REVIEW

The good: In preparation for the Shoremen’s annual "War on the Shore" series with Salisbury more than a month ago, Clarke praised the team’s mental fortitude. Despite a 4-9 season that would eventually end with a five-goal setback to the Sea Gulls on May 8, the players continued to work hard on the practice field and in the meeting rooms to improve. "We’re 4-9, and that’s not acceptable around here obviously," Clarke said at the time. "But they’re a terrific group of kids, and they have not quit. From the outside looking in, you’re probably thinking, ‘When are they going to give in?’ And they haven’t. … So it’s not hard to like this group of young men because they continue to give everything that they have." … Doug Herdegen was voted onto the All-Centennial Conference second team. The junior midfielder who hails from Baltimore and graduated from Archbishop Curley paced the team in both goals (29) and points (36). He was also tied for third in assists (7) and led all offensive players in groundballs (18).

The bad: Injuries sapped Washington of some of its best players at several critical positions. Senior attackman Brendan O’Leary (21 goals and 10 assists last year) managed just four goals and two assists before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the fourth start of his season. Sophomore defenseman Jack Vermeil registered 10 groundballs and five caused turnovers in six starts before undergoing surgery on his wrist. And sophomore goalkeeper Peter Stewart owned a .557 save percentage and a 9.16 goals-against average in four starts before dislocating his ankle. … The team did not fare well against ranked teams, dropping contests against Salisbury, Gettysburg, Dickinson, Haverford, Cabrini and Washington & Lee. It’s a troubling trend for a once-proud program that captured the 1998 NCAA title and was a national finalist seven other times. The next head coach figures to be charged with the task of reviving the Shoremen to national prominence.

PREVIEW

Personnel changes: Without knowing how many seniors have fifth years of eligibility remaining, it appears that the program will bid farewell to just two opening-day starters in O’Leary and long-stick midfielder Thom Cecere (33 groundballs and 10 caused turnovers). Junior Josh Perlow (11 goals and two assists) and freshman Matt Lewis (6, 1) earned the bulk of the starts on attack, but junior Shane Kaski (11, 2) and sophomores Billy Stafford (6, 9) and Dominic Serio (7, 7) could carve out playing time.

Forecast for 2011: Cloudy with rain possible. The positives for the Shoremen are that the midfield – anchored by Herdegen – and the defense – powered by close defensemen Bryan Botti (22 groundballs and 16 caused turnovers) and Matt Torr (26 groundballs and 11 caused turnovers) – could return intact. The next coach may have to settle on either Stewart (9.16 goals-against average and .557 save percentage) or freshman Matt Miller (10.60 goals-against average and .556 save percentage) as the starting goalkeeper. But Washington will be hard-pressed to climb the ladder in the Centennial Conference, which includes reigning tournament champion Haverford, 2009 national finalist Gettysburg and an improved McDaniel squad.