HAVERFORD, Pa. – The 2014 men's lacrosse season is set to open for Haverford College's Fords and the squad has expectations that it will rejoin the Centennial Conference playoffs this spring after a two-year hiatus from the postseason.
Haverford earned conference tournament berths four straight seasons beginning with the 2008 postseason, qualifying for the NCAA tournament three of those years (2008, 2009, 2010) and playing into the national quarterfinals in 2010.
Head coach Colin Bathory, who led that 2010 squad deep into the tournament in his first season at the helm of the Fords, was three goals away from a different outcome to the season in 2013. The Fords fell to then-No. 11 Denison University in triple overtime early in the season, dropped a one-goal decision to then-No. 4 Washington College at the midpoint of the schedule, then fell one goal short on the road at then-No. 2 Dickinson College two games later.
Haverford learned from those close calls and finished last spring's schedule winning three of its last four, missing out on the Centennial tournament by one victory. That heartbreak has made Bathory and the Fords hungry to take the next step with the 2014 season.
Firepower shouldn't be a problem as Haverford returns much of its offense. Senior Christian Clay led the team last spring in goals (30), assists (19) and points (49). He'll again be joined on the attack by junior Jack Bodine who was second on the team in all three categories (21, 10, 31) and senior Dan LoSardo who also reached double-figures in goals, with 16, and points (21).
Goals also came from a solid midfield spearheaded by junior Geoff Geppert who finished the season tied for third on the team with 18 tallies. Teammates Jordan Hitchcock (Sr.), Chris Christensen (Sr.) and sophomore Hunter Sentner joined Geppert in patrolling the middle third and their experience will be vital for the Fords in its transition game during the year.
The Haverford defense has big shoes to fill after the graduation of All-American Scott Chanelli who culminated his senior campaign with 47 caused turnovers which translated to a rate of 3.36 per game, fifth-highest in Division III lacrosse.
Bathory employed a rotation in the back third last season that gained valuable experience and should fill in the hole left by Chanelli quite nicely. Senior Hunter Witmer, juniors Andrew Fenaroli and Will Weissberg, and sophomore Brandon Smith will handle the poles that will form the last line of defense in the defensive zone in front of returning goalkeeper Eric Caliendo.
Only a sophomore, Caliendo stepped between the pipes from day one as a freshman last spring and settled a question mark in goal after the departure of all-American and four-year starter Joe Banno following the 2012 season.
All Caliendo did in his rookie season was finish third on the team in caused turnovers (10) while scooping up 34 ground balls, third-most on the team, and compiling a 6-7 record with a .516 save percentage and 9.45 goals against average. The sophomore netminder is one of the most active goalies around the cage within the conference and, with a freshman season under fire tucked away in his pocket, should provide even greater resistance this spring.
Haverford was able to get a jump start on the season – and incorporate newcomers into their roles on the team and into the program's culture of success – with a January 2014 trip to Portugal. While abroad the team picked up exhibition outings against several international programs.
The early start should help prepare the Fords for a schedule that includes five teams ranked within the preseason top 25. The good news for the Fords is that three of those contests -- No. 6 Cabrini College, No. 2 Dickinson, and No. 20 Franklin & Marshall College -- will be at home on Swan Field. And one other, against No. 17 Plattsburg State, is a neutral site contest. Only one of those ranked outings, at No. 11 Washington, will be on the road in a hostile environment.