2010 schedule | 2010 roster
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- With the bull's-eye seemingly centered squarely in the middle of their back, the Nazareth men's lacrosse team went about its pre-season business this week as it prepared for Saturday's 2010 opener with Springfield at 1 p.m.

While the weather may be suggesting otherwise, the calendar emphatically insists that springtime is approaching and the 25th season of Nazareth lacrosse is set to begin. The Golden Flyers, ranked 15th nationally in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll, opens its 2010 season at home Saturday against Springfield at 1 p.m.

"It's always exciting," said Nazareth Coach Rob Randall, who brings a record of 115-36 (.762) into his 10th season with the Golden Flyers. "I think there is a lot that we have to prove."

The bull's-eye comes in the form of the Empire 8 pre-season coaches' poll that picked the Golden Flyers to win the conference title for the eighth time since 2000. Despite a 5-3 record in conference play (and 11-7 overall) last season, Nazareth was a surprise winner as the E8 tournament's fourth seed. The Golden Flyers gained an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament -- their 18th appearance -- after upset wins over top-seeded Ithaca (13-12, ot) and third-seeded St. John Fisher (9-4). The Golden Flyers lost to St. Lawrence, 14-7, in the first round of the NCAAs.

The optimism is understandable since the Golden Flyers have their top six scorers returning -- comprising their starting attack and first midfield. That half dozen accounted for 73 percent of the Golden Flyers' offense in 2009.

Junior midfielder Scott Castle earned All-American honors as well as first-team Empire 8 all-conference honors after contributing 20 goals and 13 assists. Senior attackman Mark DeCirce and senior long-stick midfielder Kyle Brown also were first-team all-conference picks. DeCirce had 55 points and a team-best 40 goals in '09 and Brown had six goals and two assists with 43 ground balls.

Junior Joe Jacobs-Ferderbar and sophomore #C.J. Estes also return to anchor a potent attack after contributing 56 and 47 points respectively. Depth is plentiful with the return of senior John Manion and juniors Doug Milano-Johnson#, Adam Nauerth and Joe Valasiadis. Freshman Brian Wright could work his way into the mix based on his solid scholastic credentials.

Castle spearheads the first midfield, which returns intact. Senior Erinn O'Hara enters the season with 112 career points and should complement Castle and senior Mike Cummings, who scored 17 goals in 2009.

Additional playing time will be dispersed among seniors Cory Bottiglier, Kurt Detwiler and Joe Trinca and junior Joel Tully as well as sophomores Mike Centra and John McDonnell and freshmen Jimmy Gaffney, Chris Peterson and Dennis Tomsky.

Senior Todd Dermody is expected to start in goal for the third year in a row after amassing 190 saves in 2009. Sophomore Grant Williams is a capable backup.

With Brown carrying the long-stick through the midfield and backed by sophomore Greg Wagner, Nazareth also will have reliable defenders in front of Dermody with juniors Mitchel Frey and Brian Orr providing the most experience. There are several candidates for the other close defender role with senior Brian O'Donnell, juniors Adam Fox, Mike McGrath, Eric Schuettenberg and Paul Van Thof all in the mix with sophomores Tucker Sampson and Jonathan TenBrock plus freshman Lucas Sherman.

Nazareth was successful on 52 percent of its face-offs in 2009 and Randall believes that the Golden Flyers can maximized possessions with some improvement in that area. Junior Kyle McLean won 63 percent of the draws he took last season, before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Juniors #R.J. Gringeri and Brandon O'Toole# will also help.

"We're anxious to get started," said Randall, who will be assisted by Ryan Martin and Francis Donald. "The guys have been working hard and are excited for the season to start."