SELINSGROVE, Pa. — What a difference a year makes. The Susquehanna University men’s lacrosse program is just one year removed from its 4-3 season as a club team, but hopes are high heading into its first season as a varsity sport on campus. Improved depth due to recruiting, plus a year of seasoning for the veterans gives head coach Scott Rynne and his team a positive outlook for the team’s debut varsity campaign.
The squad will formally begin play as Susquehanna’s 22nd varsity program on Thursday, March 16, hosting Shenandoah University in a 4 p.m. contest.
“This is going to be a great challenge for us,” said Rynne. “We’re looking to make some strides. We’re in this to compete and to have fun and to play a certain style of lacrosse.”
Last season, Susquehanna finished one game over .500 while playing a club schedule. Two of the losses came against Division I teams such as Penn State and Bucknell, making the team’s rookie record that much more impressive. Rynne was pleased with his squad’s inaugural year on the field.
“It was a lot of fun,” Rynne said. “Our expectations last year were to create some opportunity for us to have some success, and we were very successful on the field, and we had a lot of fun.”
THE ATTACKERS
Senior co-captain Rob McNamara (Strongsville, Ohio/Upper Arlington H.S.) returns to defend his crown as the team’s leading scorer. McNamara poured in 11 goals (1.83 ppg) in six games last season from the midfield, and will move up front to apply even more pressure. He recorded two four-goal games against Bloomsburg and York (Pa.) respectively last season, also adding another two-goal contest.
“Rob McNamara is outstanding in every way,” said Rynne. “He is a great student athlete, a great player, (and) a great leader.”
Joining McNamara on the starting attack will be junior Jason Stuhler (Syosset, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran H.S.), and highly-touted freshman Andy Nadler (Westport, Conn./Staples H.S.). Stuhler had three goals while starting all six games last season, while Nadler was All-State in Connecticut last season and one of the top recruits in Rynne’s first class.
Senior Jeremy Adams (Selinsgrove/North Attleboro H.S.) is also expected to contribute up front after scoring four goals while starting five games a year ago.
The impact of freshmen such as Nadler and the blend of veterans has created team camaraderie, according to Rynne. He adds that team unity does not come from having talent alone, but from also having quality people on the team.
“Chemistry isn’t there just because there is talent there,” Rynne said. “I think we have some good people, and that’s where chemistry comes from. It’s about everybody accepting what our goals are and what our mission is, and I think (our) guys do that.”
There is more to working together than just getting along, according to Rynne. With such a large number of young players, some of them are going to have to step into leadership roles quickly if the team is going to succeed. “These guys don’t have time to be freshmen and sophomores,” he said. “Leadership is something that comes from anybody, any class, anywhere.”
THE MIDFIELDERS
Sophomore Travis Wyczawski (Cockeysville, Md./Carver Center H.S.) will provide some veteran leadership to the midfield, where Rynne expects to be starting two freshmen among the three positions. Wyczawski turned in three goals (0.50 ppg) while starting four games last season.
Adam Bulin (Bogato, N.J./St. Joseph’s Regional H.S.) and Ryan McFadden (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills H.S.) will be the freshman starting on the midfield.
Senior Gavin Hess (Laurens, N.Y./Gow School) and sophomore Jon Portzline (McAlisterville/Greenwood H.S.) will lead a group of second midfielders, who will primarily assist the defense. Each saw considerable time a year ago, with Hess scoring three goals.
Freshman Bill Heinzelmann (Allentown/Parkland H.S.) is also expected to play on that second line of midfielders.
THE DEFENSE
Sophomore co-captain Evan Dresser (Wynewood/Lower Merion H.S.) will lead the defense again for the Crusaders, after starting all but one game there last season. Dresser is a natural midfielder, but he played defense last season because the team needed help there. Despite playing out of his natural position, Dresser had two goals while providing stellar defensive support.
Rynne also expects defensive leadership from sophomores Dave Howard (Frackville/North Schuylkill H.S.) and Tom Fabian (Manorville, N.Y./Westhampton Beach H.S.) — with Howard playing the long pole position. Both sophomores played large roles last season, and Rynne described them as having “a great future for us.”
“Both (Howard and Fabian) are very good players who came a long way this past year,” Rynne added.
Yet another freshman, Jared Villella (Sinclairville, N.Y./Cassadaga Valley H.S.) will round out the probable starters in front of the goalkeeper.
Junior Bill Thomas (Sparta, N.J./New Hartford, N.Y., H.S.) returns in goal after posting a goals-against average of 9.17 while playing all 480 minutes last season. Thomas made 55 saves en route to a .500 save percentage, and had a shutout vs. Bloomsburg.
Pushing Thomas is Alex Perrotta (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills H.S.), who is yet another freshman Rynne expects will contribute.
With over half of the Crusader roster being freshmen and Rynne trying to lay the foundation for the future, the development of these newcomers will be imperative to the team’s ultimate success.
“We’ve got a good group of freshman who are going to be real important to our success this year,” said Rynne.
THE COMPETITION
Rynne describes the competition in the MAC as difficult, which will prove to be a challenge for a team that played only seven games last season on the club level. The coach is excited to go varsity and will take a simple approach to keep hopes high as the program begins to write its history.
“When the ball is on the ground, it’s going to be our ball,” Rynne said. “We want to be in a place where our athletic ability will assist us and be able to give us a chance to succeed.
“If we wait until something happens, most likely it is going to be something bad,” he continued. “But if we are aggressive and we go after you and make your decisions much faster, we have a chance to make it harder for you to do whatever it is you’re trying to do to us.”
