Endicott second in CCC Preseason Men's Lacrosse poll

2013 CCC Preseason Men's Lacrosse Poll Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Men's Lacrosse Poll was released this morning and the Endicott men's lacrosse team was ranked second behind defending conference champions Western New England.

The poll, which is voted upon the league's head coaches, awarded Endicott one first place vote and a total of 69 points overall.  Western New England (79) received the other eight first place votes.  Roger Williams (68), Gordon (51), and the University of New England (45) rounded out the top five in the rankings. 

Packed with athletic depth, top-down leadership, and an engraved tradition of excellence, the Endicott men's lacrosse program enters the 2013 season ready to once again achieve greatness when the Gulls return to the field this spring. 

Endicott's coaching staff, led by 16-year veteran head coach Sean Quirk, continues to set a program standard of winning the conference championship year-in and year-out, despite an early exit from the CCC playoffs in 2012.  After their semifinal loss in the conference tournament, the Gulls went on to win their third ECAC DIII New England Championship with convincing wins over Curry and the University of New England, but coming into this spring aspirations for a seventh CCC title and NCAA DIII Tournament appearance remains the goal. 

"The culmination of last season, when you're in the heat of it, was not a great season overall.  We didn't meet our standard which is winning the conference championship," said Quirk.  "At the same time, our guys showed resilience in beating Springfield who was #12 in the country and Eastern Connecticut who both made the NCAA Tournament as well as playing five other teams that went to the tournament.  Sometimes you take one step backwards like we did last year before you take two steps forward like I expect us to do this year."

After ranking eighth among all NCAA DIII programs in scoring offense (14.76 goals per game), including 12^th in man-up offense, and 36^th in the country in scoring defense (7.57) during the 2011 season which saw Endicott reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Gulls dipped last spring and fell out of the top-50 in each of those categories.  This year's squad, however, boasts depth at every position and Quirk contends that his players have committed themselves to moving past the tribulations that plagued their 2012 season with dedication, hard-work, and a renewed sense of accountability. 

"Just a few weeks into our preseason I can see how deep we are at the attack, midfield, defense, and goalie positions.  Our transition game is back to what it was, our offense is clicking on all cylinders, and the defense has been much improved as well."

Fans can expect Endicott's forward progress this spring to be led by four senior captains in Kyle Burke, Peter Erickson, Connor McCormack, and Ryan Sutherland.  Elected by the players unanimously this past fall, Quirk views his captains as adjunct members of the program's already standout coaching staff.

"Our captains are on the same page with what we are trying to accomplish.  They are 100% working hard, 100% holding their teammates and themselves accountable, and they want to come out of this season with a CCC Championship and a run in the NCAA Tournament.  We are very proud of them."

The Blue and Green's offensive attack will be led by McCormack, a pure goal-scorer who scored just 10 goals in his junior year because of injury cut his season short after just seven games.  McCormack was named to the All-CCC Second Team in 2011 after posting 42 goals, six assists, and 48 points and will be relied upon for leadership to a strong core of younger attackmen.  Joining McCormack are a pair of high-impact sophomore players in Kyle Weber and Nick Pinciaro who both earned CCC Rookie of the Week honors in the freshman campaigns.  Pinciaro also recently earned All-NEILA Preseason Honorable Mention as he scored eight goals with seven assists while Weber tied fellow sophomore for fifth on the team with 14 goals last spring.  Newcomers Mitchell Tapley, a two-time high school All-American from Falmouth Maine, and Scott McCormack, a product of Brien McMahon High School out of Norwalk, Connecticut where he was All-State and All-Conference, as well as returner Mark Cornacchio, who took the 2012 season off, will all compete for starting roles and provide depth at attack.

The midfield position will showcase another one of Endicott's captains, Peter Erickson, who will take advantage of some new rule changes as a two-way midfielder.  Erickson, a two-time CCC Academic All-Conference honoree, totaled 22 points on 16 goals and six assists while scooping 32 ground balls last year.  All-NEILA Honorable Mention sophomore Harrison Cotter has also proven to be a top two-way midfielder and a valuable attacker with nine goals, 12 assists, and 31 ground balls in his freshman season.  Jeremy and Jonathan Morgan, Brendan Hunter, Jon Siderewicz, Chris Janelle, and Jonny Kovach are all returning midfielders expected to play a major role in either an offensive or defensive capacity this season.  Junior Chris Murphy, who also plays on Endicott's club hockey team, will provide Endicott's man-up offense with some spark. 

Endicott's long-stick midfielders feature two captains in seniors Kyle Burke and Ryan Sutherland who are entering their fourth season in a starting roles and junior Christopher Summers contributing at midfield and on face-offs.  Burke, two-time CCC Academic All-Conference student-athlete in Computer Information Systems, ranked third on the team in caused turnovers (22) and sixth in ground balls (37) while adding seven points on the offensive end.  Sutherland totaled 18 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls during his 2012 season.

All-CCC First Teamer and ECAC DIII New England All-Star Breck Merritt leads Endicott's close defenseman with senior Anthony Martignetti, sophomore Will Farfalla, and transfer and former high school All-American Lucas Paratore expected to make their presence felt on the defensive end.  Merritt, who comes into the 2013 season with All-NEILA Preseason Second Team accolades, shut down opposing offenses with a team-high 39 caused turnovers with 75 ground balls.  Martignetti, a three-year starter, had his best season as a Gull last year with 14 caused turnovers and 24 ground balls in 16 games played, 14 of which he started.  Farfalla appeared in 18 games last year, starting three, causing seven turnovers and scooping 20 ground balls. 

In the cage, senior goalie Tom Burke returns after going 10-9 with an 8.16 goals against average, a 0.515 save percentage, and 135 total saves last year.  Burke started 19 of Endicott's 20 games last year but will expect competition for playing time with the addition of Hartwick transfer Nick Triano and freshman Cameron Bell.

The Endicott men's lacrosse program continues to be among the nation's leaders in strength of schedule as the Gulls will once again take on six programs that are ranked in the top-20 in the country according to the USILA.  This includes #4 Tufts (April 9^th), #6 RIT (March 17^th), #7 Stevens (February 24^th), #12 Western New England (April 24^th), #14 Springfield (March 23^rd), and #17 Bowdoin (April 20^th).  Amherst and Eastern Connecticut, who received votes towards a top-20 ranking and made last year's NCAA Tournament, are also on the 2013 schedule.