2008 Outlook

2008 brings a new conference name, new opponents, a new turf field and high expectations for the school’s first conference championship.

The team will quickly look to replace Dennis Helverson, John Lock, Brian O’ Donnell, Joe Schneider and Tim Sarzynski who were all four year contributors to the program.

In goal, senior co-captain Sean Meehan will provide strong leadership in net and will be expected to tutor highly regarded freshman goalie Mike Leonard who will see meaningful minutes this season.

Co-captains Tim Mumford (Senior) and Bob Nelms (Junior) along with senior Matt Sweeney, all with veteran experience, will anchor the defense. Newcomer Steve Carr, sophomore Tim Munsey, junior transfer Dan Schultz and a number of talented freshmen will challenge for playing time.

The key midfielders all hail from Northeast Philadelphia and should be the heart and soul of the team. Seniors George Lane, Walt Mikolajewski and Mike Sweeney each bring three solid years of experience and must provide speed, skill and the toughness to control the middle of the field.

They will be joined my junior Sean Kilpatrick, sophomore Ryan Murray and junior transfer Pat McCue. All are hard working and mentally tough and will need to support the defense and score goals.

The offense must produce goals. Senior Ed Pratt has the size and strength and will be the target person. Senior Andrew Severns is the hardest working player on the team and will be the offensive spark plug. While sophomore Matt Meier will add speed and determination to the forward line, the Griffins’ attack must disrupt the opposing defense.

Second year player Lennon Alexander continues to develop and has shown marked improvement. The forwards will be pushed by four freshmen hoping to earn playing time.

The 2008 campaign tests the Griffins early, taking on nationally and regionally ranked opponents Franklin & Marshall and Eastern in a two-day tournament over Labor Day weekend.

The Griffins will play a tough non-conference schedule during the month of September. In continuing to improve our program we have again sought to play the highest level of competition. Three difficult matches await in Richard Stockton, Rutgers-Camden, and Misericordia.

Once conference time begins in October the team hopes to be battle-tested in making a run at the first ever Colonial States conference championship.

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