ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy freshman attackman Sam Jones (Annapolis, Md.) made his debut in front of his hometown crowd a memorable one, scoring five goals to lead the Navy men’s lacrosse team to a 14-8 victory over VMI in both teams’ opener Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  The five goals by Jones are the most by a Navy player since Taylor Harris unleashed for six against Holy Corss on March 26, 2006, and ties as the second-most goals by a Mid during head coach Richie Meade’s 17-year tenure at the Academy.

“I’ve been dreaming about coming to the Academy and playing lacrosse since I was probably four years old,” said Jones, who is a third-generation Navy lacrosse player.  “My grandfather (Jack Jones, a 1954 graduate who was the ‘54 recipient of the Kelly Award), nor my father (Dave Jones, a 1982 graduate who was the captain of the lacrosse team his senior year) pressure me.  It was just something I always wanted to do.

“I?was more anxious than nervous,” admitted Jones about his start in Saturday’s opener.  “But having played with Tucker (Hull) and Harrison (Chaires) at NAPS, we have a good chemistry so that made me feel more comfortable.  Our middies did a good job of moving the ball and I just happened to be the one open.  For a guy that’s dreamt about this since he was four or five, it’s a pretty cool feeling.”

Jones, however, wasn’t the only Navy rookie to have a successful collegiate opener.  Fellow starting attackman Tucker Hull (Charlotte, N.C.) scored one goal and dealt out assists on three others, while Ellicott City product Harrison Chaires turned in a goal and an assist and Austin Heneveld (East Hampton, N.Y.) pumped an extra-man strike late in the third.  In sum, Navy’s rookie class accounted for 12 points with eight goals and four assists.

The Mids also saw junior midfielder Nikk Davis (Cockeysville, Md.) score a pair of goals, while a relatively unknown junior Taylor Reynolds (Babylon, N.Y.) got the opportunity he’s long waited for at attack and capitalized.  Not only did Reynolds score his first-collegiate goal, he also produced his first-career hat trick in what was his first-career start.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” said Reynolds, who played alongside Ryan O’Leary and Matt Bitter as an invert middie group his freshman year and was predominately used as a rider in his sophomore season.  “Matched up with two freshmen out there, it’s really a huge leadership responsibility and one that I’m more than happy to take on.  To get a chance to not only show what I can contribute, but also start a game is really a dream come true.”

While Navy’s offense seemed to be a well-oiled machine, it seemed to take a quarter of play before the Mids were truly settled on both sides of the field.  In fact, after the first quarter of play, the game was locked up at 4-4 and two of Navy’s goals were scored on extra man.

“I think there was some concern about getting into a game where we might get impatient or frustrated,” said Meade, who has directed the Mids to win in 10-consecutive season openers.  “They put some pressure on our offense early on and I?thought we did a good job of handling it.  Once we got through the first quarter, I?think we were able to gain control in second.”

Navy, indeed, was the dominant team in the second stanza, outscoring the Keydets 6-2 to take a 10-6 at intermission.  It was during that quarter that Navy’s attack was nearly unstoppable, scoring all six goals.  Jones, in particular, was stellar, scoring three goals in the period, including a goal where he was falling down and was surrounded by three defensive players.

The Mids cooled off a bit in the second half, scoring just four goals, but the damage had been done.  Additionally, Navy’s defense held its ground and kept the Keydets off the scoreboard for roughly 15 minutes, giving up a goal at the 2:23 mark in the second and not again until 2:07 in the third.  Meanwhile each team punched in a goal in the fourth quarter.

Although VMI won just two more faceoffs than the Mids, the Keydets got instant offense from draw specialist Stephen Robarge.  The Preseason All-American scored twice against Navy keeper RJ Wickham (Penn Yan, N.Y.) after gaining the ball off procedure calls. Navy’s Logan West (Berlin, Md.), however, finished the day winning 11 of the 18 faceoffs he took, one of his finest days at the faceoff “x” as he was just one win shy of tying his career high for wins.

Defensively, sophomore Peter Rogers (San Diego, Calif.) made his debut where he paced the Mids with four caused turnovers and grabbed three ground balls.  Freshman Pat Kiernan (Ridgewood, N.J.) was also strong in his collegiate debut, pacing the Mids in ground balls with six and causing three turnovers.

“The defense made a lot of mistakes and there were probably four goals that we gave up and shouldn’t have,” added Meade.  “I think it was a really good effort and while a lot of things went well for us, there’s a lot that we can improve upon.”

The Midshipmen will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to Baltimore to battle Loyola.  Navy will look to avenge last year’s loss in which  Cooper MacDonnell punched in his sixth goal of the game with just nine ticks left in overtime to lead the 15th-ranked Greyhounds over the Mids, 8-7.  Saturday’s game is slated for a 2:00 pm start. The game will not be carried on the radio due to coverage of Navy’s men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader against Army.

#16 UMass Posts Total Team Effort In 8-5 Win Over #12 Army
The Minutemen dominated the Black Knights in shots 50-22.

Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score Below

AMHERST, Mass. – The No. 16 UMass men’s lacrosse team posted a total team effort in topping No. 12 Army at Garber Field, on Saturday with an 8-5 victory in the opener for both teams. UMass dominated on both ends of the field as they Minutemen outshot the Black Knights, 50-22. On defense, the Minutemen forced Army into 20 turnovers and goalie Tim McCormack backstopped with nine saves.

Junior Tom Celentani and Jake Smith led the way on the defensive end for the Minutemen, causing a combined five turnovers. The close defense and defensive midfield were stellar all game. UMass held Army to just one goal over more than 38 minutes spanning the second to the fourth quarters.

On the offensive end, sophomore Colin Fleming posted a two-goal game, while Anthony Biscardi and Will Manny each had three points with a goal and two assists respectively.

For the Black Knights, Tom Palesky was rock solid, posting 18 saves and keeping Army in the game for much of the afternoon, despite the disparity in shots.

UMass opened a 2-0 lead just 2:43 into the action as Fleming and Mike Fetterly notched goals. The Minutemen went on to outshot Army, 20-2 in the first period.

The Black Knights tied the game at 2-2 on quick second-quarter goals by Garrett Thul and Jay Laing, but UMass answered and kept the lead for the rest of the game. Steve D’Amario was credited with a goal as Army played the ball into its own net for the go-ahead marker with 11:11 left in the second quarter.

That started a span of UMass scoring five of the next six goals over 38:27 until the Black Knights finally broke the drought with Jeremy Boltus’ second goal of the game.

Manny iced the game a pretty goal off a feed from Biscardi with 1:53 left in the game to secure the win.

Faceoffs were equal at eight for each side. UMass won the ground battle, 27-17 on ground balls.

Brian Lantier To Be Inducted Into Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame
NEW YORK, N.Y. —  Ten new members, all having earned All-American honors, have been selected for induction into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame at the 26th Annual ceremonies to be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Huntington Hilton.

Selected to be enshrined are Richie Flynn, Paul Goldsmith, Karen McCrate Henning, Brian Lantier, Dave McCulloch, Gary Reh, Jerry Simandl, Michelle Cusimano Vachris, Chris Walker and Tim Worstell.

The Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame was established in 1985 by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation, a chapter of US Lacrosse, the sports national governing body.

A brief biography of each of the 10 inductees follows.

RICHARD FLYNN
Goalie
Mineola High School 1987
Ohio Wesleyan University 1991
Duke/Tobay Lacrosse Club 1992-2000
NY Saints 1991-1996
Lacrosse Unlimited Club 2001-2004

Richie was a High School All Division selection in 1986 a High School All Conference selection in 1987 and played in the Exceptional Senior Exceptional Game. At Ohio Wesleyan he was named First Team All America in 1991 and was also selected as the Division III Goalie of the Year after garnering 2nd team honors in 1989 &1990. Flynn played in the USILA North South game following his senior year. During his career Ohio Wesleyan won the University Conference Championship four times. After graduation, Richie played for the Duke/Tobay Lacrosse Club and earned All Club honors in 1994, 1995, 1996 and1997. He was a United States Club Lacrosse Association All Star in 1992 and 1993.  Flynn coached in the Three Village Youth Lacrosse Program from 2006-2008.

PAUL GOLDSMITH
Attack
Levittown Division 1979
Roanoke College 1983
Tampa Bay Lacrosse Club

Paul was a High School All Conference and All Long Island selection in 1979. At Roanoke College he was named 1st Team All America in 1982 & 1983 and was a member of the Roanoke College ODAC Championship Teams in 1981, 1982 & 1983. In 1982 he was selected as the ODAC Player of the Year following his senior season he was selected to play in the North South game while being named the Jack Turnball Award winner as the DIII Outstanding Attackman in 1983. He also received the Hero’s Award for his contributions to his team’s success. Since 2007, Paul has served as a coach for the Tampa Bay Lacrosse Club.

BRIAN LANTIER
Midfield/Attack
Huntington High School 1960
University of Maryland 1961
US Naval Academy 1965
Philadelphia Lacrosse Club 1972

Brian was named an All Metro and New York State All-American at Huntington High School in 1960. After earning honorable mention All America recognition at the Naval Academy in 1963 and 1964, Lantier was named 1st Team All America in 1965. The US Naval Academy was selected as the National Collegiate Champions following the 1963, 1964 & 1965 seasons. Lantier was Team Captain in 1965, and participated in the USILA North/South game. In 1965, Brian was elected to the USNA Athletic Hall of Fame won the NCAA Silver Medal, the USNA Wingate Memorial Trophy, the Cyrus C. Miller Trophy and the Stuart Oxnard Miller Memorial Trophy. In 2007, Lantier was inducted into the  Bilderback-Moore Navy Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He served as an Assistant Coach at St. Ignatius HS, San Francisco, CA in 1985, as a member of US Lacrosse Board Member North California Chapter from 2005-present and as a member of the US Lacrosse Foundation Board Member in 2008. He was a Naval Officer from 1965-1970 and served his country in Vietnam. Lantier has also served as  Mayor/Councilman in Colts Neck, NJ.

KAREN MacCRATE HENNING
Attack
North Shore High School 1992
University of Maryland 1996
Dartmouth Assistant Coach 1997-1998
C.W. Post Coach 1998-2007
Head coach Colby College 2008-Present
Karen earned All-America honors as a senior at North Shore High School. She attended the University of Maryland where she lettered in lacrosse four times, earning All America honors during her junior and senior years. Maryland was undefeated in each of those two campaigns winning the NCAA Championship in 1995 and 1996. Following her graduation, Karen served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College. In 1999 she was named the head coach of the newly established C.W.Post women’s lacrosse team. Over the course of eight seasons, she compiled a record of 103-21, while capturing two NCAA Division II National Championships.  In 2008, she was named the head women’s lacrosse coach at Colby College and has led the Mules to two NESCAC titles.

DAVID McCULLOCH
Attack/Midfield
Ward Melville High School 1981
Naval Academy Prep School 1982
Hofstra University 1986
LI Lacrosse Club, Suffolk Lacrosse Club
Professional Lacrosse (1987-1990)

At Ward Melville, McCulloch was a Suffolk County High School Championship ’80, High School Team MVP and Captain.  At Hofstra University he was selected as a third team All America in 1986 as  well as 1st team All East Coast Conference. Dave played in the 1986 North-South Game after serving as a three year college captain. He finished his college career with 135 career points.  Following graduation, McCulloch played for the LI Lacrosse Club 1887-1991; Suffolk Lacrosse Club 1992-1994.   as well as playing Professional Indoor lacrosse from 1987-1990, winning an a World Championship in 1988.   He is currently coaching in the Three Village Youth Lacrosse program as well as the LI Sting U17 Travel Team.

GARY REH
Midfield/Attack
Rocky Point HS 1991
Adelphi University1995

Gary played on the Rocky Point HS Championship Team 1990 and 1991and was named All-League, All-County and All America both seasons. Reh was selected to the Long Island Empire State Team in 1990 and the Exceptional Senior Game in 1991.  At Adelphi University, he was a member of the NCAA Division II Championship Team in 1993 and 1995 earning First Team All America Honors in 1993, 1994 and 1995. In addition, Gary was named the Player of the Year 1993 and 1995. Reh is the Varsity Lacrosse Coach at Wantagh High School since 2007. He was the  Assistant Coach at Wantagh from 2001-2007. Wantagh won the Class A NYS Championship in 2001 and was a Nassau County Finalist 2010. In 2010, Reh received the Alan Lowe “Coach of the Year” Award. Since 2006, he has been a Long Island Empire Team Evaluator while coaching in the Patchogue-Medford Youth Lacrosse Coach (Girls) since 2008.

JERRY J, SIMANDL
Attack
Freeport High School 1951
Hofstra University 1955

Jerry served as Captain while he was the leading goal scorer and Team MVP at Hofstra in 1955 after serving as Co-Captain and winning team MVP  honors at  Hofstra in 1954 and 1955. In 1955, Hofstra was the Laurie Cox Division Championship Team, and Simandl was named to the All-Star Team. He was named 2nd Team All America, played in  the North-South Game and led the Country  in Assists (58) and Points (102) in 1955. He completed his career as the Hofstra career points (238) and career assists (119) leader. In 2007 he was inducted into the  Hofstra  Hall of Fame. In 2009, his jersey , #10 was retired by Hofstra University. Simandl served as a United States Naval Officer for four years.

MICHELLE CUSIMANO VACHRIS
Goalie
Manhasset High School 1992
University of Virginia 1996
National Girls Team
North South All Star Game 1996
Coached at Yale 1997

Michelle played lacrosse at Manhasset High School where she was selected All County as a sophomore, Honorable Mention All America honors as a junior and All America as a senior. In addition, Michelle was named the C, Markland Kelly winner as the Division 1 Goalie of the Year following her junior and senior seasons. She was also named to the Long Island National School Girl team in each of her four years of eligibility. Upon graduation, she enrolled at the University of Virginia where she was named All America three times, including first team twice.  In 1996 she was selected to the NCAA All tournament team. Following graduation she played in the North South  game and was selected to the ILWCA Academic Honor Toll. In 2002 she was inducted into the Manhasset Lacrosse Hall of Fame and was also selected to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 50th Annual Lacrosse Team. Michelle was a member of the United States Development Lacrosse Team and coached for one season at Yale University.

CHRIS WALKER
Defense/Long Stick Midfielder
Ward Melville High School 1983
University of North Carolina 1987
Men’s Club Lacrosse
At Ward Melville, Chris was team captain his senior year, while earning All- League, All- County, All America honors along with being named the Ray Enners Award winner as the best lacrosse player in Suffolk County. Ward Melville captured the  High  School Championship in 1982-1983. In 1983, Chris set the Ward Melville school record for points scored by a Defenseman with 13 points (8 goals and 5 assists). Upon his arrival at North Carolina he was named the Jay Gallagher Outstanding Freshman in 1984. The Gallagher Award is named after Garden City native Jay Gallagher who coached at North Carolina in the late 70s. Chris earned All America honors three times (HM ’85; HM ’86; Third Team ’87);  while earning all All ACC 1st Team honors in 1985. In 1986 he was the co-winner of UNC’s Holmes Harden Sr. Memorial Award for most ground balls. North Carolina won back to back National Championships in 1986 and 1987. Chris served as captain of the 1987 National Champions and received the Needham Unsung Hero Award that year. He ranks 5th all-time in career ground balls at UNC with 299 (the only defenseman in the Top 5.  Following graduation he played 5 years for the Maryland Lacrosse Club and was a Club All-Star (South Team in 1989, 1991, and 1992). Maryland won the Club championship and the Brogden Cup in British Columbia in 1992. In 1991, Chris played for the U.S. Elite Team (v. Canada) in the North America Cup at Syracuse.  Walker presently coaches youth lacrosse for the Maryland Lacrosse Club.

TIM WORSTELL
Attack
Garden City High School 1979
University of Maryland 1983
New York Athletic Club

Tim was a High School All American at Garden City High School as well as an All County selection in 1978 and 1979. In addition, he played in the North South High School All Star Game in 1979. Worstell held the Long Island Record for most goals in a season (88) until 2006. At Maryland, Tim was an ACC
Champion Team in 1980, received the Dr. Reginald Trump Award for Scholastic Attainment and Overall Team Performance and the Unsung Hero Award. Maryland was a two time Quarter Finalist (1981 and 1982) and an NCAA Semi Finalist 1983 during his days in College Park. In both 1982 and 1983 he was the Terrapins 2nd Leading Goal Scorer. In 1990, as a member of the New York Athletic Club CALL team, Worstell was an All Star, and Team Captain of the CALL Champions. He is presently the Garden City Rams Youth Lacrosse Coordinator and a Member of the Garden City High School Hall of Fame. In 2006 he received the NCLCA Ed Crabbe Service Award.

### Go Navy ###