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2015 SHORE CONFERENCE LACROSSE PREVIEW

CLASS A SOUTH

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dylan Jinks, Sr., Attack, Southern

-Led the state and set a Shore Conference record with 93 goals last season while also notching 43 assists. Committed to Hartford.

Southern Regional senior Dylan Jinks. (Photo by Cliff Lavelle).
Southern Regional senior Dylan Jinks. (Photo by Cliff Lavelle).
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Ryan Mahon, Jr., Midfield, Lacey

-Coming off a great sophomore year where he had 20 goals and 10 assists along with 100 ground balls while winning 67 percent of face-offs during the best season in program history.

 

Hunter Palmer, Sr., Attack, Brick

-Will lead the Dragons' offense along with fellow senior Pat Adamitis after scoring 18 goals and dishing out 26 assists last season.

 

Bailey Sharpe, Sr., Attack, Brick Memorial

-Scored 34 goals along with 16 assists and 32 ground balls as a junior.

 

Troy Wolf, Sr., Attack, Jackson Memorial

-University of Tampa commit notched 48 goals last season along with 26 assists.

 

DIVISIONAL GAMES TO WATCH

Jackson Memorial at Brick Memorial, March 28

Brick at Lacey, April 11

Jackson Memorial at Toms River North, April 11

Jackson Memorial at Southern, April 13

Brick at Brick Memorial, April 15

Toms River North at Lacey, April 17

Southern at Brick Memorial, April 20

Lacey at Southern, April 24

Brick Memorial at Lacey, April 29

Lacey at Jackson Memorial, May 6

Toms River North at Toms River South, May 6

 

TEAM PREVIEWS

In alphabetical order

 

BRICK MEMORIAL

Last season: 8-8; NJSIAA Tournament qualifiers

Head coach: Brent Middlemiss, ninth season (48-71)

Top returners: Dylan Visser, Sr., A/M (15g, 28a, 45gb); Bailey Sharpe, Sr., A/M (34g, 16a, 32gb); Matt Murphy, Sr., D (26gb, 13 takeaways) Bill Porter, Jr., A/M (11g, 8a, 55gb) Luke Vescovi, Jr., M (34gb, 57% F/O).

Outlook: The Mustangs return their entire starting attack line with Visser, Sharpe and  Porter, so the offense should be productive once it can set up. Having Vescovi back as FOGO after he split time with Griffin Carney is big as well. The key will be staying sturdy on defense after the graduation of second team all-division defenseman Jake Lombardo and starting goalie C.J. Guarino.

Games to watch: March 28 vs. Jackson Memorial; April 15 vs. Brick; April 20 vs. Southern; April 29 at Lacey; May 5 at St. John Vianney.

 

BRICK

Last season: 8-11; NJSIAA Tournament qualifiers.

Head coach: Len Zdanowicz, fourth season (29-24).

Top returners: Hunter Palmer, Sr., A, 18g, 26a, 28gb); Pat Adamitis, Sr., M/FO (14g, 8a, 61gb); Carter Smith, Sr., LSM (54gb); Mike Woo, Sr., D (36gb); Kyle Leary, Sr., D (52gb); Josh Schieber, Sr., D; M.J. Fazio, Sr., M; Sean Ward, Sr., M; Phil Sammarco, Sr., M; Nick Dzugan, Sr., M/FO; Mickey Holland, So., M/FO (4g); Zion Powell, So., D; Nick Marra, So., A.

Outlook: “We have a lot of experience back in our defense and that should be the strong point of our team. We need to replace some very good offensive players. The offense should be led by seniors Hunter Palmer and Pat Adamitis. We are counting on some of our younger players from last year to take a big step up on varsity this year.” - head coach Len Zdanowicz.

Games to watch: April 11 at Lacey; April 15 at Brick Memorial; April 18 vs. Toms River South; April 22 at Jackson Memorial; April 29 at Southern, May 4 at Manasquan.

 

JACKSON MEMORIAL

Last season: 9-9: NJSIAA Tournament qualifiers (reached second round).

Head coach: Joe Pienkowski, first season.

Top returners: Troy Wolf, Sr., A (48g, 26a); Dylan Furnback, So., G (8-2, 70.1 save percentage, 6.0 GAA, 14.1 saves per game); Alex Aguilar, Sr., A; Justin Bliss, Sr., D; Dane Bodamer, Jr., D; Matt George, Sr., M; James Grimaldi, Sr., M; Billy Plungis, Sr., A; Eric Quaranta, Sr., M; Henry Smith, Jr., M; Marc Stevenson, Sr., A;  Chip Straniero, Jr., LSM.

Outlook: The Jaguars have graduated a ton of talent over the last few seasons, so there’s plenty of work to do under first-year head coach Joe Pienkowski. Senior Troy Wolf, a University of Tampa commit, is the team’s top offensive player after scoring 48 goals with 26 assists last season. Sophomore Dylan Furnback played big down the stretch last season in goal, and a full season of that type of production will be crucial. One thing that stands out is the standouts from other sports who have joined the lacrosse team this year like football players Zack Tetro, Brad Greenway and Jared Calhoun along with wrestlers Fred Terranova and Nick Shimonovich.

Games to watch: March 28 at Brick Memorial; April 11 at Toms River North; April 13 at Southern; April 22 vs. Brick; April 25 at Jackson Liberty.

 

LACEY

Last season: 13-5; Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinalists; NJSIAA Tournament qualifiers (reached second round).

Head coach: Shane Allen, seventh season (26-62).

Top returners: Ryan Mahon, Jr., M (20g, 10a, 100gb, 67% F/O); Connor Wilson, So., M; Lucas Sirotniak, Sr., A; James Peaney, Sr., D; Ian Gillen, Sr., LSM; Zach Zega, Sr., D; George Sayre, Sr., D.

Outlook: The Lions graduated a ton of firepower in attackman Joe Long and midfielder Dan Cannon along with defenseman Casey Sullivan, all of whom were all-division selections, after the best season in program history. Mahon leads the cast of returners after a stellar sophomore campaign that included 30 points, 100 ground balls and a very good face-off record. He is one of seven returning starters who will look to keep Lacey’s program on the rise. Sullivan graduated, but the defense looks strong with Peaney, Zega and Sayre as returning starters. Seniors Tim Gleason (attack), Kiernan Quinn (attack), Dan McAvoy (midfield) and Bailey Dickinson (defense) will look to make an impact as key newcomers.

Games to watch: April 1 vs. Barnegat; April 11 vs. Brick; April 24 at Southern; April 29 vs. Brick Memorial; May 6 at Jackson Memorial.

 

SOUTHERN

Last season: 20-3; Class A South champions; Shore Conference Tournament finalist; NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV champions; NJSIAA Group IV finalist.

Head coach: John Pampalone, ninth season (102-48).

Top returners: Brendan Lefanto, Sr., G (251 saves, .750 save percentage); Dylan Jinks Sr., A (93g, 43a); Nick Simonelli, Jr., A (24g, 20a); Shawn McManus, Sr., M (51g, 40a); Chris Smith, Sr., M (33g, 30a); Mike Adragna, Sr., D (78gb, 45 takeaways); Evan Henken, Jr., D; Anthony Triola, Jr., LSM; Matt Boero, Sr., D; Gordon Von Schmidt, Jr., LSM; John Manzo, Jr., D-M.

Outlook: The Rams are loaded with a phenomenal senior class after another great season in which they won the Class A South title and South Jersey Group IV championship for the second season in a row while reaching the SCT and Group IV finals. Senior Dylan Jinks led the state and set a Shore Conference record with 93 goals last season, and the Hartford commit should be in for another big year. There’s plenty of scoring depth on the roster with Shawn McManus, Chris Smith and Nick Simonelli all capable of scoring at least 40 goals. The offense will be dynamic again. Senior Mike Adragna, a second-team SSN All-Shore selection, leads an experienced defense in front of one of the best goalies in the Shore and state, senior Brendan Lefanto. The Rams will be in contention for division, conference, sectional and state titles this season as a top 20 team in the state.

Games to watch: April 2 vs. Holmdel; April 4 at Rumson-Fair Haven; April 9 vs. Lenape; April 13 vs. Jackson Memorial; April 17 at Freehold Township; April 21 at Brick Memorial; May 4 vs. Red Bank.

 

TOMS RIVER EAST

Last season: 1-14.

Head coach: George Peters, 11th season (75-88)

Top returners: Erick Johnson, Jr. M; Robert Lang, Sr., A; Jake Hyde, Jr., M/A; Colby Dineen, So., LSM/D; Mike Cutillo, Jr., LSM/D; Mike Grasso, Jr., M; Nick Price, So., M; Landon Zagacki, So., D; Christian Lynch, Jr., LSM/D; Brad Correia, Jr., D/LSM; Cody Joffe, Jr., M/A; Jake Dallago, Jr., G; Billy Buckler, Sr., D/LSM.

Outlook: The Raiders will try to rebound after a one-win season and get back into the thick of the Class A South division race.

Games to watch: April 1 at Donovan Catholic; April 20 at Jackson Liberty; April 22 at Toms River South; April 29 at Toms River North.

 

TOMS RIVER NORTH

Last season: 6-7; NJSIAA Tournament qualifiers.

Head coach: Brett Smith, 11th season (81-71).

Outlook: Led by a Kean University recruit, senior midfielder Tyler Foss, the Mariners will look to build off last season in which they were competitive in most games against top teams and qualified for the NJSIAA Tournament.

Games to watch: March 26 vs. Barnegat; March 30 at Holmdel; April 7 vs. St. John Vianney; April 11 vs. Jackson Memorial; April 17 at Lacey;  April 20 at Howell; April 22 vs. Brick Memorial; May 6 at Toms River South.

 

TOMS RIVER SOUTH

Last season: 5-9; Shore Conference Tournament qualifiers; NJSIAA Tournament qualifiers.

Head coach: Matt Zuech, 11th season (70-86).

Outlook: The Indians had some big wins last season despite a sub-.500 record, such as a 6-5 win over Freehold Township, and they will look to build on that in the rugged A South division while booking a trip to the SCT as well as the NJSIAA Tournament.

Games to watch: April 14 at Manasquan; April 15 at Howell; April 18 at Brick; April 22 vs. Toms River East; April 27 at Lacey; May 6 vs. Toms River North.

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