HAVERFORD – The Haverford College men's lacrosse team returns 10 players that started at least five games last season with several other key players missing time due to injury. A combination of that valuable experience gained in 2014, coupled with the return of prominent upperclassmen – a list that includes seven seniors - looks to lead a postseason resurgence for the Fords this coming season.
Haverford returns over 60-percent of its offensive output from last season. Headlining the attack unit will be the return from injury of senior attack Jack Bodine. Despite playing in just nine games, Bodine tied for the team lead with 22 points, scoring 15 goals a season ago. Bodine has 43 goals in his first three seasons. Fellow senior Brandon Boccellari ranked fifth on the team with eight goals last season despite playing in just seven contests.
Youth will be featured throughout the Fords' lineup in 2015. Of the 13 freshman on the roster, seven enter the year as attack players. Sophomore Chase Williams also returns to the attack line after scoring three goals in his first collegiate season.
In the midfield, senior captain Geoff Geppert scored three goals and assisted on seven more after being held to just six games last year. Junior Tav Hafner and sophomore Richard Greenberg were also counted on to score last season, tallying nine and eight goals, respectively in 2014. Sophomore Evan Dorman scored five goals in seven games during his rookie season.
Junior Andrew Dalke took the vast majority of Haverford's face offs last year. He also scored six goals and assisted on eight more. Senior Alejandro Vega and sophomore Jack Russ also return to the Fords' midfield after each gained valuable experience with both players making at least 10 appearances last season.
Haverford's largest returning unit comes in the defensive end where 11 players are back from last year's team. This experience comes on top of both goalies on Haverford's roster returning from last year. The defense features three seniors in Andrew Fenaroli, Will Weissberg, and Victor N'Diaye. Fenaroli led all field players with 13 starts last season. Weissburg appeared in 13 games, making four starts.
Junior Brandon Smith and sophomore PJ Jackson also return to the defensive unit after causing 11 turnovers each last year. Sophomore Ben Miltenberg, along with Jackson, also took face offs a season ago. Two more sophomores, Will Holden and Paul Hackett will look to build on their experience as they both appeared in at least nine games last season. Juniors Matt Corbin, Sommer Stein, and Ben Krieger will also look for increased roles as they transition to becoming upperclassmen on the team.
A two-year starter in goal, Eric Caliendo was the only Haverford player to start all 14 games last season. He has made 27 starts over those two years. Caliendo ranked second in the Centennial Conference with 175 saves last season, while finishing fourth in the conference in save percentage (55.4%). Caliendo's caeeer goals against average ranks fourth all-time in program history entering the 2015 campaign. Sophomore Aidan Snyder will challenge the incumbent for time in net.
With two teams in the Centennial Conference ranked in the USILA top 20, and three more receiving votes, head coach Colin Bathory will prepare his team for the challenging conference season with six non-conference matchups that feature two more ranked teams and an additional squad receiving votes.
Bathory is in his sixth season as head coach of the Fords and 10th overall on the Haverford coaching staff after previously serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. His squad opens the 2015 season on the road at No. 7 Cabrini on Saturday, February 21 at 1 p.m. The home opener is set for the following Saturday against Eastern, also a 1 p.m. start. Eight of the Fords' 14 games during the regular season will be played on their home turf, Swan Field.