The men’s lacrosse team is scheduled to play their first game of 2012 on Saturday, Feb. 25, against the Haverford College Fords on Haverford’s home turf. After posting a 13-6 record in 2011, the Cavaliers are ready for the new season to begin.
Last year, the No. 14 ranked Cavs lost to No. 7 Haverford by a score of 6-5 in their only regular season meeting but they still finished with a 6-0 record in CSAC play. Cabrini went on to win their 11th-consecutive CSAC championship before losing to Stevenson University in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Sophomore attack Matt Biegel and his teammates have been actively preparing for their season-opening game.
“Coach Colfer has us working hard during practice and in the weight room, so we are ready physically and mentally for that opening day,” Biegel said. “It is a game we had a lead in last year and ended up losing by one, which still is a pretty bitter feeling for us. It’s good motivation and I think it will help us to succeed this year.”
Biegel obtained CSAC Rookie of The Year honors in 2011 and also was a CSAC Second Team selection. He played in 18 games and made 14 starts while finishing sixth on the team in scoring with 28 points (19 goals and nine assists).
Senior defenseman John McSorley was recognized as a USILA Honorable Mention All-American and earned CSAC First Team honors in 2011. He played in 19 games last season and had a team-high 64 groundballs.
Another key player on the team is junior goalkeeper Erick Zarzecki. In 2011, Zarzecki received All-CSAC First Team honors and started all 19 games for Cabrini while posting a 13-6 record. He also finished the season with 178 saves and a goals against average of 6.93.
Even though the team lost key seniors Paul Skulski and Steve Heaps, the men’s team has a number of young players coming in this season.
“I have been very impressed with our freshman class so far,” Biegel said. “The freshmen are really starting to find specific roles on the team. We lost some pretty key seniors last year at every position; however, I think our four seniors this year provide good leadership and know what it takes to win.”
Steve Colfer, head coach, believes his team is well-prepared and ready for the season.
“My feelings are that the guys are working hard and now we’ve finished four weeks of practice and two weeks of scrimmaging,” Colfer said. “We’ve done the little things we had to do, hopefully to be ready for our game on Saturday.”
Anthony DiNenno, Mike Leyden, Anthony DiSanzo and Julius Mouser are just a couple of new players that Biegel feels are ready to contribute right away. Biegel also feels that seniors McSorley, Joe Arrell and Brian Hill as well as junior Bob Thorp are good captains and leaders of the team.
Even though the team lost some great key senior players, the coach has seen great potential in the players.
“Our freshmen have been great, they’ve been working hard,” Colfer said. “They’ve fit in with the team not only on the field but off the field.”
After winning the CSAC championship last season, the Cavs are hoping to take home the title again and move deep into the NCAA playoffs.
“We all believe we will and can go a lot further than that,” Biegel said. “I believe we have a great group of kids who can easily achieve these goals.”
