FIGHTING TIGER MEN’S LACROSSE READIES FOR THE 2008 SEASON

Coming off their most successful season in over a decade the SUNY Cobleskill men’s lacrosse team enters the 2008 season looking to build on the momentum established after finishing 4-7 overall in 2007. If the Fighting Tiger expect to move to the next level and make a serious run at a NJCAA Region III Tournament appearance they will have to survive a one of their most challenging season schedules in recent seasons.

With five of their first eight games against nationally ranked programs on the road; the Fighting Tigers will return home to face, Region III powers in the nationally number six ranked Tribunes of Monroe Community College from Rochester, NY before traveling to Herkimer, NY to face the number four ranked Generals of Herkimer Community College. “This year will be a challenge for us. We have an extremely tough schedule this season and will be depending on a number of freshmen. How quickly those freshmen can adapt to the college game will determine our success this year,” said second-year Fighting Tiger Head Coach Ryan Gunzinger.

The Fighting Tiger’s strength this season will rest with its experienced defensive unit.   Cobleskill will attempt to set the tone early in games with physical play from returning starting defenders senior Jim McFadden, West Babylon, NY, West Babylon High School, senior Mike Steves, Syracuse, NY, Nottingham High School, and senior long-stick midfielder Blane Murray, Waterloo, NY, Waterloo High School. The Orange & Black will also depend heavily on freshman goalkeeper Robert McDonald, Amherst, NY, Amherst High School, who has shown great athleticism and displayed an impressive ability to clear the ball in early season workouts.

Offensively, the starting attack unit will be young but has unlimited of potential according to Coach Gunzinger. The frontline will be led by 2007 All-Mountain Valley Conference selection; attackman Matt Hughes, Wallkill, NY/Wallkill High School, who returns for his senior season. Joining Hughes up front will be freshman attackman Jake Hutchins, East Greenbush, NY, Columbia High School, and freshman attackman Brendan Wemssen, Seaford, NY, Seaford High School.  Fighting Tiger senior midfielder Andrew Abbott, Onondaga, NY, Corcoran High School, will run the show on the offense for the Fighting Tigers. The Cobleskill captain returns this season after leading the team in scoring with 20 goals and seven assists a year ago. The program will also look to get additional scoring from freshman midfielder Alex Harwylkiewicz, West Babylon, NY, West Babylon High School, and freshman Matt Pierce, Ogdensburg, NY, Heuvelton High School, this season.

The Fighting Tigers will open the 2008 season on Monday March 10th when they travel to Germantown, MD to meet Montgomery Community College with face-off scheduled for 4:00 PM.