contest, which will be played at Deering Memorial Stadium in Portland, is on March 17th at 4:30 PM against NAC foe Emerson College.