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DIVISION 1
CRESTWOOD
Coach: Brian Zabroski, first season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 5-7/fourth
2014 postseason: Beat Lake-Lehman, 16-5, in quarterfinals; lost in District 2 semifinals to Delaware Valley, 16-1.
Key Players Lost: Tommy Armstrong
Key Players Returning: SR A Andrew Bobynskyj, SR A Jay Popson, JR A Ryan Magin, SR D Dan Frascella, SR D John Majdic, JR D John Macri, SR G Bailey Bauman, SR M Robert Coslett, SR M Matthew Madry, SR M Joe Grandinetti
Season Outlook: The Comets went from one win to five last season and lost just two players to graduation. With 13 seniors on the 30-player roster, this could be the time for Crestwood to close the gap on or catch the three teams above it in the standings.
DALLAS
Coach: Drew Abatangelo, first season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 10-2/second
2014 postseason: Beat North Pocono, 16-1, in quarterfinals; beat Scranton Prep, 8-5, in semifinals; lost in District 2 final to Delaware Valley, 16-4.
Key Players Lost: George Pfeiffer, Chris Behm, Curtis Evans, Josh Weaver, J.T. Carey, Logan Brace
Key Players Returning: JR A Corey Metz, JR M Connor Motley, SR M Matt Ross, SR M/A Omar Nijmeh, SO M Stone Mannello, SR M Jesse Goode, SR A Brendan Baloh, SR D Mike Olenginski, SR D Mike Shutlock, JR LSM Connor Macarty
Season Outlook: The Mountaineers bring back much of their attack and midfield from the team that finished second in the conference and the district a year ago. They will use that experience and depth to try to push the pace. “We’re bringing a play-fast mentality to the game,” Abatangelo said.
DELAWARE VALLEY
Coach: Jeff Krasulski, 7th season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 12-0/first
2014 postseason: Beat Crestwood, 16-1, in semifinals; beat Dallas, 16-4, to win District 2 championship; lost in first round of PIAA state tournament to Lewisburg, 10-9.
Key Players Lost: Connor Lamberton, Tristan Earle, Jesse Feiss
Key Players Returning: JR A Nick Pampalone, SR LSM Connor VanWie, SR A Erik Landaas, SR M Tadhg Dowd, SR M Devan Polanis, SR M Angelo Matz, SR M Jed Daniel, SR D Scott Brown
Season Outlook: The few graduation losses were significant ones but the WVC’s top program also has some major talent returning. Lamberton, an all-star goalie, and Earle, the first DV player with more than 100 goals and more than 100 assists in a career, are both playing in college. Feiss is playing football at Ursinus. Pampalone returns after setting a school record with 63 goals last season when Lindaaf added 59. VanWie has committed to play at Division II Southern New Hampshire. “We have a lot of veterans,” said Krasulis, a Nanticoke graduate. “In total, we have 11 seniors. I’m counting on all of them for a lot of minutes.”
NORTH POCONO
Coach: Robert Lamanna, third season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 1-11/seventh
2014 postseason: Lost in District 2 quarterfinals to Dallas, 16-1.
Key Players Lost: Ryan Zaffino, Greg Potts
Key Players Returning: SR G Jason Lamanna, JR M Matt Kelly, JR A Dom Rinaldi, JR M Riley Lougee, SR D Jonathan Boruta
Season Outlook: The Trojans are still distinctly in the growth mode of their program. Jason Lamanna, the son of the coach and program founder, had three years of youth experience prior to the school team. Kelly had one. Everyone else has been brand new. “These kids came in with no lacrosse skills at all,” Robert Lamanna said. “What we’ve been doing is really trying to work with stick skills to get these kids up to speed.” Lamanna, Kelly, Rinaldi and Boruta are now three-year varsity players. Lamanna is “waiting for the future to come” with dozens of North Pocono School District students now playing youth lacrosse in Scranton since the sport’s start on the high school level. For now, the program remains self-funded, getting only a playing field from the school district.
DIVISION 2
LAKE-LEHMAN
Coach: Brandon Kelley, first season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 3-9/tie for fifth
2014 postseason: Lost in District 2 quarterfinals to Crestwood, 16-5.
Key Players Returning: SR G Jake Yaple, SR M Brian Devine, SO M Charlie Kuschke, SR A Jim Loefflad, SR D Dave Kessner, SR D Phil Hettes
Season Outlook: Senior Andrew Sharkus is a transfer from Gloucester Cathoic (N.J.) near Philadelphia where he played defense for the Rams. He came to the area to play junior hockey with the Wilkes-Barre Miners and adds to what already could be a stronger defense for the Black Knights.
SCRANTON PREP
Coach: Jon Knowles, third season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 8-4/third
2014 postseason: Beat Tunkhannock, 13-1, in quarterfinals; lost in District 2 semifinals to Dallas, 8-5.
Key Players Lost: Danny Horvath, P.J. Zaccagnino, Hunter Mulligan, Mario Guillorn, Owen Perih, Tyler Trama
Key Players Returning: JR M Chris O’Brien, SR D Cael Wylam, JR G Michael Golden, JR A Mike Morrissey, SO A Anthony Osticco, JR M Joe Campolieto, JR D Brendan Betti
Season Outlook: The Wyoming Valley Conference’s split into two divisions this season leaves Scranton Prep as the clear favorite in Division 2. The Cavaliers won more games last season than their other three division opponents combined (Wyoming Area is new to the sport). If Scranton Prep can generate enough offense it could be too much for all but the top team or two in Division 1. O’Brien is a returning all-star midfielder.
TUNKHANNOCK
Coach: Eric Janiszewski, fourth season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: 3-9/tie for fifth
2014 postseason: Lost to Scranton Prep, 13-1, in District 2 quarterfinals.
Key Players Returning: JR A Sean Andres, JR A Andrew Mills, SR M Matt Dymond, SR D Kory Callum, SR D Anthony Marturano
Season Outlook: A year after facing the challenge of replacing 14 seniors, Janiszewski has the advantage of returning his entire starting lineup. With few seniors among that group, Tunkhannock could be in the first year of a two-year upswing.
WYOMING AREA
Coach: Shaun Rohland, first season
2014 WVC Record/Finish: Not applicable
Key Players: FR A Jake Urban, FR A Sammy Greenfield, FR D Conor McCormick, SR D Jeff Skursky, FR D Justin Joseph, SR D Ken Burkhardt
Season Outlook: The players who make up the first Warriors teams are split almost equally between freshmen with some youth experience and other athletes who are trying the sport for the first time. “The biggest thing is our youth program that feeds into the Wyoming Area School District, the Valley Laxerz,” Rohland said. “As long as that continues to flourish, in two or three years, we’ll be on par with some of the top teams in the conference.”