SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The growing pains continued for the Susquehanna men’s lacrosse team in its second year as a varsity sport last season. However, the team did improve on their 2000 record under first-year head coach, Ron Miller, finishing at 2-9.

Miller’s stress on the small things and hard work seemed to pay off as 17 letterwinners return to the team this season. A fine recruiting class also includes two U.S. Lacrosse 2001 Men’s Division High School All-Americans and the team is looking to improve their record yet again in 2002.

With no seniors in the projected starting lineup, this season could be a springboard for the Crusaders to challenge for one of four berths in the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs in the near future.

“I’ll be extremely disappointed if we don’t have a winning season,” said Miller. “We expect to contend this year.”

However, the Crusaders will need to put forth a more consistent offensive attack this season than they did in 2001, when the team scored in double figures just three times in 11 matches.

THE ATTACKERS

Sophomores Scott Hodgson (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo H.S.) and Hale Abramson (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills H.S.) helped a Crusader starting attack along with junior Andy Nadler combine for 88 points last year.

Abramson had an outstanding freshman season, scoring 22 goals to lead the team while adding 10 assists to finish with 32 points. Hodgson scored 16 goals and added six assists for 22 points.

Even with the success of last year’s scoring trio, the starting jobs are not yet secure. Freshmen Dan St. Ours (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) and Justin Mason (Wilmington, Del./Tatnell H.S.) will fight for minutes and possibly starting jobs after being named US Lacrosse Boys High School All-Americans in 2001. Freshman Kevin Peters (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro H.S.) may also see playing time on the front line.

“We probably have as much talent as some of the best teams in our conference,” said Miller. “We have some extremely talented young players.”

THE MIDFIELDERS

Nadler (Westport, Conn./Staples H.S.) helped develop the Susquehanna attack into a legitimate scoring threat last year, leading the team with 34 points and 13 assists, while coming in second on the team with 21 goals. Nadler is Susquehanna’s all-time leader in goals (37), assists (25) and points (62) through his first two seasons.

This year, Nadler moves to the midfield to make room for the talented attack recruits.

Seven other letterwinners return to the midfield, including senior tri-captain Travis Wyczawski (Cockeysville, Md./Carver Center H.S.). He led the midfield last year, starting all 11 games, scoring four goals and adding two assists, while picking up 46 groundballs to lead the midfield.

Sophomore Pete Dantinne (Millersville, Pa./Penn Manor H.S.) started eight games while playing in all 11, grabbing 36 groundballs, scroing two goals and dishing out four assists.

Sophomore Brian Yoder (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor H.S.) started six games last year, adding 15 groundballs, two goals and an assist for the team, while sophomore Mark Harrison (Kennett Square, Del./ Kennett H.S.) added four starts in 11 games, grabbing 22 groundballs, adding three goals and an assist.

Other returning members of the midfield include junior Bill Heinzelmann (Allentown, Pa./Parkland H.S.), who added 41 groundballs and a goal last spring in a reserve slot, sophomore Tim Ronchi (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail H.S.), who also excelled off the bench, grabbing 42 groundballs and adding two goals and junior Jeff Lippincott (Coral Springs, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas H.S.), who took part in ten games and posted seven groundballs and a goal.

Newcomers in the midfield include freshmen Lukas Ericson (Columbia, Md./ Oakland Mills H.S.), Matt Miceli (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus H.S.), Mike Fulginiti (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley H.S.), and John George (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara H.S.).

THE DEFENSE

Anchoring the defense is senior tri-captain Evan Dresser (Wynnewood, Pa./Lower Merion H.S.), who finished third on the team with 59 groundballs last season. Dresser also added a goal last season.

Joining Dresser on the defense is senior Dave Howard (Frackville, Pa./North Schuylkill H.S.), who led the defense with 76 groundballs in 11 games last season.

“We always give him the opponent’s best offensive player,” said Miller of Howard, who was the only Crusader to receive MAC all-star votes last season.

Sophomore Jared Coble (Middletown, Pa./Harrisburg Academy) took the third defensive starting job, along with Dresser and Howard starting all 11 games, scooping up 33 groundballs last season.

Other defenders include juniors Brad Perva (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern H.S.), who played in all 11 games last year and Chris Baker (Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Proctor Academy) who played in nine games last season, sophomores Adrian Russo (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby H.S.), who found action in nine games last season, Bob Mieczkowski (West Chester, Pa./ Unionville H.S.) who found action in eight games. Freshman Nolan McHugh (Brooklyn, NY/Poly Prep H.S.) also joins the backfield.

THE GOALKEEPERS

Sophomore Todd Marquess (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter H.S.) played in 10 games last season, starting nine matches, making 89 saves while giving up 115 goals in 469 minutes of action. Marquess had a .436 save percentage and averaged 14.71 goals against per game.

Sophomore Chad Denlinger (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor H.S.) served as the backup in 2001 playing in seven games and starting two, although he could challenge for the starting job this season. Denlinger stopped 60 shots while giving up 50 goals for a .545 save percentage in 191 minutes for a 15.71 goals against average.

Freshmen David Antoniewicz (Pennington, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central H.S.) and Andrew Volpetti (Dallas, Pa./Wyoming Seminary H.S.) may also see time in the net this season.

THE SCHEDULE

The Crusaders will spend spring break in Florida, opening the season with a match against Norwich before returning home for games against Shenandoah and Scranton.

Two new teams join the schedule this year, as the Crusaders will host MAC rival and first-year program Elizabethtown on April 2, while facing off against Kean in a non-league encounter on April 15.