2010 Lacrosse Media Guide.Qxd
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Mark Brian Scioscia Chris Karalunas Bryan Ficke McCartney Mark Scioscia Paul Webber Greg Boukas Bryan McCartney Kevin Kaval Michael Arvan VILLANOVA QUICK FACTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Location . .Villanova, Pa. Quick Facts . .1 Founded . .1842 2010 Season Outlook . .2-3 Enrollment . .6,200 2010 Roster . .4 Nickname . .Wildcats Head Coach Michael Corrado . .5 Colors . .Blue and White Assistant Coaches . .6 Conference . .BIG EAST Player Profiles . .7-17 Website . .www.villanova.com Joining the BIG EAST . .18 2009 Statistics . .19 CAA Success . .20 Wildcat Leaders & Records . .21 VILLANOVA ADMINISTRATION Awards & Honors . .22-24 2010 Opponents . .25 President . .Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A. All-Time Series/Results . .26-28 Athletics Director . .Vince Nicastro Senior Associate AD/External Operations . .Bob Steitz Senior Associate AD/Senior Women’s Administrator . .Lynn Tighe Associate AD . .Rev. Rob Hagan, OSA Associate AD/Communications . .Dean Kenefick GENERAL INFORMATION Associate AD/Compliance . .Gordon Finch Assistant Athletics Director/Business Operations . .Brian Murray The 2010 Villanova Men’s Lacrosse Media Guide was prepared by Assistant Athletics Director/Facilities and Operations . .Mick Keelan the Villanova Office of Media Relations specifically to assist the Director of Facilities/Operations . .Steve Pizzi Director of Branding and Marketing . .Chris Evans media in the coverage of Villanova men’s lacrosse. Requests for Director of Media Relations . .Mike Sheridan additional information, interviews, and photographs should be Director of Sports Medicine . .Lenny Currier directed to the Office of Media Relations, Jake Nevin Field House, Compliance Coordinator . .Katherine Centrella 800 Lancaster Avenue,Villanova, PA 19085, (610) 519-4120. Post- Athletics Business Assistant . .Rosemary Mazzotta competition interviews: We request your consideration for both Travel Coordinator . .Jen Burns the student-athletes and the coaches. Please allow both coaches Ticket Manager . .Bob Nyce and student-athletes a 10-15 minute cooling-off period following Head Athletic Trainer . .Jeff Pierce the game for an interview. All interview requests should be Equipment Manager . .Lionel Brodie Assistant Equipment Manager . .Tom Dunphy cleared through the Office of Media Relations. Director of Intramurals and Recreation . .Lisa Melillo Academic Support/Faculty Representative . .Dan Regan Associate Director of Academic Support . .Amy Morgan CREDITS Assistant Director of Academic Support . .Jenn Porreca General Manager/Villanova Sports Properties . .Craig Curtis Chief Editor . .Krissy Woods Associate General Manager/Villanova Sports Properties . .Amy Weinstein Chief Photographers . .Jerry Millevoi, Enrique Mendoza, Jim Bogdanor Assistant General Manager/Villanova Sports Properties . .Tim McCullough Printing . .Villanova University Graphic Services Cover Design . .Mike Brennan (Graphic Services) MEN’S LACROSSE QUICK FACTS Head Coach . .Michael Corrado (Villanova ‘87) Record at Villanova . .23-23 Career Record . .23-23 Corrado’s Email . [email protected] Men’s Lacrosse Office Phone . .(610) 519-4146 Assistant Coach . .John Derham (Villanova,‘88) Assistant Coach . .Simon Connor (Villanova ‘04) Assistant Coach . .Joe Canuso (Villanova,‘06) Home Field (Capacity) . .Villanova Stadium (12,000) Field Surface . .Astroplay 2009 Record . .11-6 2009 CAA Record/Finish . .3-3/t-3rd Letterwinners Returning/Lost . .25/15 Starters Returning/Lost . .6/5 Newcomers . .11 Men’s Lacrosse Contact . .Krissy Woods E-Mail . [email protected] Office Phone. .(610) 519-6460 Page 1 2010 Season Outlook 2009 proved to be a historic year for the 'Cats.A first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, a CAA tournament championship, CAA Co-Coach of the Year honors for Mike Corrado, USILA All-American and CAA Defensive Player of the Year accolades for Brian Karalunas and numerous individual accolades for last year's 12 graduating seniors, the previous year was surely one for the record books. But with a new team, a newly formed BIG EAST lacrosse confer- ence and a new attitude, the Wildcats are eager to hit the turf for the 2010 season. Attack Perhaps the biggest challenge for Coach Mike Corrado will be replacing the two leaders in points last season in Tim Driscoll and Matt Fritts, both of whom combined for 60 points last season. However, Corrado will be looking towards the young lineup of sophomores Matt Bell (Serverna Park, Md.) and Kevin Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y.) and a pair of freshman in Jack Rice (Baltimore, Md.) and Will Casertano (Millbrook, N.Y.) to be the top four guys in the attack position. "Those four guys will be our anchors on offense" says Corrado. Bell and Cunningham combined for 16 games played last season and have plenty of experience considering the strength of schedule the Wildcats continual- ly endure. "Matt Bell at attack has had a really great fall. He was our fourth guy last year and got some playing time, but he's really made a big jump.We'll be counting on him for sure," says Corrado. Rice, a standout on high school lacrosse powerhouse Boys' Latin School in Baltimore, Md. comes to the team with all-conference and team MVP honors. "Rice has a chance to be a great player for us this year. He's an attackmen who just knows how to score. He's our leading scorer in practices and in our games this fall. He's got the chance to have a great season." Casertano recorded 30 goals and 14 assists in his senior season at the Salisbury School and will add depth to the front line. Corrado states, "In addition to those key four, Paul Mita (Berwyn, Pa.), Alex Westcott (Millerton, N.Y.) and Nick Doherty (Bernardsville, N.J.) will be playing a lot of attack and midfield for us this year. They'll give us a lot of options on the offensive end." Midfield Building upon the traditional strong midfield that fans have come to expect from Villanova, Corrado will be looking to junior Mike Brennan (Manhassett, N.Y.) and senior co-captain Mark Scioscia (East Hampton, N.Y.) to lead the company of Paul Webber (Manhasset, N.Y.), Chris Aiken (Haverford, Pa.), C.J. Small (San Diego, Calif.) and Nolan Vihlen (Germantown,Tenn.) at the midfield spot. "Those are probably our top six guys, and Mike Brennan and Mark Scioscia will be key to the leadership and devel- opment of our core group. Brennan is one of the best all-around midfielders in the country, he does everything. He wings on face-offs, man-up, man-down, he's fast… he just does everything," marks Corrado. Brennan provided the Wildcats with a solid individual effort in 2009, starting all 17 games while record- ing 9 goals and 18 assists for the season, good for 27 points. Scioscia played in 16 games last year and notched a gritty 21 groundballs while scoring 9 goals and providing 5 assists. Behind them pushing for time will be senior Michael Arvan (Penfield, N.Y.), senior Kevin Kaval (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), sophomore CJ Burke (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and freshmen classmates Max Hart (Bethesda, Md.) and Harte Thompson (Chester Springs, Pa.). "Arvan, Kaval, Burke, Hart and Thompson gave us a good effort in fall ball, and they'll be looking for some playing time as we get into spring" said Corrado. Defensive Midfield Senior Co-Captian Mark Scioscia is expected to provide the Wildcats with an offensive spark this Coach Corrado believes the short stick defensive unit is one of the most vital on the field.This year, season after scoring nine goals in 2009. the four-man rotation will be junior T.J.O'Donnell (Randolph, N.J.), junior Andrew Henrich (Wyndmoor, Pa.), freshman Nick LoBiondo (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) and sophomore Joe Payne (Birmingham, Mich.). O'Donnell and Henrich combined for a total of 20 games played last season while Payne gained valuable experience over the summer and this past fall for the Wildcats. LoBiondo guided Mountain Lakes High School to two state championships during his tenure and tallied 17 goals, 5 assists and 43 groundballs last year as a senior. Corrado states, "Those four have been playing together all fall and we'll count on them during the spring." Page 2 Face Off Specialist Nolan Vihlen and T.J.O'Donnell will once again share face-off duties for the Wildcats, both of whom gained valuable experience at the position last year. Vihlen won 110-230 attempts as a faceoff man while O'Donnell recorded.