Re: Lax

• Washington College women's coach Julika Blankenship

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Categories: Q&As

March 9, 2009

Q&A with Mount St. Mary's women's coach Denise Wescott

Denise Wescott enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse program. She has coached at Delaware, Rutgers and Drew, and was an assistant at Penn State and Maryland before that. She has been the German national team coach and has won the Diane Geppi-Aikens Memorial Award for lifetime achievement in women's lacrosse. She is in the New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame.

Wescott played high school lacrosse at Moorestown (N.J.) High School, which she thinks is one of three best schools for girls lacrosse in the country. The biggest national game between high school girls teams for the past few years has been Mount Hebron against Moorestown. Wescott was a star goalkeeper at the University of Maryland and is still fourth on the program's all-time saves list with 519 stops. She loves living in Emmitsburg, home of Mount St. Mary’s. “I love the 'burg, and I love the rural area”.

Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted before the season. The Mountaineers are 0-5 with losses to Longwood, Penn State, Towson, Denver and Lehigh.

How was the preseason this year? What have you learned about this team?

Denise Wescott: This team is hungry and playing well together.

What are your specific goals this season?

Denise Wescott: We want to win a game against a top-25 opponent along with winning the NEC tournament to go to NCAA tournament.

Give us a rundown of your probable starting personnel for 2009.

Denise Wescott: On attack, Katelyn Catanese, Ashley Johnson and Breana Waraksa will start. Our midfield will be Kathleen Rossettti, Lucy Pompa, Caitlin Preas and Jackie Kearney. On defense, we’ll be led by Caitlin Fraccalvieri, Sydney Sykes and Katie Bollinger. In goal, Brigid McTavish and Erin Kelly are vying [for playing time].

Are there any battles going on for key positions?

Denise Wescott: We have a lot of strong freshmen and a lot of talent on the team. The only real tough decision will be playing time.

How will the personality of this 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Denise Wescott: This team is hungry to win a conference title since we have been close a few times to the title. They understand that they need to perform as a team to win.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Denise Wescott: Katelyn Catanese is versatile, listens, is sometimes demanding, loves to play and wants to win. Kathleen Rossetti is very organized and plays the bad cop. She is sometimes hard on the girls, but one of the best leaders on setting the bar and standard of play. Breana Waraksa is free spirited and friendly with everyone on the team. She is the social director and she is the quarterback of our offense.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Denise Wescott: We haven’t won our conference in a while so we want to win big games. We have to replace Jane Karger in goal. We need to improve on consistency and playing hard.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Denise Wescott: Stephanie Hilton, Meaghan Conlon, Esther Rufulo, Jen Semler and Kelli Berkman.

Who’s your hardest shooter?

Denise Wescott: Kelli Berkman.

Best stick handler?

Denise Wescott: Katelyn Catanese.

Fastest middie?

Denise Wescott: Jen Semler.

Toughest D?

Denise Wescott: Ali Jost.

Unsung hero?

Denise Wescott: Kathleen Rossetti.

Surprise player?

Denise Wescott: Sydney Sykes.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Denise Wescott: The team is hungry. They want to step it up.

Are you missing anyone with injuries?

Denise Wescott: Nothing serious. We’re a little dinged up. Natalie Pickett has been ill and had surgery in the fall and Erin Kelly had knee surgery.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Denise Wescott: To be the best they can be. Jen Davison came in and will help out in the midfield and defense. Jane Karger will help with defense and keepers. I’ll be working with attackers. Because they’re younger, they do a great job connecting to players, too.

How strong are your seniors?

Denise Wescott: They are very strong and have a lot of experience. They all played a lot their freshmen year, and had both great and horrible role modeling from upperclassmen over the years, but they’ve learned to be great leaders because of it.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Denise Wescott: Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac and Monmouth have always been big games for us because along with the Mount, these have been the top four teams in the NEC tournament since I’ve been here. Every game in our conference is special in a sense. Players are looking forward to playing Towson. I’m looking forward to playing Penn State because I worked there many years ago. Playing top 25 teams is fun because of the challenge. It’s going to be tough playing Denver because the head coach is a former player of mine, and I’ve never lost to a former player before.

Who’s the coach you fear opposing the most?

Denise Wescott: I don’t really fear opposing any coaches. We can impact the game, but to me you either have the horses or you don’t.

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Denise Wescott: Our conference is definitely one of the weaker ones in the country that has an automatic bid or qualifying bid. I think we’ve gotten a lot stronger though. For us to be playing the MAAC champion, I think we’re moving up in the world. I’m hoping some of the top teams in our conference can start going over and playing the teams in the America East and the conferences that are in mid-range and that have automatic bids.

What’s your funniest recruiting story?

Denise Wescott: We have a girl from Texas that just looked us up and started coming to camps and everything. Her father is really racking up the frequent flier miles.

Give us your feedback on any rules changes you think are good or bad for 2009.

Denise Wescott: The biggest impact from some of the rule changes lately have been how we get yellow and red cards and how we come off the field and how we play short.

Are there changes you’d like to see?

Denise Wescott: I’d like to see a shooting space, three seconds and dangerous shot on the goalie go away. We pad the goalies well enough that those rules should not come into play anymore.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Denise Wescott: It’s a hotbed. I think it has the most numbers and most quality players and is the most important part of the country.

Where’s the farthest you gone to get a recruit?

Denise Wescott: I’ve gone overseas since I do a lot of work on the international level. I’ll go anywhere to find that diamond in the rough or the hidden gem that nobody knows about because that’s what we need to bring in here. Finding quality players that nobody has really seen that much will help us.

Do you do a summer camp?

Denise Wescott: We have the Rapid Fire Summer Camp here at the Mount. We have a camp for players ages 9-14 and one for ages 15-17. They run at the same time on July 8-11 this year.

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if she wants to play in college?

Denise Wescott: I think this whole recruiting thing just totally needs to be revamped. I don’t think it’s about the individual finding the right space anymore. I think it’s more about us attacking them at an early age, getting to them before they can really make an educated decision about where they really want to be. I think if they plan to go to a couple of tournaments at colleges over the summer to be seen, then that’s enough. The rest should be swimming, having fun and maybe even playing some other sports.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Denise Wescott: Absolutely. I think basketball players are great players to bring in because of their foot skills. I’m a fan of multi-sport athletes and I also think that helps so you don’t have as much burnout. I see a lot of dropout or transfers from lacrosse. I think the reason why they’re doing that is because they’re burnt out. They got recruited so early and they made decisions so early because they were afraid to lose a scholarship. They thought by seventh grade they had to pick one sport to be seen by colleges. And then they get burnt out. It’s a shame because at the end of the day it should be fun.

Who were your influences in coaching?

Denise Wescott: I look to just about everybody, but my father coached and he was probably my first and biggest influence in coaching. I just had some great high school coaches. Sue Tyler, who I played for at Maryland and worked for, was just a great mentor. I take a lot of ideas from all the coaches here at the Mount. I love working with the men’s basketball team. I think [men's basketball coach] Milan (Brown) brings in lots of great energy and fun. They are a very up-tempo defensive team that gets a lot of points on the board from their defense and I’ve watched how they coach.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Denise Wescott: I don’t care, but I would rather be the one with possession of the ball. I never worried about that stuff. I don’t care if you’re the underdog or favorite. That kind of stuff doesn’t matter to me.

Do your players see you as a friend, mother figure, teacher or boss?

Denise Wescott: I would say mentor, teacher and boss. I’m tough on them. My expectations are high. I think a little bit more boss along with the teacher. I mean I use comedy once in a while, but I’m definitely not their friend. Sometimes I’m their worst enemy.

What’s the most important trait of a great player?

Denise Wescott: Well, I love coaching heart. One of my most favorite sayings is “hard work beats talent and talent doesn’t work hard”. A kid that has a lot of heart and a great work ethic will be a champion, and will be a great player.

More lacrosse Q&As:

• Stevenson women's coach Kathy Railey

• Stevenson women's coach Kathy Railey

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Categories: Q&As

March 4, 2009

Q&A with Washington College women's coach Julika Blankenship

Julika Blankenship is Washington College's interim women's lacrosse coach after serving as an assistant for the past three seasons while earning a master's degree in psychology.

A native of nearby Crumpton, Blankenship played her high school lacrosse at Queen Anne's County High School and then Kent County High School. She went on to star at Gettysburg College, where she finished her career as the all-time leader in both points (309) and assists (160). As a senior captain in 2004, the first team All-American and ECAC Southern Player of the Year led the Bullets to their third consecutive Centennial Conference Championship and an NCAA Division III quarterfinal appearance.

Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted before the season. The Shorewomen are 1-0 with a win over Frostburg.

How is your preseason progressing?

Julika Blankenship: Preseason is great so far. The team has come in the best shape they have been in my four years working with them and this is my first year as the head coach.

What are your specific goals for preseason?

Julika Blankenship: To make the Centennial Conference tournament.

Give us a rundown of your probable starting personnel for 2009.

Julika Blankenship: On attack we have senior Suzie Jakub, who is our most talented attacker and was our leading goalscorer last season. She is great at getting open in the eight and has an incredibly quick finish.

Sarah Cannon will be our feeder and will be a huge threat behind the cage. Sam Ohrem is stepping into a starting position and we will look to her for strong 1-v-1 play from the top.

Brittany Lambert will lead our midfield after a breakout season last year. Brittany is our vocal leader on the field and very reliable in the defensive end as well as in transition. Liz Cumberpatch is our strongest offensive midfielder. She possesses an incredible face dodge and her stick is very sharp. Brooke Paulshock and Rachel Bartee, two freshmen, will see immediate time and will be relied on heavily defensively but also will be used in the offensive unit as go-to players.

Carly Gardner has earned a starting spot and will be the head of the defense. Freshmen Ally Yawman is our best 1-v-1 defender and will most likely be asked to mark the opponents’ top low attacker. In goal, it’s a battle. Returner Amber Madore and junior Tara Hart, who took some time away from the goal, will battle for the start.

Are there any other battles going on for key positions?

Julika Blankenship: Offensively, junior Allie Hanzsche will battle with two freshmen, Kallie Parrish and Liza Twilley, for the spot. Defensively, senior Sarah Pearce is giving the defenders a run as she is improving her 1-v-1 defense every day.

How will the personality of this 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Julika Blankenship: The 2009 squad is the fastest team I have seen at WAC in four years and they are very confident ball handlers.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Julika Blankenship: Brittany Lambert is a very vocal, athletic and strong player. Suzie Jakub is a goalscorer who leads by example and keeps the offensive unit organized. Allie Hanzsche keeps the whole team together. She is the one we turn to for basically EVERYTHING and she motives and encourages the team with her positive attitude.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Julika Blankenship: We are working the most on our team defense and stopping the break on transition.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Julika Blankenship: Yes, we could potentially start four or five freshmen. Brooke Paulshock, Rachel Bartee and Ally Yawman will make an immediate impact for us. Brooke and Rachel will start in the midfield. Both of these players are small and very quick with great 1-v-1 skills both offensively and defensively. Yawman is our smartest, calmest defender.

Who's your hardest shooter?

Julika Blankenship: Rachel Bartee or Sarah Cannon

Best stickhandler?

Julika Blankenship: Liz Cumberpatch

Fastest middie?

Julika Blankenship: Rachel Bartee or Brittany Lambert

Toughest D?

Julika Blankenship: Brooke Paulshock

Unsung hero?

Julika Blankenship: Ally Yawman

Surprise player?

Julika Blankenship: Jamie Jones, a midfielder that probably will be first off the bench.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Julika Blankenship: Speed, desire and passion.

Are you missing anyone with injuries?

Julika Blankenship: Suzie Jakub, our leading attacker, is struggling with a back injury and isn’t capable of playing a full game.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Julika Blankenship: I am very fortunate to have a diverse staff. Lisa Valentine joins us this year from Maryland and she has brought a wealth of knowledge and her experience with such a successful program has helped to bring diversity to our attack. She works closely with the team on stickwork and shooting. Phil Schuman is our goalie coach and he does a lot of work with our defense. He does a lot of individual work with the players and it’s obvious that their 1-v-1 defensive play has improved.

How strong are your seniors?

Julika Blankenship: My two leading scorers are very good and both have made all-conference recognition. My third senior is fighting for a starting spot on defense and she is very talented.

How mature is the 2009 team?

Julika Blankenship: We are VERY young team and I will be starting 19 underclassmen. But they are a very experienced group.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Julika Blankenship: Ursinus, McDaniel, Rowan, Dickinson -- all teams that in past years have beat us. We have closed the gap recently and are ready to take the next step. Gettysburg is my alma mater, so naturally I look forward to that game and showing them how far we have come as a program in four years.

Who's the coach you fear opposing the most?

Julika Blankenship: Carol Cantele. I wouldn’t say I fear her. I just want to be able to produce a great strategy, like she does, and be able to counterattack anything she throws at us. She is known for having a very disciplined squad and having many different tools.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Julika Blankenship: There are sooooooo many good programs!

Do you do a summer camp?

Julika Blankenship: My assistant and I have just started Shore Shot Lacrosse Inc. and we are hosting a camp at WAC July 23-26.

How many camps should a kid play in the summers if she wants to play in college?

Julika Blankenship: The more lacrosse experience, the better. They will get seen regardless. There are so many opportunities these days.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Julika Blankenship: Kids that have played basketball in high school always prove to be smart defensively for me. I like kids that are used to being active.

Who were your influences in coaching?

Julika Blankenship: My dad. He’s a student of the game. My college coach, Carol Cantele, is someone that aspire to be like.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Julika Blankenship: Favorite.

Do your players see you as a friend, mother figure, teacher or boss?

Julika Blankenship: A teacher or boss.

What's the most important trait of a great player?

Julika Blankenship: Dedication and passion.

More lacrosse Q&As:

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Categories: Q&As

March 3, 2009

Q&A with Stevenson women's coach Kathy Railey

Kathy Railey is not only the head coach of the Stevenson University women’s lacrosse team.

She also coaches the field hockey team and is an associate athletic director and the senior women's administrator at Stevenson. She came to Stevenson four years ago (it was Villa Julie then) after a very successful five-year coaching stint at Eastern Connecticut State University. She got her start in coaching as an assistant at McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) and Goucher College. She is from Baltimore originally, playing at Loch Raven High School. She then attended Gettysburg College, where she was a four-year letterwinner and a team captain in both field hockey and lacrosse.

In 2008, Railey led the Mustangs to a record of 12-5 and 3-4 in the Capital Athletic Conference. Twelve wins is a record for the most wins in a season by the Stevenson women’s team.

Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted before the season. The Mustangs are 2-1 with wins over York (Pa.) and Marymount (Va.) and a loss to Salisbury.

How has the preseason gone?

Kathy Railey: Very well. The girls are in shape, so our injuries are few and our level of practice is very competitive.

What are your specific goals for preseason?

Kathy Railey: Offensively, I have a very young attacking unit this year -- two sophomores and two freshmen. I am hoping to get them seasoned quickly. Defensively, I am trying to implement a new style of defense. In the cage, we have two new goal keepers and one that was our reserve last year. Bringing them along quickly has been our goal.

Give us a preview of your probable starting personnel for 2009:

Kathy Railey: On attack we’ll have Lisa Baker, Megan Weiss, Kirstin Gancarz and Kelli Battista. At the midfield are Lauren Zegowitz, Mandi Carr and Kristyna Hnizda. On defense we have Tricia Kauffman, Jessica Dixon, Brittany Hilton and Sarah Pincus. In goal are Jenny Schroeder and Devan Malone.

Are there any battles going on for key positions?

Kathy Railey: The goalkeeper position is a battle. They play very differently, one aggressive, one conservative. Both are athletic, both have about the same amount of experience.

How will the personality of this 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Kathy Railey: It doesn't differ much. We have had the same leadership for years on this team. I think we are more goal-oriented and the small taste of success last year has made us very, very hungry.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Kathy Railey: Mandi Carr is the best practice player. She is intense, very fit and has been starting since she was a freshman. Lauren Zegowitz is our most well-rounded player. She is fast and aggressive and leads by example. Jessica Dixon is our vocal leader. She is intense and has so much fun on the field it is contagious.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Kathy Railey: Our young offense is the biggest question mark. How will they perform and will they control the tempo of the game well? We have better athletes than we have ever had on the field this year. We are amazingly fast. However, this is an offense that is unproven.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Kathy Railey: Kirstin Gancarz is an amazing presence on the field. She is fast, aggressive and has a wonderfully powerful shot. Sarah Pincus is a smart defender and comes to us with great fundamentals. Kelli Battista has an amazing shot as well, her speed is unmatched at this level of play and she is a natural athlete. Jenny Schroeder has been very solid in the cage in the preseason.

Who's your hardest shooter?

Kathy Railey: Kristyna Hnizda

Best stickhandler?

Kathy Railey: Lauren Zegowitz

Fastest middie?

Kathy Railey: Lauren Zegowitz

Toughest defender?

Kathy Railey: Tricia Kauffman

Unsung hero?

Kathy Railey: Mandi Carr

Surprise player?

Kathy Railey: Kirstin Gancarz and Kelli Battista

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Kathy Railey: Quickness and aggressiveness.

Are you missing anyone with injuries?

Kathy Railey: We are missing an amazing freshman who tore her ACL duirng field hockey practice in the fall, Lauren Wynne. We are unsure if she will be back this season.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Kathy Railey: We are so fortunate this year. I have Erika Blozie, a fantastic goalie from Eastern Connecticut. She has made a huge difference in taking what could have been a problem of three young keepers into a strength of three competitive goalies vying for a starting role.

How strong are your seniors?

Kathy Railey: Very strong. Mandi Carr, Jess Dixon and Tricia Kauffman make for three very experienced players defensively in the 7 v 7.

How mature is the 20090 team?

Kathy Railey: It’s a mixed bag for us in 2009. I feel confident in the maturity of our defense and midfield, yet excited and tense about our young attacking unit. I have spent the last several years coaching a disciplined attack, where speed was not necessarily an asset we had. Now, I have this incredibly athletic attack who are young, but there is amazing potential here.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season?

Kathy Railey: Salisbury, Mary Washington, Catholic and St. Mary's. We intend to take down a few top twenty teams this year :)

Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Kathy Railey: Salisbury. They are good at making adjustments during the game. The good news is, I think they will struggle against the kind of defense we will be playing this year and I think they lost some key leadership to graduation.

Who's the opposing coach you fear most?

Kathy Railey: I do not fear any coach, but I really would like to beat Mary Washington this year. I always feel we match well with them ability-wise. I just can't seem to get the win. That is a hurdle I look to get over in 2009.

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Kathy Railey: Very strong.

What's your funniest recruiting story?

Kathy Railey: I once told a field hockey recruit in the fall of her senior year in high school (who happened to also play softball) that playing softball was too boring for her personality and I thought she should play lacrosse in her senior year in high school so that she could play both sports for me. "Softball is a lifetime sport," I told her. "You have the rest of your life to play that. Play lacrosse!" She was unbelievably strong and fast on the field hockey field, a "bull in a china shop" kind of kid. She had never picked up a lacrosse stick in her life. She came to play for me and ended up breaking nearly all the scoring records at ECSU in lacrosse and having numerous honors (I know she was at least a Regional All-American in both sports). I still tease her about softball all the time.

Give us your feedback on any rules changes you think are good or bad for 2009?

Kathy Railey: I am on the NCAA Rules Committee, so I think all the changes are well thought out and will work to improve the safety of the game. It is important that we hold true to the tradition of women's lacrosse and improving the safety of our game.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Kathy Railey: Still very, very strong. It is the strongest area in the country.

Where's the farthest you gone to get a recruit?

Kathy Railey: Hawaii, Colorado and California.

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if she wants to play in college?

Kathy Railey: I have two recruits this year who are remarkable athletes. The only reason I have them is that they did not go to camp. They played multiple sports in high school. No family should ever financially strap themselves due to camp/club pressures.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Kathy Railey: Yes! The best lacrosse players I have ever coached have been multi-sport athletes. If a lacrosse recruit also plays basketball, I want her!

Who were your influences in coaching?

Kathy Railey: My father, Guy Railey, longtime coach in Baltimore County in football and baseball. Diane George, my high school basketball coach, also a well-known Baltimore County coach :)

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Kathy Railey: Underdog

Do your players see you as a friend, mother figure, teacher or boss?

Kathy Railey: Teacher

What's the most important trait of a great player?

Kathy Railey: Commitment

More lacrosse Q&As:

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Categories: Q&As

February 24, 2009

Q&A with Salisbury coach Jim Berkman

It is impossible to list the accomplishments of Jim Berkman during his tenure at Salisbury. Consecutive wins, appearances in NCAA tournaments, NCAA championships, conference titles and every other statistical category are dominated by this son of Watertown, N.Y. And his 21-year-old son, Kylor, a senior midfielder at Salisbury, is the reining National Player of the Year, while his daughter, Keli, is starting her collegiate career at Mount St. Mary’s. Jim was a superstar athlete at St. Lawrence and is still known to be the most competitive person on a pick-up basketball court or track on campus.

Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted before the season. The Sea Gulls defeated Scranton, 24-6, on Feb. 15, and beat Lynchburg, 18-6, on Feb. 21. They will face Wesley Wednesday at
home.

What’s your probable starting personnel for 2009.

Jim Berkman: Our attack is Jake Delillo, Mike Winter, Stephen Krasco and Matt Cannone. Our mids are Kylor Berkman, Mike Von Kamecke and Patrick Bonanno. The defense of Collin Tokosch, Kevin Maynard, Jeff Breeding and Connor Burgasser is anchored by Johnny Rodriguez in goal.

Are there any battles going on for key positions?

Jim Berkman: The freshman Canonne is pushing the attack, giving us four solid attackmen.

How will the personality of the 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Jim Berkman: A little young at defense this year, and great depth at midfield.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Jim Berkman: Berkman’s a senior. He’s a leader in every way, by example and verbally. Tim O’Branski’s a senior. He’s the hardest worker on the team. And Maynard, another senior, gives us leadership at defense.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Jim Berkman: We need leadership at attack.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Jim Berkman: Canonne from the Long Island Empire Team, also [Sean] Hickey on attack. Sam Bradman’s a three-time [high school] All-American. Tim Lum at midfield, Evan Hockel at long stick midfield and Kyle Gallagher on faceoffs.

Who's your hardest shooter?

Jim Berkman: Vom Kamecke.

Best stick handler?

Jim Berkman: Berkman – shooter and handler with both hands.

Fastest middie?

Jim Berkman: Will Poletis.

Toughest D-man?

Jim Berkman: Maynard.

Unsung hero?

Jim Berkman: Ryan Finch is a faceoff man and all-around utility player.

Surprise player?

Jim Berkman: Winter on attack.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Jim Berkman: Midfield.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Jim Berkman: I’m involved with everything. Coach Dave Dobbins handles the offense, Ben Sandlin the defense and Nick Fiorentino works with the goalies.

How strong are your seniors?

Jim Berkman: It’s a good group led by reigning National Player of the Year, Kylor Berkman.

How mature is the 2009 team?

Jim Berkman: We have veterans at every position but the best freshman class in a long time is pushing for playing time.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Jim Berkman: Every game, but especially all NCAA tournament teams and ranked teams on our extremely competitive schedule.

Who's the coach you fear opposing the most?

Jim Berkman: I fear no one. I look forward to playing the best teams in the country and in the South Region.

Are there transfers that change the make-up of your 2009 team?

Jim Berkman: Matt Cowley, All-American, great all-around midfielder who is playing awesome at defense. Also, Johnny Rodriguez, a transfer from Limestone is a great addition in the cage. Kevin Finn from Stony Brook is a big athletic midfielder.

How strong is your conference (Capital Athletic Conference) in 2009?

Jim Berkman: We have two top-five rated teams in the country, and every team is vastly improved.

Do you like the NCAA tournament in New England?

Jim Berkman: It was great in Boston last year. I like the idea of spreading the excitement of the game around the country.

Would you like Baltimore, New Jersey, Denver or New England to host in the future?

Jim Berkman: As the game increases in popularity, it would be great to see it anywhere where the city would embrace the event.

What do you think of the stick rule change that is coming for 2010?

Jim Berkman: I don’t think it will change the game on sticks at all. The advances the players have made in this area will still make it difficult dislodge the ball.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Jim Berkman: Baltimore’s as strong as ever, but there are great players everywhere.

Where's the farthest you gone to get a recruit?

Jim Berkman: California and Florida.

Do you do a summer camp?

Jim Berkman: I have a small teaching camp in Salisbury and a team teaching camp in Atlanta.

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if he wants to play in college?

Jim Berkman: I like the team (high school or club) camp idea. A player’s strengths are highlighted by coaches trying to compete.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Jim Berkman: Yes, we are always looking for people who love to compete all the time!

Who were your influences in coaching?

Jim Berkman: Don Leet at St. Lawrence University, Hank Janczyk at Gettysburg and Matt Branski and Lou Kibling of Watertown High School.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Jim Berkman: Favorite.

Do your players see you as a friend, father figure, teacher or boss?

Jim Berkman: Hopefully all of these as their seasons and careers progress.

What's the most important trait of a great player?

Jim Berkman: A competitor, he wants to compete daily, wants to improve and constantly pursues his improvement.

Photo courtesy of Salisbury University.

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Categories: Q&As

February 23, 2009

Q&A with Goucher women's coach Katie Trainor

Katie Trainor is the women's lacrosse coach at Goucher College. In 2008 her squad was 6-10 overall, but 3-1 in-conference, losing to top-seeded Catholic, 21-10, in the Landmark Conference championship game. Her team placed five players on the 2008 All-Landmark Conference team. Trainor is from Rye, N.H., and played high school lacrosse at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine. She played her college lacrosse at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, graduating in 2003. She was an assistant at Goucher for a year before taking the head coaching job in 2006. In her first two seasons, she led Goucher to the conference semifinals and the final.

Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted before the season.

How is the preseason progressing?

Katie Trainor: Our preseason is going very well so far. We’ve had to be somewhat flexible due to the winter weather that came with the start of our season. We’ve been working very hard to improve each day.

What are your specific goals for the preseason?

Katie Trainor: One of our main goals for our preseason is to get everyone on the same page. Goucher has a very long winter break (1 1/2 months) so when we get back we really have to make up for some lost time and get right into training for the season that lies ahead. Preseason is a time when we stress the fundamentals of the game, so as we move forward, all of the players have the same strong foundation to build upon.

Give us a rundown of your probable starting lineup for 2009.

Katie Trainor: At this point with only one week of practice, the starting positions are all up for grabs.

How will the personality of this 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Katie Trainor: We graduated three seniors from the 2008 team and while we will miss them dearly, a majority of our talent returns and the 2009 squad is as energetic, motivated, competitive and hard-working [as any] squad that I have coached.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Katie Trainor: Our team voted for senior tri-captains: Brittany Foster, Jenny Lucey and Marlo Tersigni. These three players represent the heart and soul of our team. They are great role models for their teammates and really embody the qualities of captains (dedication, enthusiasm, competitiveness, compassion, etc). They hold themselves and their teammates to high standards on and off the field and make sure that our team is accountable for everything we do.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Katie Trainor: I do not believe we have a biggest weakness. While we may have areas that need improvement, every team does. I believe that successful teams must continually seek to improve over the course of the season in order to reach goals and have success in tournament play.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Katie Trainor: I think our work ethic is definitely a strength. Our players work hard and push each other every day and it is exciting to see how much we have improved in only one week of preseason.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Katie Trainor: I am thankful to have two wonderful assistants! Stephanie Janice is our graduate assistant coach and she is involved in every aspect of the program (recruiting, scouting, player development, etc). She is a 2007 graduate of Johns Hopkins and is an energetic, knowledgeable coach who has so much to offer to our program. Our second assistant, Dan Branigan, is entering his second year with the program. While he primarily works with the goalkeepers, he also assists in practice planning, game management and player development. It is great to be surrounded by such enthusiastic coaches who work hard to see our team succeed.

How strong are your seniors?

Katie Trainor: The seniors are the core of the team. They have set the tone for our program since the day they stepped on this campus and they have just continued to grow as students, lacrosse players and young women. I couldn’t be more proud of everything they have accomplished up until now and I look forward to more great things from them this spring.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Katie Trainor: All of them. Each game is a big challenge as we are consistently playing strong and talented teams. We are playing some teams this year that we have not played recently and that is always fun. Obviously, league games are always challenging.

Who’s the coach you fear opposing the most?

Katie Trainor: I do not fear any opposing coach; rather, I respect them. We all work very hard to prepare and mentor our teams and it is not easy bringing together a group of 18-21 year olds!

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Katie Trainor: Very strong. Many of our Landmark Conference games in 2008 were decided by less than three goals. Each game was hard fought and displayed the level of talent that our programs have. I look forward for another great year of lacrosse in 2009.

Give us your feedback on any rules changes you think are good or bad for 2009.

Katie Trainor: I think the rule changes are fine. Rule changes always require an adjustment period for coaches, players and refs, but I am confident that these changes were made with the best intentions for the progress of our game. The stick-check rule this year will be interesting as the refs will now perform at least two stick checks per half. I will be interested to see how this affects the game during the season.

Are there changes you’d like to see?

Katie Trainor: No major changes.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Katie Trainor: Maryland is a hotbed for talented lacrosse recruits and recruiting in this area continues to be very strong. With lacrosse exploding nationwide, the talent pool is starting to grow and we’re seeing athletic and talented players rise from coast to coast. It is nice that the recruiting is becoming more diverse and that players all across the country are getting the opportunity to play at the collegiate level.

Where’s the farthest you gone to get a recruit?

Katie Trainor: We have players from all over the country. While I did not get an opportunity to meet with them all in their hometowns, we have players from as far away as California, Maine and New Hampshire. Our campus is great because we attract students from all across the country. When it comes to recruiting, seriously interested student-athletes typically come to campus to visit, but my staff and I do actively go to recruiting tournaments and camps across the country.

How many camps should a kid play in during the summer if she wants to play in college?

Katie Trainor: I think that is a decision that a player should make with her parents. Obviously camps are expensive and you need to do your research as to what is the purpose of the camp. If you want to be seen by a certain coach or spend time on a specific campus, then you should go to a camp at that specific college if it is offered. I do not think that players need to be participating in camps all summer -- that is an expensive choice and I am a firm believer that the students these days need a bit more free time and fun in the summer. Too many are spending every waking minute of the summer being shuffled to and from lacrosse tournaments and camps, causing burnout.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Katie Trainor: Absolutely. I think that multi-sport high school athletes have a lot to offer. It’s important not to specialize too early as it promotes a higher burnout rate and also creates situations of muscle overuse. Single-sport athletes can get sick of the sport when they get to college. Participating in multiple sports in high school is a great way to increase one’s overall athleticism in an organized, competitive environment.

Who were your influences in coaching?

Katie Trainor: I have been lucky enough to have been coached by wonderful individuals in high school and in college. Heidi Godomsky, my coach at Colby, was a great resource and still is. My experiences at Colby were one of the reasons I wanted to stay involved in college lacrosse. Also at Colby, our assistant coach, Tom Austin, who was also the head football coach. While his primary sport was not women’s lacrosse, he was one of the more sincere, enthusiastic, positive and caring coaches I have ever had. My parents definitely also influenced my coaching style. Our program is a family and we hold ourselves to high standards, many of which I learned from my mom and dad. They always encouraged me to be the best student, athlete and person I could be and that is really something I try to stress to my girls. They have so many wonderful opportunities and they really should make the most out of them.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Katie Trainor: I try not to think about being an underdog or favorite because on any given day you have to go out there and compete at your best. I certainly never emphasize that with the team. More importantly, I stress that our team needs to focus on ourselves and our game so we are prepared to succeed in that big game.

Do your players see you as a friend, mother figure, teacher or boss?

Katie Trainor: Our program is like a family here on campus and it is important that they see the coaching staff as all of the above.

What’s the most important trait of a great player?

Katie Trainor: Personally I think it's competitiveness. If a player wants something bad enough, she will do whatever it takes to accomplish it.

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February 22, 2009

Q&A with Hood College women's coach Molly Hesterberg

Molly Hesterberg took on a tough assignment in 2008. She coached Hood College’s women's lacrosse team in their inaugural season in the Capital Athletic Conference. Her Blazers won four games, lost 12 and went 0-7 in the daunting CAC. Along the way, she garnered the praise of more than a few opposing coaches who think she’s on her way to leading Hood to a successful future.

Hesterberg is no stranger to success and hard work. She was a four-year starting defender and two-time captain at Western Connecticut State, winning four straight Little East Conference tournaments before graduating in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in justice and law administration. She went right into coaching and teaching, leading the Mercy High School lacrosse team in Middletown, Conn., working as a substitute teacher and tutor for Windsor Public School, as a youth worker for Plainville Group Home and volunteering as a coach in the Special Olympics while earning a master's degree in criminal justice at American International College.

After moving to Baltimore, she served as a juvenile caseworker for the Choice Program and worked as a forensic service coordinator for the developmentally disabled at Service Coordination, Inc. She is engaged to be married to Marvin Evans in October and lives in Parkville.

Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted before the season. Since then, Hood recorded its first-ever CAC win, a 14-13 victory over Wesley. In its second game of the year, Hood fell to No. 3 Salisbury, 21-0.

How is the preseason progressing?

Molly Hesterberg: Much better than last year. We have some real good talented athletes. Last year we only had 13 girls and we're facing the toughest conference in the nation. We have built our program since last year and every year we can only get better. This preseason we are getting in much better shape and are getting stronger!

Give us a preview of your probable starting personnel for 2009.

Molly Hesterberg: On offense, our best players are Kelsey Blackwell, Jen Graham and Britney Colandreo. At midfield, we’ll feature Brandy Noel, Kati Vu, Lauren Perzan, Maria Moss and Sarah Balukoff. Our defense is led by Julia Banks, Jayme Frost and Abby Dyjack. In goal, it’s still a toss up! We have two goalies fighting for a starting spot.

How will the personality of the 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Molly Hesterberg: Fortunately, we only lost two players last year -- a goalie and a field player. We pretty much have our whole squad back with [an] additional six recruits. We are stronger then last year, and like I've stated, we are building [a program]. We are a young team, mostly freshmen, sophomores and juniors. We have a lot of time left with these players and have room to improve each year. We just have to be patient.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Molly Hesterberg: Brandy Noel, Britney Colandreo, Sarah Balukoff, and Lauren Perzan. They lead by example. They contribute both on and off the field. Brandy was our MVP last year and pushes the team on the field. Sarah, Lauren and Brit are new captains this year.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Molly Hesterberg: Kati Vu from Baltimore and Julia Banks from Francis Scott Key. Both [will be] huge contributors for us this year. Banks is a defender who is loud and sees the field well. She was all-conference in high school. Kati is a middie who has speed and toughness and a good shot. These girls will impress you this year and the years to come!

Who's your hardest shooter?

Molly Hesterberg: Kelsey Blackwell.

Best stick handler?

Molly Hesterberg: Brandy Noel.

Fastest middie?

Molly Hesterberg: Kati Vu.

Toughest D?

Molly Hesterberg: Jayme Frost [and] Julia Banks.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Molly Hesterberg: We have a stronger defense this year, we have a solid starting lineup and also key players coming off the bench. We didn't have that last year. My players last year had to stick it out the whole game with no subs! We couldn't even risk having an injury because we'd be man-down. My first season with this team we only won four games. I am looking to improve our wins every year. We are much stronger, faster, and more aggressive than last year. Once again, our conference is tough but the teams we play can only make our squad better.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Molly Hesterberg: Kelly Buikus will be working with the defense and helping out with recruiting. Tammy Butler will be assisting with the goalies.

How strong are your seniors?

Molly Hesterberg: Strong. I only have one though -- Brit Colandreo. She has really matured as a lacrosse player and sees the field much better.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season?

Molly Hesterberg: Wesley (our opening game) and Shenandoah (out of conference). We lost to them in triple overtime and lost by one last season.

Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Molly Hesterberg: We are a young program and new to the CAC. It’s our second season in the conference. We play [the] top-ranked teams in the nation. Salisbury and St. Mary’s will be our toughest challenges. I'm glad we get to play such great teams. It will only make us better as a program.

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Molly Hesterberg: Our conference is VERY strong!

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Molly Hesterberg: Very strong. I enjoy recruiting in the Baltimore area.

Where's the farthest you gone to get a recruit?

Molly Hesterberg: Connecticut -- my home state!

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if she wants to play in college?

Molly Hesterberg: At least two.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Molly Hesterberg: Yes! I love having basketball players! Great defenders!

Who were your influences in coaching?

Molly Hesterberg: Denna Grasso, my college coach, and Geno Auriemma, (the women's basketball coach) at UConn.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Molly Hesterberg: Tough one! I love when the underdogs come back, though.

Do your players see you as a friend, mother figure, teacher or boss?

Molly Hesterberg: Hopefully a teacher, mother figure and counselor! I get to hear all their problems!

What's the most important trait of a great player?

Molly Hesterberg: Passion and heart!

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February 18, 2009

Q&A with Towson women's coach Missy Doherty

Missy Doherty's Towson Tigers have played in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in four of the past five seasons, won two conference championships and went to the NCAA tournament twice over the past four years. In 2008, Doherty and her team had a record-setting season with a 13-6 record and a conference title.

Doherty was an assistant at Princeton for the 2002 and 2003 NCAA championship seasons after coaching at Brown and Vanderbilt. She’s a 1997 graduate of the University of Maryland, where she helped the Terrapins win three NCAA titles. At Maryland, the teams she played on compiled a 68-2 record, including an NCAA-record 50-game winning streak.

Towson will open the regular season March 1 at Mount St. Mary's.

What are your specific goals for the preseason?

Missy Doherty: We want to finalize our defensive and offensive programs, and continue to improve fitness and stick work.

Are there any battles going on for key positions?

Missy Doherty: We have three great goalies, and only one spot. So this is a really important decision. But we have great athletes all over our team so each position is really being contested.

How will the personality of the 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Missy Doherty: We have a lot of leadership coming back. We are also coming in as defending CAA champions, so this puts a little extra pressure on us every game.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Missy Doherty: We have incredible captains. Hillary Fratzke, Britt Woodfield and Julie Ondrako. They are great people, players, and role models for our younger athletes. We are looking forward to having their leadership back on the field this year.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team, or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Missy Doherty: I think we have to make an effort not to take any team for granted. We have a tough schedule, so we have to focus on each team and be ready to bring our best to each game.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Missy Doherty: We have Jackie LaMonica on attack who is a fast and talented attacker. Also, one of our goalies, Mary Teeters, is a freshman competing for an attacking position.

Who’s your hardest shooter?

Missy Doherty: Nikki Marcinik.

Best stick handler?

Missy Doherty: Lauren McAfee.

Fastest middie?

Missy Doherty: Fratzke.

Toughest defender?

Missy Doherty: Megan Mullis.

Unsung hero?

Missy Doherty: Woodfield.

Surprise player?

Missy Doherty: Jess Dunn.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Missy Doherty: We have a lot of leadership returning, especially in key positions. We have a great camaraderie among the team, and we are looking forward to the challenge of defending our title.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Missy Doherty: Sonia LaMonica, who is currently a member of the Australian national team, will compete in Prague in the World Cup this summer. She is our offensive coordinator and has helped improve our team's stickwork. Katie Doolittle heads up our defense, and Harry Alford, a former Maryland goalkeeper, is helping out with our goalies.

How strong are your seniors?

Missy Doherty: Four of our seniors have been starters since their freshman year. And all of our seniors contributed greatly to our success last year and they will continue to do so.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Missy Doherty: We have a tough schedule, but I love it. In March, we compete against some of our local rivals like Johns Hopkins and Loyola. Then, in April, our CAA battle begins, which is a mini-season in itself. Every game on our schedule this year is going to be a challenge, but this is the best time of the year for the players and coaches.

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Missy Doherty: We are extremely strong. We always have two to four teams in the top 20, so you can be guaranteed a great game [in] every CAA matchup.

What’s your funniest recruiting story?

Missy Doherty: I don't like blueberries, and for a home visit one mother made a fantastic blueberry pie. I sat there and ate it -- and I'm sure it was very good to the blueberry lover -- but it was tough for me to get through it.

Give us your feedback on any rules changes you think are good or bad for 2009.

Missy Doherty: I like all of our rule changes. I'm on the rules committee!

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Missy Doherty: Maryland/Baltimore has always been the strongest area to recruit from. It has been great to see the talent grow and get better every year.

Where’s the farthest you have gone to get a recruit?

Missy Doherty: We have an athlete from Ohio, and a few from the Syracuse area.

Do you do a summer camp?

Missy Doherty: Yes! July 14-17. For more information, e-mail me at mdoherty@towson.edu.

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if she wants to play in college?

Missy Doherty: If she has a particular school she is interested in, going to camp is a great way of getting to know the players, coaches and school. I would say one or two camps, as well as competing on a summer club team. I just started coaching a club team, so if any youth players are interested, please contact me!

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Missy Doherty: Yes, you can learn a lot by playing other sports!

Who were your influences in coaching?

Missy Doherty: My teammates at Maryland were actually very encouraging and supportive when I mentioned to them I might want to get into coaching. Also, Gary Gait was one of my coaches and was a great influence.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Missy Doherty: Underdog.

What’s the most important trait of a great player?

Missy Doherty: Work ethic and speed.

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Q&A with Mount St. Mary's men's coach Tom Gravante

Tom Gravante is from Camillus, N.Y., where he starred at the fabled West Genesee High School. He was recruited to Hobart by Dave Urick, and they proceeded to win four of Hobart’s 12 straight Division III titles. Gravante is entering his 14th season as the head coach at Mount St. Mary's. He’s a three-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, a Howdy Myers Man of the Year and a Hobart Hall of Fame member. He was one of the best college lacrosse players I ever saw.

Gravante lives in Frederick with his wife of nine years, Nicole, six-year-old son, T.J. and three-year-old daughter, Gabby.

Mount St. Mary's will scrimmage at Gettysburg Sunday before opening the regular season Feb. 24 at Virginia.

What are your goals for the start of the 2009 season?

Tom Gravante: To prepare this team for the Feb. 24 opener vs. No. 2 U.Va. It’s very important to get them "game ready" to play from that day forward.

Give us a preview of your probable starting personnel for 2009.

Tom Gravante: On attack, we may start three freshmen: Jon Lefferts, Cody Lehrer and Mike Adkins. At midfield, we’ll have Geery Grant, Jake Willertz and Kyle Yates. The defense of Brendan Flanagan, Russell Moncure and Matt Nealis will be backed by goalkeeper T.C. DiBartolo.

How will the personality of this team differ from the 2008 squad?

Tom Gravante: The senior leadership is better, yielding an overall better team personality. They are more passionate and their willingness to be "coaching receptive" is tremendous.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Tom Gravante: Geery Grant, Brendan Flanagan, Shaun Moran and Matt Nealis. These young men are able to lead verbally by speaking positively and athletically by playing well, and in my opinion, [they're} ideal captains for any team.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Tom Gravante: We are younger than last year on offense, especially attack, but my staff and I will continue to motivate them positively so they will play mature.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Tom Gravante: As previously mentioned, the entire starting attack, a fourth freshman attackman Christian Kellett [and] several midfielders: Keith McKinley, Jake Willertz, Anthony Golden and Ryan Shewell.

Who’s your hardest shooter?

Tom Gravante: Geery Grant.

Best stick handler?

Tom Gravante: Jon Lefferts.

Fastest middie?

Tom Gravante: Drew Dunn.

Toughest D-man?

Tom Gravante: Matt Nealis.

Unsung hero?

Tom Gravante: Too early to title, but these would be my choices today: Shaun Moran -- returning from a ACL injury -- and Brendan Flanagan -- had a non-cancerous brain tumor removed last fall. Both [are] back at 100 percent and playing well.

Surprise player?

Tom Gravante: Kyle Yates.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Tom Gravante: Athletically, they are stronger overall with more depth in understanding for the game. Their "team personality" is great, better outlook and more passionate about committing themselves to playing well in practice first, so that on game day we will play as we practiced.

Are you missing anyone with injuries?

Tom Gravante: Knock on wood, NO.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants? (it's your chance to brag about them)

Tom Gravante: Roles have changed slightly as I hired an offensive coordinator for the first time in my career: Cory Coffman (Loyola, 2007). Cory has done a great job thus far, [and] he's been able to get this young offense to play faster within the offense, but be more patient.

My other assistants, Scott Plasse (North Carolina State, 1983) and Joe Conner Jr. (Mount St. Mary's, 2007), will coordinate the defense. Defensively, we are very mature and stronger athletically, so my assistants will focus on playing better team and [man down defense], and work on their ability to create more offense for us in transition.

As for myself, I will shadow both sides and continue to work with our F/O middies and No. 1 goalie T.C. DiBartolo. As for bragging about them, I can't do that yet until we accomplish our season goal: get to the MAAC playoffs and settle it from there! Believe me, I really like my staff and would love to brag about them, but it's really important to stay humble as a staff and keep these kids focused on the goal.

How strong are your seniors?

Tom Gravante: I have two seniors and two graduate students, and they are all quality young men. Flanagan, Grant and Moran will all see legit time and are very strong players for us. Our final senior is T.J. Whiting, and he's a complete workhorse for us who leads the underclassmen by example. His play may be limited early, but he may have key roles toward the middle and end of the season.

How mature is the 2009 team?

Tom Gravante: We currently have 19 freshmen out of 44 players, so almost half. However, we are excited and so far team maturity is strong.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Tom Gravante: With how young this team is on paper, I can only answer "all of them" to both questions.

Who’s the coach you fear opposing the most?

Tom Gravante: Coaching is not a game of fear in my opinion, but a game of respect. I have tremendous respect for all the coaches I will face this season, and I look forward to learning from each of them. I feel the learning curve in this great sport is forever.

Are there transfers that change the make-up of your 2009 team?

Tom Gravante: Possibly one: Joe Lehner. He’s a faceoff middie from Herkimer [County Community College]. He's currently our No. 2 faceoff middie.

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Tom Gravante: I think the conference will be stronger than last year, especially with VMI and Manhattan gaining playoff experience.

Do you like the NCAA tournament in New England?

Tom Gravante: I think it's great for the game to move it around, especially to areas that can accommodate families with other attractive venues. That final four weekend has become a huge family event in my opinion, so it's very important to keep the experience attractive and fun for the future youth of this great sport. However, I do believe the NCAA should keep it on the East Coast between New England and Maryland due to the lacrosse population in these areas.

Would you like Baltimore, New Jersey, Denver or New England to host in the future?

Tom Gravante: That's a no brainer. Baltimore.

What’s your funniest recruiting story?

Tom Gravante: This year, I have found bold statements made by parents to be funny. For example, I was at a tournament looking for a player and a parent said, "Coach Gravante, when you find the best player, you have found my son!"

What do you think of the stick rule change that is coming for 2010?

Tom Gravante: Honestly, I have no comment. I'm still looking to purchase a [Brine] Superlight II head!

Are there changes you’d like to see?

Tom Gravante: Yeah, stop making changes! The game is good, it probably has the best continued growth of any sport, so keep it simple with less rule changes so that in the growth areas coaches and players can learn it.

How strong is the Baltimore/Maryland area for recruiting these days?

Tom Gravante: For me, very strong as we have now broken into the MIAA.

Where’s the farthest you’ve gone to get a recruit?

Tom Gravante: California.

Do you do a summer camp?

Tom Gravante: Yes, I have three summer venues that can all be found at www.theelite150.com. Two are high school tournaments in July and one boys day camp (Summer-16 Varsity Tournament, July 17-19; Summer-16 JV Tournament, July 24-26; and the boys day camp, June 29 to July 3).

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if he wants to play in college?

Tom Gravante: There has been tremendous growth in summer lacrosse events, so I would say at least two.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Tom Gravante: Absolutely. I’m always looking for athletes, especially on defense.

Who were your influences in coaching?

Tom Gravante: I was very blessed in my life with great coaching influences in all the sports I participated, but for this game it was coach Mike Messere at upstate New York high school powerhouse West Genesee, and then at Hobart College, coach Dave Urick.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Tom Gravante: I was very blessed in my athletic career to be both and to win at both, but from a professional standpoint, I would rather be the favorite and know that my team has the bigger edge to win, especially for a conference championship.

Do your players see you as a friend, father figure, teacher or boss?

Tom Gravante: I'm hopeful they can see me as all those persons, just as my coaches were to me.

What’s the most important trait of a great player?

Tom Gravante: One, to be coachable and two, to inspire his teammates to be great!

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Categories: Q&As

Q&A with St. Mary's men's coach Chris Hasbrouck

Chris Hasbrouck takes over the reins at St. Mary’s College of Maryland this year after serving as an assistant coach for the past two seasons. Hasbrouck replaces Jayme Block, who coached the Seahawks from 2002 to 2008 before leaving to work in the office of alumni relations and annual giving at Salisbury University. Hasbrouck, originally from Suffern, N.Y., graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in physical education from Salisbury in 1995. He completed his master's in education at Salisbury in 1997, while also serving as an assistant coach with the Sea Gulls. Hasbrouck was the head coach at Limestone for two seasons in between.

St. Mary's opens the season Feb. 25 against Franklin & Marshall at Broadneck High School.

What were your specific goals for starting the season?

Chris Hasbrouck: We have been working extremely hard this season. The team has had a renewed effort in the weight room and our fitness and conditioning are well ahead of last year. We return most of our impact players and brought in a solid class, so we are looking forward to a successful year. Overall, we have greater depth and are more athletic than last year.

How will the personality of this 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Chris Hasbrouck: We are getting back to basics. We are getting away from having so many specialists. We are looking for everyone to be lacrosse players. We expect all of our players to know and understand all aspects of the game. We would like to use our fitness and depth to our advantage.

Are there any freshmen who could have an impact?

Chris Hasbrouck: Currently Bill Scheurer, Mike Mules and Eric Heisner are all playing well and should see time.

Who’s your hardest shooter?

Chris Hasbrouck: Ryan Alexander or Dennis Rosson.

Fastest middie?

Chris Hasbrouck: Taylor Burgdorf.

Toughest D-man?

Chris Hasbrouck: Sean Hatley.

Unsung hero?

Chris Hasbrouck: Marc DiPasquale.

Are you dealing with any injuries heading into the season?

Chris Hasbrouck: Tim Fortner has a torn ACL and Jake Wilhelm is recovering from a hernia.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season?

Chris Hasbrouck: All of the teams on our schedule present many challenges. Our conference (Capital Athletic Conference) is getting stronger each year. Games against Roanoke, Denison, Wooster, Stevenson and Salisbury stand out.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Chris Hasbrouck: With the growth of lacrosse on the high school level you can find excellent players across the country. Maryland has remained near the top for finding solid players and athletes. We currently have players from Massachusetts, Maine, New York/Long Island, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia and obviously a good amount from Maryland.

Who were your influences in coaching?

Chris Hasbrouck: My coach in high school was John Orlando, who was an extremely tough, disciplined individual. Not a lot of gray area with him. You learned that complaining did not help you in any way. Jim Berkman, who I was fortunate enough to work with for 11 seasons at Salisbury, was an excellent role model for me. His preparation for practice and games is second to none and he is an unbelievably competitive individual.

What’s the most important trait of a great player?

Chris Hasbrouck: Mental toughness.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Chris Hasbrouck: The favorite.

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Categories: Q&As

February 15, 2009

Q&A with McDaniel men's coach Matt Hatton

Matt Hatton is beginning his third season at the helm of the McDaniel College men's lacrosse program after being an assistant with the Green Terror for three seasons. He is 13-16 over his first two seasons in the highly competitive Centennial Conference. Coach Hatton is a 2001 graduate of Hobart College, where he played in two NCAA tournaments and won the 2000 Patriot League championship.

Hatton has been married for about four months to his wife, Carol. He attended Corning East High School in New York. Carol is a Catonsville High School and St. Mary’s College of Maryland graduate.

What are your specific goals for the preseason?

Matt Hatton: We would like to get through it healthy first. We would also like to make sure that we are in our best shape so that we can hit the ground running for our first game on Feb. 28 (at home against Moravian).

Give us a preview rundown of your probable starting personnel for 2009.

Matt Hatton: We have battles at every position right now. We do return eight starters from last year, but we like a lot of our younger guys as well. We will have a better handle as to who will play where by the end of next weekend. On attack, Gibbs Preston is a sure thing. The other spots at attack are totally up for grabs at this point. On midfield, Billy Warner and Mike Hatton are in and the third spot is up for grabs. Our D is Jason Stealy, Greg Worcester [and] Casey McLennan. In the goal, Kenny McHugh will start, with a few guys battling for time.

How will the personality of the 2009 team differ from the 2008 squad?

Matt Hatton: I hope that our 2009 team will be much more disciplined than it was in 2008. The guys we have this year are working very hard and I believe that the fact there is competition across the board is a major reason why. It's sink or swim for our guys, and we want to develop a more competitive practice schedule so that when we reach conference play we are ready to go.

Who are your captains and what are their strengths?

Matt Hatton: Billy Warner is not a "rah-rah guy," but leads by example. He is one of our most talented players and a go-to-guy for our offense. Jason Stealy is a four-year starter at defense for us and our best D-man. He’s relatively vocal in getting things done. Matt Daley is one of the hardest workers in practice and in the weight room. He is a vocal leader as well. Kenny McHugh is a calming influence under pressure at most times. He’s also a hard worker who leads by example.

What is the biggest weakness of your 2009 team or the thing you will look to improve over the season before the playoffs?

Matt Hatton: One, we need to stay healthy. Two, we really need to be much more disciplined in what we do on both offense and defense. Our leadership will dictate the success or lack thereof when the dust settles.

Are there any freshmen that will break into the lineup and impress us?

Matt Hatton:We have several freshmen that I think will help us out right away. We have four freshmen attackmen: D.J. Rickels from Boys Latin; Bobby Ward from The Heights School; J.S. Duke from Upper Dublin; and Zach Weeden from The Rivers School. We feel that they can all play at a high level. There will also be a few guys at each of the other positions that will vie for playing time right away.

Who’s your hardest shooter?

Matt Hatton: Mike Hatton.

Best stick handler?

Matt Hatton: Billy Warner.

Fastest middie?

Matt Hatton: Jed Barnes.

Toughest D-man?

Matt Hatton: Matt Mummert.

Unsung hero?

Matt Hatton: Kyle Hadden.

Surprise player?

Matt Hatton: D.J. Rickels.

What is the strength of your 2009 squad?

Matt Hatton: Our seniors and our defense.

Are you missing anyone with injuries?

Matt Hatton: We have about seven regular contributors and starters coming off of season-ending injuries from last year. There are a couple of guys that are still working out the kinks and we hope to have them ready to go by Feb. 28.

How do the coaching roles work in your program? What are the key responsibilities of your assistants?

Matt Hatton: Our assistants have a lot of on-field as well as off-field responsibilities. Brian Chaapel is going into his second season with us and will work very closely with our defense and goalies this year. Jared Nutter joins us for his first season after a highly successful career here at McDaniel. He will be responsible for running our box on game day as well chipping in and working with our middies. All three of us are very active in the recruiting process.

How strong are your seniors?

Matt Hatton: I like to think that our senior class is very strong. Most of our seniors will be key contributors to our program. I am excited to see what these guys are able to do once we get fully cranked up.

How mature is the 2009 team?

Matt Hatton: I think that our team is much more mature than we were last year. However, we still have some growing to do. We lost a lot of tight games last year (eight games by three goals or less, including several one-goal losses) and I am certainly hoping that our guys have learned from the challenges that we faced last year, and that they are hungry to get back out there and get that taste out of their mouths.

Which teams are you most looking forward to playing this season? Which teams provide the biggest challenge?

Matt Hatton: We just can’t wait to get out there and strap it up and play against someone different. Like I said, we cannot wait to get the taste of defeat out of our mouths and we will remember what that feels like as the season progresses. Everyone we play against both in and out of conference is very capable of winning. We are going to take each practice as well as each game, one day at a time.

Who’s the coach you fear opposing the most?

Matt Hatton: The only thing I am concerned with as we move forward is the coach of each of the teams that we face, as we face them. Like I said, one game, one team, and one coach at a time.

Are there transfers that change the make-up of your 2009 team?

Matt Hatton: We have one transfer this year that will help add some depth to our LSM and close defense.

How strong is your conference in 2009?

Matt Hatton: The Centennial Conference is the toughest conference for men’s lacrosse in the entire country bar none. Every team is capable of beating anyone that they play on any given day. Everyone is well coached and comes to play each game in our conference. It is a great challenge and honor to get to compete within our conference and one that I truly hope that our guys take to heart and relish the opportunity. There are no sure things in our conference and I truly believe that it is a great era for Centennial Conference lacrosse.

Do you like the NCAA in New England?
Matt Hatton: It is fine there.

Would you like Baltimore, New Jersey, Denver or New England to host in the future?

Matt Hatton: I would much prefer it in Baltimore in the years to come.

What do you think of the stick rule change that is coming for 2010?

Matt Hatton: The stick rule change will help bring a bit more balance to the great defensive players. Right now, it is almost impossible to get the ball out of some of the offensive players’ sticks, which in turn almost completely negates any defensemen that have take-away abilities. It will be interesting to see how offensive players adapt to the change as well as how this may create an advantage for some of the more adept take-away defenders out there.

How strong is the Maryland/Baltimore area for recruiting these days?

Matt Hatton: I think the Maryland/Baltimore area is as strong as it has ever been. There are some of the finest high school players in the world competing here day in and day out. It is perfect for us here at McDaniel as we are only located approximately 30 miles northwest of Baltimore. We can easily get out and watch these kids and hopefully we can continue to fill our roster with more of these local players. But, I would say that there are also other recruiting areas that have made great strides and that produce excellent players as well. The game is growing at a very rapid pace at the youth and high school level and therefore there are areas popping up that are producing quality players all of the country.

Where’s the farthest you gone to get a recruit?

Matt Hatton: We have kids on our roster from California, N.Y., New England, Indiana, etc. If you can play the game of lacrosse at a high level and represent our program and McDaniel College at a very high level, then we try our very best to get you here and get you going.

How many camps should a kid play in the summer if he wants to play in college?

Matt Hatton: I think there is a fine line between doing enough camps to get enough exposure for college coaches and doing too many camps, when you can completely burn yourself out in the hot weather. If you do a few quality camps and you are a player, college coaches will see you. If they don’t, they might not be going to the right camps. If you go to every camp in one summer, you run the risk of playing poorly down the stretch because you are beat up and tired, and that may give some coaches a bad impression of your skills or effort.

I think the biggest thing with recruiting is being persistent and letting coaches know where you will be playing. If they are remotely interested in you as a prospective student-athlete, then they will make an attempt to get out to one of your camps or tournaments and see you play.

Are you a fan of multi-sport athletes when recruiting?

Matt Hatton: I myself was a two-sport athlete. Both of my brothers were as well. I strongly believe that our sport is unique, in that, you can take bits and pieces from every game out there and [apply] it to getting better at lacrosse. There is an element of football, basketball, soccer, hockey, etc. in our sport. The skills and strategies honed and learned while playing these other sports tends to make guys more well-rounded lacrosse players. In fact, I may go watch one of our recruits play in a football or basketball game just to see how he works with the concepts of the particular sport as well as how he moves. A lot can be learned and developed with kids that play two, three, or even four different sports.

Who were your influences in coaching?

Matt Hatton: There are several people that influenced me thus far in coaching. I had a high school lacrosse and football coach at Corning East High School (Randy Holden and Bob Streeten, respectively) in Upstate N.Y. that really pushed me to be the best player that I could be at that level. I still keep in touch with them now. Jim Townsed, who I worked under for three years here at McDaniel College and who is now the head coach up at RPI, taught me many invaluable lessons as a lacrosse coach and to him I am forever in debt. I also learned a lot from my head coach at Hobart College, B.J. O’Hara, who is now the head coach of the reigning MLL champion Rochester Rattlers. Ed Stephenson, who coached me at Hobart and is now the head coach at the University of Binghamton, is also a guy that comes to mind. He helped me become a much more disciplined player both on and off the field. All of these guys are great coaches and even greater men and they certainly left an indelible mark on me as a lacrosse coach and as a man in general.

Would you rather be the underdog or favorite in a big game?

Matt Hatton: I do not care if we are the underdog or favorite as long as we win the game!

Do your players see you as a friend, father figure, teacher or boss?

Matt Hatton: I like to think that my players and I have an excellent relationship. I think that there are elements and times in which all four of these labels could be applied to the way in which my kids view our relationships. We get along great, but they also respect me and my assistant coaches to know when to say when and to buckle up their chin straps and get down to business.

What’s the most important trait of a great player?

Matt Hatton: First off, there are many excellent players playing lacrosse at the very highest level in not only the Centennial Conference but the entire Division III. I think what really separates the good ones from the great ones is a no-quit work ethic and a desire to be the best possible man and player that you can be. If you can add this work ethic and desire to a young man that has the wherewithal to lead a group of his peers in doing the right things, then you have something special.

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