By MARK PRATICO II
For the Trentonian

While the past few seasons of Colonial Valley Conference lacrosse has come down to the battles of West Windsor-

Plainsboro North, and West Windsor-Plainsboro South, two other schools have been building their program to be equally competitive with the neighboring powerhouses.

Notre Dame and Princeton, although suffering some tough losses from a year ago, figure to be in top form going into this season and will battle the West Windsor pair for the counties top spot. Hopewell Valley and Robbinsville are also shored up for a solid season.

From the Prep School scene, Lawrenceville figures to be the preeminent team, as it is already off to a dominant start. The running nine time state champions will look to do nothing less than earn another state title. Every Prep School still figures to be strong this year with Hun, PDS, and Pennington also packing a lot of talent.

WW-P South

Head Coach: Matthew Foret

2010 Record: 14-7

Key Performers: Alex Rohrbach (Sr); Christian Clancey (So): Alex Sandgren (So); Bijan Matthews (Sr); Thomas Efstathios (So); Christopher So (Sr); Marty Flaley (Jr); Austin Gioseffi (Jr); Josh Lee (Sr)

Outlook: The Pirates have a veteran presence in attack, midfield and defense. This should allow them to be well organized in all phases of the game. Rohrbach is a versatile and veteran attacker who can create for himself as well as his teammates. He should draw a lot of attention making it easier for some of the less experienced offensive players to be successful. South lost some key graduates including Henry Macqueen, Chris Matthews, Jack Dennehy, Casey Tosches, Jeff Matthews and Brandon Lerner, but they should still be very formidable in the CVC.

Notre Dame

Head Coach: Jerry Middlemiss

Roster: Justin Adams (Sr); Ryan Anglim (Sr); Sean Brett (Sr);Kyle Brown (Sr); Matt Burke (Sr) Chris Carney (Sr); John Cifelli (Sr); Kevin Corrigan (Sr); Pat Dinneny (Sr); Connor Fuller (Sr); Tim Gallagher (Sr); James Hahn (Jr); Tom Hogan (Sr); Andrew Knuttel (Sr); Alex Lerner (Sr); Sam McDermott (Jr); Tyler O’Neil (Sr); Anthony Rice (Jr) Tom Sellers (Jr); Mick Sferra (Jr); Charles Wakley (Sr); Ryan Wiese (Sr); Spenceer Zuech (Sr)

Outlook: The Irish are a more conditioned and physically stronger team than last year. A big problem for ND in the past has been unforced errors. It needs to minimize them and become familiar with a new offensive scheme and develop its close defense into a cohesive unit. The Irish have one of the strongest returning classes this season, and could make another run at the county championship.

Lawrence

Head Coach: Anthony Ammirata

2010 Record: 3-12

Roster: Xan Dingwall (Sr); Josh Gresack (Sr); Ben Kraun (Jr) Ryan Janoska (Sr); Chaz Nagy (Jr); Colin Rodgers (Jr); Nick Bosted (Jr); Jon Tino (Sr); Matt Hinson (Jr); Alex Finan (Soph); Brandon Huang (Sr)

Outlook: The Cardinals are growing every day, and will hope to rely on good leadership from the seniors to be competitive in the growing CVC. Lawrence figures to be very strong on the defensive end and will use its experience to its advantage.

Ewing

Head Coach: Jim Drake

2010 record: 3-13

Roster: Jalone Archer (Sr); Daniel Abey (Jr); Kenneth Arlt (Sr); Daniel Bamber (Jr); David Bamber (Jr); Daniel Beck (Sr); Isiah Bourdeau (Fr); Michael Cleary (Fr); Christopher Daly (Jr); Gregory Falcone (Jr); Jalen Forston (So); Jeryon Gregory (Fr); Christopher Griffith (So); Glen Hartman (Sr); Jake Heiart (Sr); Akahyl Henry (Fr); Daniel Kaplan (Sr); Thomas Lam (Jr); Brandon Leese (Sr); Ryan Leverton (Sr); Kyle Mulrennen (Sr); Thomas Piriano (Jr); Michael Rypisi (Sr); Kyle Scott (Sr); Ryan Scott (Sr); Daniel Scozzaro (Sr); Ausar Wrigjt (Fr)

Outlook: This is the biggest group of seniors that coach Jim Drake has had, and an additional large group of freshmen who played in the Trenton Bridge Program gives Ewing a very deep roster. Ewing’s strength will be in its midfield, and it hopes to build and compete in a very tough conference.

Hopewell Valley

Head Coach: Rob Siris

2010 Record: 11-8

Key Players: Eliot Rose; Taggart Whittaker; Ryan Mahn; Pat Ekel; Mike Devaney Matt Pagano; Murf Butler; Brett Simon;Kyle Hoehn; Nick DeBenedetto

Outlook: Last season the Bulldog’s offense was led by several high scoring sophomores. This season, they have very strong junior class led by attackers Rose and Whittaker. At midfield Ryan Mahn returns as a potent shooter and feeder. HoVal is always a very competitive side with every team it faces, and the depth and talent it has could make for the program’s best year yet.

Robbinsville

Head Coach: Chris Penna

2010 record: 11-9

Key Performers: Jared Icenhower; Johnny Demkovitz; Jack Virgie; AJ Sanguinetti Jimmy Eckstein; Tommy Langford; Jake Sonnenfeld; Ryan Mayer; Joe Carrubba; Brett Hackel; Zack Wyche; Dan Connolly; Billy Tharp; AJ Fascenda; Sean Donughue; Sean Calabro; Thomas Bell; Chris Deck; Joe Carfaro; Jeff Kalczynski; Trevor Verry

Outlook: Robbinsville is slowly getting better in every sport that the school offers, so why should lacrosse be any different. The Ravens return over 20 letter winners from a year ago, which should make for an even better season than last year, which was still pretty impressive considering the Ravens won their first state tournament game against River Dell. Penna expects his squad to be strong offensively and defensively, but he has concerns about his midfield, and goalkeeper positions, but this year can potentially be an excellent one for the Ravens.

WW-P North

Head Coach: Rich D’Andrea

2010 record: 19-5

Team Roster: Josh Bloom (So); Mike Miller (So); Victor Wu (Jr); Kyle Newman (So); Dave Sandberg (Jr); Jake Slonaker (Sr); Sean Henry (Fr); Liam Corbett (So); Jake Barz (Sr); David Zohn (So); Chris Bryde (Jr); Zach Winterstein (So); Ben Mushumar (So); Ben Bugge (Jr); Steven Taft (Jr); James Mulhall (Sr); Bafi Owoh (Jr); Nick Belezza (Jr); Brian Lentine (Sr): Cameron Farmer (Jr); Josh aWeitz (Sr); Brendan Kenavan (Jr): Sam Havlicheck (Jr); Sam Korsen (Sr)

Outlook: The two time Mercer County Tournament Champions graduated 21 seniors from last year’s squad. D’Andrea proudly sees his team as a blue collar, and scrappy team who will work hard for every point. Solid defense and possession lacrosse will allow the Knights to be successful this season. The only three returning varsity letter winners are Slonaker, Kenavan, and Sandberg.

Princeton

Head Coach: Peter Stanton

2010 Record: 17-5

Roster: Griffin Peck (Sr); Mike Hellstern (Sr); Dean DiTosto (Sr); Robby Dowers (Sr); Kirby Peck (Jr); Bassel Hashem (Sr); Kevin White (Jr); Elliot Wilson (Jr); Will Kister (Sr); Nate File (So); Zach Halliday (So); Pat McCormick (Fr); Owen Diver (Sr); Mike Irving (Sr); Nick Sandford (Jr): Tom Sacchetti (Jr); Paul Mbusa (So); Will Hare (Fr); Jonah Glasgold (Jr); Matt Purdy (Fr); Alex Rifkin (Jr); Kevin Halliday (Fr); Matt Corrado (Fr); Colman Preziosi (Jr): Matt Olentine (So); Colin Lamb (So); Jack Miller (Sr); Pat Lynch (Sr); Steve Braun (Sr)

Outlook: Last year, four of Princeton’s five losses were when itscored 10 or less. Stanton said he anticipates having to win games by holding teams to five or six goals this season. Gone is a lot of the Little Tigers’ firepower in attack, but they return a lot of leadership on the defensive end with Irving, Dowers and the senior Peck in goal. Hellstern and Kister are the engines in midfield while Lynch and Preziosi have to step up in attack.

Allentown

Head Coach: Michael Kays

2010 Record: 7-11

Roster: Trevor Fernes (Sr.), Tyler Fredericks (Sr.), Tyler Freeman (Sr.), Christopher Johnston (Sr.), Scott Keleher (Sr.), James-Patrick Kiczalis (Sr.), Alex Legge (Sr.), Cody Marks (Sr.), Chris Pepe (Sr.), Brian Tobias (Sr.), Kyle Lewis (Jr.), Luke Olexsak (Jr.), Tughe Blazier (So.), Marc Kwietniak (So.), Ryan O’Leary (So.), Ryan Raslowsky (So.), Connor Roy (So.), Kevin Singler (So.), Nick Singler (So.), Kyle Sulit (So.), Michael-John Adler (Fr.), Brian McNutt (Fr.), Justin Pepe (Fr.).

Outlook: The Redbirds have a senior-laden team, including Freeman (Kean) and Legge (Lebanon Valley College) who are already signed to play in college. Their experience should help Allentown improve and have a shot at a winning season this year.

The Hun School

Head Coach: Tom Kelso

2010 Record: 8-9

Roster: Connor Rice (Sr); Kevin Brown (Jr); Phil Gursahaney (Fr); Andrew Winterstein (Sr); Cameron Dudeck (Fr); Steffen Gratch (Jr); Mark Burke (Jr); Will Sweetland (Sr); Andrew Colicchio (Jr); Gordon DeGeorge (So); Nick Guns (So); Michael Buckbinder (Sr); Scott Munley (Sr); Jared Cotton (Sr); Will Grayson (Sr); Chase Goulburn (Fr); Brian Patriarca (Sr); Benjamin Schenkman (Jr); Alex Bidwell (Fr); Garrick Wier (Sr); Matt Bunsa (Fr); Zach Bicho (So); Connor Stevenson (Sr); Iain Alexandridis; Devin Cheifetz (Fr); Jim Arnold (Jr); Krys Maingrette(Jr)

Outlook: Hun returns its entire attack from last year in Sweetland, Gratch and Alexandridis, which makes the Raiders very strong on the offensive end. The trio played together last year and will hope build off of the experience and camaraderie. Hun always plays a very competitive schedule and is pretty well stacked with Munley, Cotton, and Winterstein, Bicho and Grayson making up the midfield. Patriarca, Stevenson and Buckbinder will make up the defense as Hun hopes to win both the Bianchi Division title and the MAPL.

Pennington

Head Coach: David Donahue

2010 record: 10-8

Key Players: Joe Alesio (Jr);Mujahid Fricke (So), Jim Gravalis (Sr), Cody Menk (Sr), Evan Vile (Jr), Greg Gravalis (Fr); Ben Colalillo (Sr), Brian Roof (Jr), Steven Hawkey (Jr), Matt Barbuscio (Jr), Bryson Walker (Sr), Andrew McWhirter (Sr); Alex Gericke (Jr), Chris Pibl (So), Kevin Smolar (Jr), Tucker Hart (Jr)

Outlook: Pennington had its first winning season in five years in 2010, and that is something it will certainly look to build on. Unfortunately, it will not be easy, as Donahue’s club will have to do it without the services of eight graduates. On the bright side, four of its top six goal scorers return.

Princeton Day School

Head Coach: Rob Tuckman

2010 Record: 6-10

Key Performers: Peter Blackburn (Sr); WilL Kearney (Sr); Aaron Shavel (Sr)

Outlook: Tuckman is excited about this season as he believes that this Panthers squad is stronger than in years past. PDS has talent in every part of the field. The Panthers performed well in preseason and in their scrimmages which provides a little extra motivation as the 2011 season gets underway. The goals of the group this year are strong showings in both the Mercer County and State Tournament.

Lawrenceville School

Head Coach: Allen Fitzpatrick

Returning upperclassmen: Matt O’Connor; Brendan Newman; Ehret Faircloth; Connor Brown; Makr Leonhard; Eric Adler; Christian Lawrence; Rafe Teer; Mac Cordrey; John Salemi; Nick Ogden; Walker Kirby; Nolan DeMarco; Morgan Kirby; James Lawrence; Jack Vallis; Alistair Berven

Outlook: Nine state championships says it all. The Big Red has won every state championship since 2002, and will look to do no less than get one for the other thumb this season. There is no shortage of talent in the Lawrenceville locker room, as Fitzpatrick has depth and remarkable talent in every position. If anyone is hoping to watch high school lacrosse at its best than come watch the Big Red play.

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