UMass Dartmouth will build around seven returning starters for upcoming 2001 season

(Dartmouth, MA) - UMass Dartmouth men's lacrosse Coach Jeff Feroce has a talented and experienced team returning for the 2001 season, including seven starters from last year and three of the Corsairs' top four scorers.

If the returning players can hold the fort early in the season, while a talented group of newcomers to the program can make the adjustment to intercollegiate competition, UMass Dartmouth could be well positioned to make a strong move in the Little East Conference this season.

"I'm confident that our program will return to its winning ways this year," said Feroce, who is entering his fourth year with the Corsairs. "Although we're not quite as strong up front as our teams in '98 and '99, we have more than twice the depth of those years. This will give us the ability to run a fast-paced game so that we'll be looking to push the ball up the field for fast and slow breaks as much as we can."

Scoring goals should not be a problem for the Corsairs with the return of junior attacker and co-captain Jim Ruggeri (Waltham, MA), senior attacker and co-captain Michael Beaton and junior midfielder Jared Gray (Weymouth, MA). A year ago, UMass Dartmouth averaged 10.7 goals per game, sixth best in the Pilgrim League. This season, UMass Dartmouth's offensive production should be able to pick up where it left off last year when the Corsairs finished 6-8 for sixth place in the Pilgrim League.

Ruggeri was the Corsairs' leading scorer in 2000 with a team-high 39 goals and 15 assists for 54 points, an average of 3.9 points and 2.8 goals per game. Ruggeri finished the season ranked 7th in Pilgrim League goal scoring and 10th overall in the scoring race.

Also back for another season is Beaton, the Corsairs second-leading scorer behind Ruggeri with 35 goals and six assists for 41 points, an average of 2.9 points per game and 2.5 goals per game. Tied for third in scoring a year ago, Gray was a Pilgrim League Northwest Division All-Star with 23 goals, 14 assists and 37 points.

"Our returning veteran players represent what will be the core and leadership of the program," said Feroce. My hope is that they will be able to carry the load until the entire team gels as one."

In addition to his top scorers, Feroce will also be counting on the third tri-captain for this season, junior Richard Maggio (Winchester, MA) to take charge of the Corsairs' defensive unit. Several other players who saw some action last season will be expected to move into significant roles, including sophomore Andrew Davis (Waltham, MA) and junior Daniel Salerno (Billerica, MA) at midfield and sophomores Geoffrey Beckett (Swampscott, MA) and Brian DeConciliis (Madison, CT).

If there is an area of concern in the Corsairs' starting lineup it would be in goal where Feroce must find a replacement for Adam Centofanti, who played in 12 of UMass Dartmouth's 14 games last season. Sophomore Jason Doyle (Waltham, MA) should get the starting nod in the early going, although he played in only 2 games last season. He made 26 saves and had a .591 saves percentage in a pair of victories as a freshman.

While the Corsairs will build the 2001 team around the group of returning veterans, Feroce thinks the future of the program rests with a several newcomers to the program this season.

"We had a great recruiting year and thus now have a large group of talented freshman who can give us the strength and depth we need to become competitive once again," said Feroce, who will be joined for a second year by assistant coach Tony Ferro. "Some of the freshman will quickly move into starting roles this year so we'll be looking to see how fast they can adapt to the speed of college lacrosse."

Probably the biggest change facing the Corsairs in 2001 will be a new schedule and a new league. After playing in the Pilgrim league for the last three seasons, UMass Dartmouth will be part of a newly-created seven-team Little East Conference men's lacrosse league. The league will include traditional LEC schools, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Boston, Southern Maine, Eastern Connecticut, Keene State and Plymouth State, along with the Vikings of Salem State from the MASCAC, who will join the league for men's lacrosse only.

"With the adoption of men's lacrosse by the LEC and the chance to qualify for the league tournament, we are really looking forward to the 2001 season," said Feroce. "However, the level of competition between programs will be a bit tighter and more aggressive so we do expect quite a dog fight to emerge, especially between us, Plymouth State and Keene State."

UMass Dartmouth will open its 14-game regular season schedule on March 14 with a non-league game at home against Endicott College. Three days later, the Corsairs will travel to Orlando, Florida for a six-day pre-seasons trip, which will include their LEC opener against UMass Boston. The Corsairs return to New England on March 27 for a non-league game against Division II Franklin Pierce, one of two games UMass Dartmouth will play against Division II schools. The Corsairs will host American International College on April 4.

At the conclusion of the LEC regular season, all seven conference teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament with the highest seeded teams earning home games. The tournament's first round, including a bye for the #1 seed, will open on May 1 with the semi-finals set for May 4 and the first LEC men's lacrosse champion to be crowned on May 5. The LEC champion will also earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III men's lacrosse national championship tournament.