2/19/2004 - Men's Lacrosse
A Closer Look at Navy's Upcoming Lacrosse Season

Attack
Navy returns an experienced and balanced attack as its offensive arsenal. The Mids can utilize their size and strength using 6-foot-3, 250-pound Ian Dingman or use blazing quickness from Jon Birsner or it may opt to use flat out old-fashioned hard work and grit from senior Joe Bossi. Whatever the game plan, Navy will have an answer to its opposition's defense.

Dingman, who earned Second-Team All-ECAC recognition and was named Navy's most outstanding offensive player, experienced one of the best freshman campaigns by a Midshipman in recent memory. His stats speak volumes. He came off the bench in 11 of the 13 games to lead the Midshipmen in scoring, producing 40 points on 23 goals and 17 assists. He finished his rookie campaign ranked third on Navy's all-time freshman scoring list behind All-Americans Mike Herger (55 pts.) and Brendan Schneck (43). He recorded a goal or an assist in 12 contests, scored a goal in 11 games and produced an assist in nine outings. He posted multiple goals in seven contests and tallied six multi-assist games.

"Obviously Ian is a big, strong guy with very good skills that can contribute in a variety of different ways if he's healthy," said Navy head coach Richie Meade. "If Ian plays an entire season healthy, which he could not last year, he could be a pretty dominate player."

As imposing as Ian Dingman is with his size, so too is second-year standout Jon Birsner with his speed. Birsner was the Mids' fourth-leading scorer with 18 points on nine goals and nine assists. He played in all 13 games, earning four starts including the final-three games of the year. He produced a point (goal or assist) in 11 of the 13 contests (0 vs. Rutgers and Maryland) ... while Birsner is in just his second year, he is a player which rarely gets rattled. He showed his mental strength a year ago when he sent the Georgetown game into overtime after scoring on an unassisted goal with time winding down. Look for Birsner to play a stronger role within Navy's attack this spring.

"We couldn't have expected Jon to have a better plebe season than he did," said Meade. "Jon is very athletic and fast, probably one of the quickest players on our team. He has a great first step and has the ability to play both attack and midfield. We are expecting Jon to be a major factor this spring."

After a solid sophomore campaign, Bossi broke out last year and gave Navy a tremendous effort every game. Navy's fifth-leading scorer, he produced 17 points on 12 goals and five assists. His ability to be a star player for the Mids became evident after scoring two goals in each of the final-three games of the year (UMBC, Johns Hopkins, Army), while also posting assists in three of the final-four games. Based on the confidence he built last spring and a strong effort in fall ball, Bossi is expected to have a solid senior campaign.

"Joe grew into a starting role and played extremely well down the stretch for us," said Meade. "He has had an equally impressive fall. Not only from a physical perspective, he's bigger, stronger and faster and more confident in his senior year, but also as a leader. That's something we are desperately going to need from Joe at the offensive end of the field."

Sophomore Taylor Harris saw most of his minutes on the game field with the junior varsity last spring, but has gained the confidence of the coaching staff after an impressive fall.

"Taylor is one of the guys that really had a great fall for us," said Meade. "He was playing well towards the end of last year, but we couldn't figure out how to fit him into the lineup. He's a pretty physical guy who's not afraid to mix it up. He can dodge a little bit and can distribute the ball. Coming out of the fall, Taylor was a guy that we have penciled in as a significant contributor."

Junior Ben Horn saw a good portion of his minutes playing extra-man offense for the Mids. This season, however, Meade would like to work Horn into the attack rotation.

"Ben is a very smart player who can deliver the ball to the open man and has the ability to be at the right place at the right time," said Meade. "We are hoping he will be able to contribute."

Midfield
The loss of All-American Greg Conklin most certainly will be noticed this season, but the returning midfielders should be able to pick up where Conklin left off.
Graham Gill heads into his junior campaign with 2004 Preseason All-American tagged to his name. Last season, he produced 22 points on 13 goals and nine assists as the Mids' third-leading scorer. He posted goals in seven contests, including an amazing five goals at Ohio State where he tallied three of Navy's final-four goals. Able to utilize both hands, Gill combines speed, skill and will into one package to face the opposition. He had a tremendous freshman year and improved volumes as a sophomore. He will be one of the Mids' go-to guys this spring.

"Graham is simply an outstanding athlete," said Meade. "He has size, speed and a great passion for the game. Graham has the athletic ability to be an All-American and is a player to watch this spring. He's matured over the last few years and has become a leader on this team."

The name Ben Bailey has been associated with Navy lacrosse for the last four years, starting every game (37) in which he has played. One of the most versatile players on the team, he has the ability and will play both attack and midfield. He is coming off a season in which he produced all 14 of his points on goals as the Mids' sixth-leading scorer. One of the rare qualities Bailey possesses is playing better when the heat is on. Last season, he posted multi-goal efforts in four games and produced goals in nine of the 13 contests.

"For the first time since Ben arrived here, he is completely healthy," said Meade. "He is playing with a lot of confidence and is doing a great job in terms of being a leader. We will utilize him at both the attack and midfield positions because of his versatility."

Seniors Dan Eddy and Adam Reel have gained a good amount of experience, but will be asked to step up their play in their final seasons.
Eddy has played in every game over the last two years and has five goals and three assists to show for it. He has produced goals in nationally-prominent games including Johns Hopkins two years ago and North Carolina last spring.

"Dan possesses good offensive skills and sees the field well," said Meade. "We've used him in the invert game over the last few years and will continue to use him in that role."

Reel, meanwhile, is coming off an injury-hampered season where he played in 10 games, but none of them at full strength. He has good speed and is a solid dodger. His experience will give him the edge on an young defender.

"Adam is quick and athletic and does many of the intangibles very well," said Meade. "He had a good fall after being hampered with injuries last spring. We are looking for Adam to be able to help us this year."

Fellow senior Matt Midura has seen limited action over the years, but the coaching staff is looking forward to getting him in the rotation.

"Matt had an outstanding fall," said Meade. "He's been very patient over the years and has waited his time. He's improved in all facets of the game. He has a great stick and can shoot the ball effectively with both hands."

Looney brothers, Steve and Billy, will factor into the midfield for the Mids this spring. Steve, who is one of Navy's top face-off specialists, will stay on the field following the draw to set the midfield.

Meanwhile, the youngest Looney is bigger and stronger than his two older brothers. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Billy Looney's size will be an asset to the Mids offensive attack, similar to how Ian Dingman found success a year ago.

"Billy is going to be an outstanding lacrosse player," said Meade. "He has the ability to play a significant role all four years if he is able to stay healthy. He's big, physical, fast and possesses a tremendous amount of ability. He has improved since he's been here, especially the period between fall ball and the first of the year. I'm really looking forward to seeing him develop."

Three players who have not seen a great deal of playing time, but will provide the Mids with some depth this year are junior Dwayne Osgood and sophomores Trevor Hoselton and Cody Shea.

Osgood has yet to get on track at the Academy after suffering knee injuries in each of the last two years. Should he be healthy this spring, he could provide Navy with significant minutes. Coming into the Academy, Osgood earned high marks from Navy's coaches.

"We had modest goals for Dwayne going into the fall and he met all of them," said Meade. "People have tremendous respect for the way he has handled his injuries and his rehab and that has carried over to the field. We can play Dwayne at attack and hopefully on the midfield if he continues to physically improve. Having Dwayne on the field is an inspiration to everybody."

Hoselton and Shea saw the majority of their minutes in JV games, but both are expected to contribute this spring.

Freshmen Tommy Wallin and William Wallace will likely find their way into the rotation early in the year. Both will lend their talents to the face-off circle, and both have strong offensive sticks. Wallin was the New Jersey player of the year two years ago and gained a great deal of experience at prep school last year.

"Tommy made tremendous strides between the fall and now," said Meade. "He's a gifted athlete who possesses a hard-nosed attitude. I think he will see significant minutes as the season unfolds."

Meade refers to Wallace as a hockey guy. One of the top hockey players in the country as a prep, Wallace possesses nifty stick work and adds a bit of an edge found in ice rinks across America.

"William is another one of the freshmen that has experienced a tremendous amount of improvement over the last few months," said Meade. "Our staff is really excited about his attitude and work ethic. He is a very good face-off specialist and shoots the ball very well, as well. He will definitely play this year."

Face-Off
With the graduation of Navy's leading face-off specialist Chris Dingman, the Mids' coaching staff will look the direction of junior Chris Pieczonka and sophomore Steve Looney to lead the Mids in the draw game.
Pieczonka had a solid campaign a year ago, helping lead Navy to a No. 14 NCAA ranking in face-offs, as the Mids produced a 53.9 winning percentage (124-for-145). He finished the year second in the ECAC Lacrosse League in face-off percentage (league games only), winning 55.3 percent of the draws, and overall he produced a 55.3 face-off percentage, claiming 47 wins out of the 85 attempts. He experienced his most impressive contest at Stony Brook where he won 14 of the 16 draws.

"Chris had a tremendous fall facing off," said Meade. "Chris is one of those people you come across that makes everybody else better because they are around him. He's a great team player, very good leader and does whatever he's asked."

As a rookie, Looney competed in 11 contests as both a midfielder and face-off specialist. He won 10 of the 19 face-offs he took during the season, including six of nine against national power Johns Hopkins. With a year of experience behind him, he will likely be a major factor in the face-off circle.

"Steve is coming off a very good freshman season and had a great fall in terms of stepping up offensively," said Meade. "He has all the intangibles that you hope a player possesses. He can make a play when there is no play. He's one of those players that you just like to have on the field because he plays with so much passion and tenacity that he has the ability to make something happen."

Freshmen Tommy Wallin and William Wallace are expected to add depth to Navy's face-off corps. Both Wallin and Wallace will be active members among the midfield corps, but will lend their expertise in the face-off circle, as well. Wallin possesses both the stature and the gritiness of Dingman, while Wallace has a toughness which will give him an edge over his competitor.

Close Defense
Junior Mitch Hendler will be the cornerstone of the Mids' defense this spring as the only full-time starter returning from last year's tremendously young defensive unit. Last year's team was anchored by All-American Chris Stebbings, but the four-year starter graduated in the spring. This season, Hendler will have to be that corner piece to keep the unit intact.

Hendler earned starting nods in nine of the 13 contests last season, including the last eight games. He has solid stick work and is a tough player despite being just 5-foot-11.

"Coming out of high school, Mitch was a highly-recruited player," said Meade. "He is a very talented and a tenacious player," said Meade. "He understands our system and has come into his own here at the Naval Academy. He's really hit his stride, not only as a player on the field, but a leader, as well."

Another junior who established himself last spring among the corps of close defensemen is Mike Felber. A starter in seven of the 13 contests, Felber possesses terrific footwork and has a good stick. His knowledge of the game gives him an edge over many of Navy's opponents.

"Mike played tremendously last year and has established himself as a starter," said Meade. "He's a great cover guy who understands our defense exceptionally well. He handles the ball and runs the field very well. Overall, he's just a great asset for us."

Fellow junior Pat Reilley is an imposing figure on defense with his size at 6-foot-4. He competed in 12 games last season and earned four starts in the early part of the year. With the graduation of Stebbings who was also a massive and tenacious defender, Reilley could fill that role as he continues to improve."

"Pat is probably the guy that has improved the most coming out of fall lacrosse," pointed out Meade. "I thought we had a number of players make strides, but I don't think any made as significant as Pat. He's a great communicator, has great size,runs fairly well and understands the way we play defense."

Senior Jared Bosanko has been slowed with various injuries over the last two seasons, but healthy, he could be a strong asset to the starting corps of defensemen. An experienced player, he has played with some of Navy's elite defensive players over the last several years.

"Jared is a very smart guy who understands our system," said Meade. "He has had a lingering knee injury, but our hope is that he will be fully rehabbed by the start of the season and be a significant contributor and leader."

Several players will add depth on close defense this season, including juniors Karl Hassenfratz and Matt Meehan. Hassenfratz is recovering from an ankle injury, while Meehan has played both close defense and as a long stick defensive midfielder. Sophomore Chris Barnard gained valuable minutes playing in junior varsity games and has established himself as a strong contributor after fall ball.

Freshmen Andrew Dow and Victor Barger will likely see time in the rotation this spring, as well. Dow was one of the most highly-recruited defensive players two years ago in Long Island and the coaching staff believes he could work his way into the starting lineup by the end of the year. Barger, meanwhile, is also looked upon highly and should serve as a solid backup.

Short Stick Defensive Midfield
Navy's short stick defensive midfield may be the position Richie Meade is most comfortable and excited about because of the depth.

"I don't know if we've ever been this deep at the short stick position," said Meade. "I couldn't be more thrilled with this group heading into the spring."

Junior Clipper Lennon will serve as the anchor among the short sticks with the most experience. Perhaps the most reliable leaders among the team, Lennon earned a starting spot last season. A dangerous player, Lennon can score in transition as he came to the Academy as a midfielder.

"I can't say enough about Clipper," said Meade. "He is a physical guy, smart, plays our defense extremely well, is a very good cover guy and makes very good decisions in transition. Clipper is just solid in every area and it comes across on the field."

Seniors Mike Begley and Brendan Looney will also be key players in the defensive midfield. Begley has been injured for most of his career, however, after being moved from the midfield to defensive midfield, he has exploded. Look for Begley to provide the toughness and niftiness he was once recruited for out of West Genesee.

"Mike has been a spot player for the last couple of years, but this year, he has really come into his own, not only as a player, but as a leader, too," said Meade. "Using his speed, he's able to go from defense to offense easily. He made some impressive plays in the fall."

A tough, strong-willed player, Looney has used the last two years to learn the position and hone his skills. Now in his senior campaign, he is primed to become of the Mids' top players within the defensive midfield.

"Brendan who is a tough, hard-nosed minded guy," said Meade. "He's a tremendous leader who has worked extremely hard since he joined the team."

Another player who will factor into Navy's defensive midfield is junior Dan Harris. After gaining most of his experience in junior varsity games his freshman season, last year he played in 12 of the 13 contests. This season, he will again be looked to add consistency to Navy's midfield.

"Dan had a solid year last year and matured a great deal this past fall," said Meade. "He has a lot higher expectations of himself and has practiced with a little bit more purpose. I thought he improved significantly in the fall."

Sophomores Ward Hackett and Kevin Raspet saw time with the JV squad a year ago, but will provide Navy depth this season. The two second-year players will also gain a great deal of experience from playing with a solid defensive midfield group in which Navy will field this spring.

Long Stick Defensive Midfield
Navy's long stick defensive midfield will be anchored by four-year starter and team captain Thomas Morris. One of the reasons he is one of the premier players in the country is not only his ability to cover his guy on defense, but his ability to cover the field from defense to offense and vice versa has made him a dangerous offensive threat, as well. He has scored a pair of goals every season at the Academy and posts a threat to score in transition.

"I know there are a lot of very talented players in the country at this position, but there isn't one of them that I would trade for Thomas," Meade said. "He does a lot of different things for us - he's great on the wing on the face-off, he's a good cover guy, understand s out defense, can run the field, can score with a long stick. He's had three great years here, but played most of last season with a fairly disruptive shoulder injury."

In now his junior year, James Sullivan is an experienced long stick in the lineup alongside Morris. He was tested late in the season last year when Morris suffered a hand injury was limited in his responsibilities. Sullivan is expected to play factor this spring.

"James is a smart guy, a good system guy," said Meade. "He should be able to give us some good depth at that position."
Newcomers Will Mendizabal and Patrick Winter will add depth to the long stick corps this spring, as well.

In Goal
Last, but certainly not least, is Navy's goalkeeping corps. Though last year's starter junior Seth DiNola returns, there is sure to be a strong challenge from sophomore Matt Russell.

A starter in all 13 games a year ago, DiNola is perhaps the most athletic player on the team. Not only does his athleticism make him stand out among the goalkeeping corps, so too does his leadership skills. Last spring he gave up 111 goals, while posting 111 saves for an 8.69 goals-against average and a 50.0 save percentage. He had a solid league campaign, finishing the season ranked second in GAA, allowing 8.34 goals and posting a 55.3 save percentage. He had one of his best performances in the Mids' contest against Penn State where he produced a career-high 21 saves among the 41 shots he faced.

"Seth had a tremendous spring a year ago and came back to have another solid fall," said Meade. "He's a tremendous leader. In fact, he's one of the best leaders I've ever been around on the field."

Russell battled DiNola last spring for the starting job and will again make the decision difficult for the coaching staff as to who to assign the starting nod.

"Matt was playing great at the end of last year and continued that in the fall," said Meade. "He's going to challenge Seth for the starting goal position. He's a good leader and very quick in the cage. He has gained the confidence of the team.
"Bottom line, we are very fortunate to not only have two outstanding goalies, but two tremendous leaders, as well."

Adding depth to an already strong and stout goalkeeping group are junior Matt Hage and rookie Colin Finnegan. Hage has been a tremendous asset to goalkeeping coach Ray Finnegan who utilizes Hage a great deal in practice. Meanwhile, the Finnegan legacy continues at the Academy with a father-son duo. Son, Colin, had a strong year at the prep school as season and will be a player to keep an eye on as the future embarks Navy lacrosse.