Season Outlook - Guilford College

Guilford College Men's Lacrosse 2006 Season Outlook

Guilford looks to continue its progress as it comes off of a 5-8 season that saw its 72-game conference losing streak end with a 9-8 overtime win against Virginia Wesleyan.  The Quakers also defeated crosstown-rival Greensboro College, 7-6, for the first time since 1996. The game was ranked by Laxpower.com as Division III's biggest upset in 2005.  Head Coach Andrew Rowe returns 19 letterwinners and welcomes 15 newcomers to the 2006 squad.

Here's a preview of the 2006 Quakers:

      ATTACK:  A very young group headlines the Guilford attack.  Sophomore Preston Gilbert (5 goals, 14 assists in 2005) is the only starter returning from last year, and will quarterback the offense.  Sophomore Colin Davis (1g-2a) joins Gilbert, and freshman Matt Conrad.  Conrad will be one of many rookies who will be asked to play key roles this season.  Also vying for time are freshmen Doug Tracey, Kevin Thomas, and Gareth Fuller.

      MIDFIELD:  The Quakers' midfield will rely heavily on their veteran leaders on attack and defense. On offense, senior captain Bryan Borchard (21g-8a), a 2005 All-ODAC selection, returns as the Quakers' leading goal and point scorer.  Sophomore Todd Bochenek (13g-15a) moves from attack to the midfield this year and will start along side Borchard (right)  and sophomore Dan Orr (4g-1a).  Three freshmen, Devin Swanson, Will Carpenter, and Jarrett Zeigler, will make up the second line. The Quakers will see contributions from sophomore FJ Ientile and freshmen Ben Strope,and Matt Meriwether on the third line.

      Senior captain Brian Burt returns as the team's starting long-stick midfielder, and junior Alex Penny and senior Doug McConnell will provide added depth.  At the short-stick defensive midfield position, Guilford returns their entire crop from last year, with senior captain Jonathan Jenkins, juniors Marcus Rowe and Carl Simon, and sophomore Manny Sargeant.  Freshman Dan Simpson takes over the face-off duties, with help from Simon and Meriwether.

      DEFENSE:   Guilford will again rely on a young group on the defensive end. Sophomore Tyler Harrison was the Quakers' best one-on-one defender last year and returns as the only starter from 2005. Freshmen Gates Benson (a 2005 US Lacrosse Boys High School All-American), Kyle Boylan, Warren Brown and Jesse Gellerson will all push for the final two spots. Coach Rowe expects all to contribute quality minutes on the field in 2006.  Sophomores Gary Beste and Carl Farlow have both improved and are expected to make an impact this season.

      GOALIES:   Andrew Vigne returns as the Quakers' starter after a successful freshman season where he totaled a .585 save percentage and 204 saves. Pushing him will be junior captain Andrew Bond who has been consistent in his first two years. Sophomore Ian MacPhail and freshman Matt Lysczek provide quality depth in the goal, something Guilford has lacked in recent years.

      Guilford faces a difficult out-of-conference schedule that includes facing perennial power Washington College, along with Cabrini, Catholic, York and SUNY Maritime. The Quakers open their season against Goucher and host Wooster and Oberlin before kicking off their ODAC schedule against Hampden-Sydney April 1.