2008 Woodie Awards
Despite slow start, high hopes for men's lax
Lauren Rudolph
Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: Sports
The men's lacrosse team has many reasons to be optimistic this year: a new head coach, 30 returning letter winners, two pre-season Honorable Mention All-Americans (Tim Skeen and Harry St. John) and a loss of only two seniors. Although last year's record (7-6) might seem unimpressive, five of those six losses were to teams ranked in the Division III Top Ten.
Also, the Generals have a lot of experience going into this season. Gene McCabe, the new head coach was a former assistant at W&L (1998-'01), and the White and Blue went 17-1 in the ODAC with McCabe during those three years, and was ranked #1 in the nation during the 1999 and 2001 seasons. Along with the guidance provided by the head coach and six assistants, seniors, and four-year veterans Charlie Clarke, Peter Goodwin, and Chris Lalli will prove to be strong leaders for the team.
The season has started slowly for the Generals: They lost the season opener to Cabrini 6-5in a heartbreaker before picking up a 9-3 victory over York College. They then dropped their next two games to ranked oppoennts Gettysburg College and Washington College. Fortunately, the Generals rallied back on Monday to post a convincing 24-1 win over Hood College, winning by the largest margin since 2001. Sixteen different team members scored in the victory, lead by junior attackman Ned Rider (3 goals) and senior attackman Grant Martin (3 assists).
The Generals (2-3) will take on Franklin and Marshall (2-1) this Saturday at Wilson Field in Lexington to vie for their first consecutive wins of the season, and then the Generals will face top-ranked ODAC foe Roanoke (5-1) the week after that.
Also, the Generals have a lot of experience going into this season. Gene McCabe, the new head coach was a former assistant at W&L (1998-'01), and the White and Blue went 17-1 in the ODAC with McCabe during those three years, and was ranked #1 in the nation during the 1999 and 2001 seasons. Along with the guidance provided by the head coach and six assistants, seniors, and four-year veterans Charlie Clarke, Peter Goodwin, and Chris Lalli will prove to be strong leaders for the team.
The season has started slowly for the Generals: They lost the season opener to Cabrini 6-5in a heartbreaker before picking up a 9-3 victory over York College. They then dropped their next two games to ranked oppoennts Gettysburg College and Washington College. Fortunately, the Generals rallied back on Monday to post a convincing 24-1 win over Hood College, winning by the largest margin since 2001. Sixteen different team members scored in the victory, lead by junior attackman Ned Rider (3 goals) and senior attackman Grant Martin (3 assists).
The Generals (2-3) will take on Franklin and Marshall (2-1) this Saturday at Wilson Field in Lexington to vie for their first consecutive wins of the season, and then the Generals will face top-ranked ODAC foe Roanoke (5-1) the week after that.
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