Six returning veterans will lead an inexperienced UMass Dartmouth men�s lacrosse
team in 2000
(Dartmouth, MA) - For the first time in UMass Dartmouth�s brief two-year old
varsity men�s lacrosse team, the Corsairs will have a relatively young and inexperienced
squad entering a new season.
In the first two years of varsity competition, Corsair Coach Jeff
Feroce had several experienced veteran players who had played for the UMass Dartmouth
club team prior to the team's elevation to varsity status. Heading into the 2000
season UMass Dartmouth returns six starters from the 1999 campaign, leaving some
key positions to be filled.
Entering his third year as UMass Dartmouth's head coach, all of that has changed
for Feroce and his Corsairs, who are coming off an 8-3 overall record last season.
For a second straight year UMass Dartmouth finished one game shy of qualifying for
the Pilgrim League playoffs, settling for a 3-2 league record last season.
"We�re an extremely young team this year with a significant portion of our regulars
only being in their first or second year of the college game," said Feroce who
will be joined by assistant coach and a former player, Tony Ferro.
While the Corsairs will have to shore up their offensive attack after losing two
of their top four scorers from a year ago, Feroce feels UMass Dartmouth's defense
can count on a returning senior in goal. Senior tri-captain Adam Centofanti
(Waltham, MA) will get the start in goal this season after playing three games last
season and posting an 8.00 goals against average and 66 saves in 180 minutes of play.
"We�ll be strong in goal with Centofanti," Feroce said. "He�s a goalie
who I feel scan stop the ball as well as any goalie in the league."
Centofanti will not have the luxury of an experienced defensive unit in front of
him, however. As Feroce incorporates some of the newcomers into the defensive alignment,
he will count heavily on a pair of returning sophomores Peter St. John (Northampton,
MA) and Rich Maggio (Winchester, MA) as well as freshman Brian DeConcilis
(Madison, CT) and Geoff Beckett (Swampscott, MA).
"As a team we are going to be tested significantly on defense and that�s why
we will try to play more of a ball control type of game on offense this season,"
said Feroce.
No where were the Corsairs hurt more through graduation than on offense, as two of
UMass Dartmouth�s three leading scorers have to be replaced. The good news for the
Corsairs is that the offense has two of the four top scorers from last year in the
lineup to open the season.
Much of the Corsairs scoring load will fall to junior tri-captain Michael Beaton
(Pittsfield, MA). UMass Dartmouth�s leading returning player on offense. In 11 games
last year, Beaton finished second in goals with 35 to go along with 7 assists for
42 points, and an average of 3.2 goals and 3.8 points per game. Sophomore Jared
Gray (Weymouth, MA) will also be back following a rookie season that saw him
score 18 goals and ad 5 assists for 23 points, fourth best on the team.
While Beaton and Gray will lead the Corsairs� offense from their attack positions,
the Corsairs also have two other experienced players at attack. Sophomores Bryan
Wallace (Wilbraham, MA) (7-7-14) and Ryan McDonald (Weymouth, MA) (9-4-13)
will be two players Feroce will be looking at to boost the Corsairs� scoring.
At midfield, the return of senior Mike Dion (Waltham, MA) (1-2-3) and sophomore
Jim Ruggeri (Waltham, MA) (10-6-16) will be also be a big help for the young
Corsairs.
"I�m looking for our sophomores to really step up and take over the scoring,
particularly from our attack unit," Feroce said.
UMass Dartmouth will head to the Disney World Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida
for its pre-season training trip. While in Florida, the Corsairs will play their
season opener on March 13 when they face SUNY Utica in a non-conference game at 8:30
p.m.
After five days of pre-season training, the Corsairs will return to campus for a
March 21 home opener against University of New England in a non-conference game.
Pilgrim League action gets underway two days later when the Corsairs host Wheaton
College in a 3:30 p.m. start at UMass Dartmouth.
Twice in the last two years season-ending losses to Plymouth State have knocked the
Corsairs out of the playoffs. The Panthers are on the Corsairs schedule again this
season with a season-ending April 29 trip to Plymouth State.
How well the Corsairs' younger players can move into the starting lineup and accept
their new responsibilities will determine whether or not UMass Dartmouth will be
in the Pilgrim League playoff hunt for a third straight year.
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