HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's lacrosse team is set to officially welcome the spring competition season this Saturday. Haverford, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Colin Bathory '99, will play 15 games this spring. Nine of those dates, including each of the first three, will be played on Swan Field as the team looks to jump start its season in hopes of a return to postseason play.
Haverford will rely on its youth early as the 12-member freshman class and 13-man sophomore class comprise 25 of the team's 36 players. However, one area in which the Fords will have experience is on the defensive end.
Goalie
Returning All-Centennial Conference goalie Eric Caliendo looks to be the anchor of the team's defense. One of two co-captains, Caliendo has started each of his first three seasons. He is currently tied for fifth in program history with a career goals against average of 9.97, while he is eighth in school history in career victories. He played every minute in goal for Haverford last season and saved 53.9% of the shots he faced. He also led the team in ground balls (49) and was third in caused turnovers (13).
Freshman goalies: Dylan Slack, Han Mahle, Will Fox
Defense
Caliendo's fellow co-captain and classmate Brandon Smith is also back after emerging as a full-time starter last season. In addition to his defensive duties where he ranked second on the team in caused turnovers (15) and ground balls (39), Smith led the team in face-off wins with 49 on the season. Junior PJ Jackson led the team with 16 caused turnovers a year ago.
Now sophomores, Max Ellis and Chandler Todd will look to build on strong freshmen campaigns. Ellis caused 13 turnovers and picked up 27 ground balls as he played in all 14 games last season. Todd played in 12 games, making three starts as a freshman. He finished with 12 ground balls and two caused turnovers. Also experienced on defense will be seniors Sommer Stein and Ben Krieger. Stein caused eight turnovers in 10 games last season, while Krieger got to three ground balls in seven contests. Unfortunately, the team will be without the services of Matt Corbin due to injury. Corbin started three games before an injury during his junior season.
Newcomers on defense: Quinn Glabicki, Ben Forde, Jake Ephron, sophomore Rob Carpenter (13 games played, 17 grounds balls at Vasser in 2015).
Attack
Although the Fords graduated their leading scorer from a season ago in Geoff Geppert, then-freshmen Isaac Krier and Patrick Girard emerged as weapons throughout the season. Krier started nine of his 12 appearances and tied for second on the team in goals, while ranking third in assists with five. Out of the midfield, Girard tied his classmate for second on the team with 11 goals, while adding six assists for a total of 17 points. Girard also caused six turnovers and collected 17 ground balls.
Junior Chase Williams is the only returning player at attack who played in all 14 games a season ago. He scored a goal in each of the Fords' first four games on his way to a 10 goal season. This total included four goals which came on man-up opportunities. Six additional sophomores will look to emerge as scoring threats this season for the Fords. Jack Sollee registered six goals in his 12 appearances last season. Mitch Hagan played in 13 games, making four starts, and won a team-best 58.1% of his face-off attempts last season. James Forse, Zach Cole and Noah Quinn all tallied during their freshmen seasons and will look to build on that in 2016. Dylan Silverman is back after appearing in four games as a freshman.
Newcomers: Stephen DeLeo, Ryan Tetro, Garret Trucksess
Midfield
The Fords return a wealth of experience at this position with five of their seven returners having played all 14 games a year ago. In addition to Girard's scoring prowess that was on display as a freshman, junior Evan Dorman scored four goals, while senior Tav Hafner scored three times. Junior Jack Russ scored twice in 2015.
Senior Andrew Dalke took 46 face offs for his team last season. Additionally, Dalke scored one goal and assisted on two more. Sophomore Kevin Goshorn matched Dalke's point production in his freshman season and will look to take a step forward in 2016. Fellow sophomore Justin Brendel also appeared in all 14 games for the Fords during his freshman season, collecting eight ground balls in that span.
Newcomers: Zack Cohen, Ben Frost, Rob McLallen
Schedule
A staple of the program under Bathory, the Fords have prepared a non-conference slate that will get them ready for the always-challenging Centennial Conference opponents. In the team's first game of the season, the Fords get a test from No. 15 Cabrini. Around the conference, No. 6 Gettysburg and No. 14 Ursinus are each ranked in the preseason polls, while Washington College is receiving votes.
A late switch in the 2016 schedule will see the Fords battle Randolph-Macon for the first time in program history. That game takes the place of the originally scheduled Eastern date. Haverford will open the season with three straight home games. Five of the team's seven non-conference games will be played on Swan Field.