The Plymouth State University Men’s Lacrosse team is set to begin their new season as they prepare for their first game of the season on Saturday against Castleton State at Southern New Hampshire State University.
The Panthers will head to Florida next week where they will compete against Plattsburg State on March 17th and Clarkson University on the 21st. After Florida, PSU will compete in 11 more regular season games back in New England beginning the last week of March.
Plymouth has six Little East Conference matches scheduled. The Panthers travel first to Western Connecticut State University on March 31st before hosting Southern Maine State University in their home opener on April 4th. The annual Little East Conference Tournament is in the first week of May, with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Andrew Brauch will enter his fourth year as head coach of the Panthers. Under Brauch, PSU has an overall record of 23-24. In 2004, Brauch led the Panthers to a 6-7 overall record, the most wins for the Panthers in a single season in three years. In 2005, Brauch helped the Panthers finish as runner-up in the ECAC New England Tournament. They finished 9-5 in 2005, PSU’s better record since 2000.
Last spring, the Panthers had 171 goals while allowing opponents 136 goals. PSU scored 279 points last season while opponents scored 197 points against the Panthers. Plymouth had 582 shots on goal while opponents had 530 shots on goal. Plymouth had a .294 shooting percentage while opponents fared only a .257 shot percentage.
Senior captain Steve Valeri will be back in goal this season for PSU. In 2006, Valeri played and started 16 games while putting together a 7-9 overall record with 216 saves. He allowed 132 goals while posting an 8.85 goals allowed average with a .621 save percentage. Senior Nick Grobe will also join Valeri back in goal this season as he went 1-0 playing in five games and starting one. Grobe allowed four goals with 13 saves with a .765 save percentage. He had a 1.86 goals allowed average.
“Obviously we’re young. I think there are going to be a lot of rookies,” said junior co-captain Adam Krinsky. “We’re really going to be counting on the older guys this season.”
The Panthers have a talented roster this season, according to Brauch. As it usually is, defense should be Plymouth’s strength.
Captains Krinsky, Valeri and Tim Vasconcellos will provide leadership to the Panther’s young squad this season. Seniors include; Tim Butler, Nick Duffy, Kyle McKay and Grobe. Juniors will include; Kyle Shea, John Cogswell, John Brule, Mike Russell, Craig Maheux, Jeremy Sweet, Doug Malloy and Tony Aguiar. The sophomore class will include; Conor McCullough, Jordan Buzzell, Chris Graveline, Dave Mokos and Dan Maiorana. The strong first-year class will be full this season, including; Adam Rothbart, Logan Irish, Colin Salko, Joe Cameron, Alex Blanco, Mike Ricca, Sam Lemanski, Wes Downing, Brett Zebrowski, Matt Johansmeyer, Tim Hadley, Derick Smith, Adam Tranchida, Jon Walsh, Mackenzie Cayer, Steve Engel and Kyle Belanger.
“We have a very young team,” said Valeri. Compared to the past four season, this team really gets together well.”
Leading the Panther defenders will be Butler, Vasconcellos and Valeri in goal. Butler was a First Team All-Conference selection last season. Vasconcellos was a Second Team pick two years ago. Valeri is a four-year starter in goal.
Shea has emerged as the third possible starter on defense for PSU. Ricca, Walsh, Salko and Graveline will all play time on the defensive end of the field. Grobe will serve as back-up goalie.
Krinsky is a two-time All Conference attackman and should lead the Panther offense this season. He was Second Team All-LEC choice last season after scoring 59 points (25 goals and 35 assists), and is possibly on pace to become the team’s all-time leading scorer. Downing, Blanco and Belanger will join Krinsky on offense.
In the midfield, PSU will get help from Aguiar and McKay. Cogswell will return this season after missing last season with an injury and Brule and Buzzell will chip in.
The midfield will see several newcomers, including, Hadley, Johansmeyer, Cameron, Zebrowski, Mokos and Malloy.
Duffy, Maheux, Engel, Lemanski Russell and Smith will be several midfielders who will focus on defense.
“I just think we’re going to be the best we think we are,” said Krinsky.
“We got a new batch of kids, although they are young, we are looking to revamp the program,” said Brauch. “I am not making any predictions, it’s not the playoffs. We need to play each game at a time.”