2010 boys lacross preview: A look at Teams 2-5
2. St. Margaret’s: Gerry Manning’s team shared the Trinity League title last year and expects to contend for the crown this year and should have another successful playoff run.
“We have a solid returning core team,” Manning said. “The defense will be strong as always. The offense will benefit from a lot of team speed. It’s the strongest team skill-wise in two years for us.”
St. Margaret’s is led by senior goaltender Jeff Askin, who had 125 saves and two shutouts last year. Also back is Chris Adams, a senior defenseman, who had three goals and 52 ground balls and senior attack Johnny Murayama, who had 41 goals and five assists.
The Tartans will also look for a big season from junior Davis Edwards, who had 10 ground balls and sophomore defenseman Nolan Lynch, who had 35 ground balls.
Junior midfielder Hunter Meece, who had 15 goals and five assists and sophomore midfielder Chris Bauer, who had eight goals and two assists are also back. Also returning is sophomore midfielder Matt Duenes, who had seven goals and nine assists.
Senior attack Jacob Graham, who had 12 goals and six assists, junior attack Mitchel Pok, who had 16 goals and two assists, senior midfielder John Carpenter, who had five assists and 43 ground balls and sophomore attack Kent Iizuka, who had eight goals and seven assists, are among the other key players.
3. El Toro: The Chargers were 13-4 overall last year and 6-2 in the Sea View League and return two senior attack players, Elliot Freeks, who scored 33 goals and Jeff Lyon, who scored 21.
“We have a good balance of returners and we are deep at every position,” Coach Rich Knox said. “We should challenge the top teams in Orange County.”
Knox hopes his team can also challenge Foothill for the Sea View crown.
Among the other top players are junior attack men Jake Johnson and Chris Snarr. Senior midfielders Mike Adams and Lucas Rice, junior midfielder Spencer Core, sophomore midfielder Jake Craycraft and senior defensemen Jackson Wyatt and Jordan Bridgeman are other top players.
The Chargers are also looking to senior attack man Kyle Allen and senior goalie Austin Morales.
4. JSerra: The Lions took major steps last year under Coach Michael Hutnick, finishing 15-7 overall and sharing the Trinity League title with an 8-2 record. The team was also the Division II champion at the Orange County playoffs.
JSerra looks like it has the ability to contend for another title and make another long playoff run, led by senior goalie Max Gold, who was first team all-league.
Also returning is senior midfielder Tony Lemos, who was second team all-league and scored a team-high 59 goals last year. Junior midfielder Joe Kimpler, a second team all-league player, also returns.
Among the other returning players are senior midfielders Jeff Andrews and Patrick Clayton, senior attack Bobby Brown and senior defender Mike Franscell.
JSerra is also looking for big contributions from senior midfielders Samir Hanna and Dylan Johnson.
5. Corona del Mar: The Sea Kings were ranked No. 1 in the county for most of the season and got to the finals of the county championships but lost to Foothill, 10-8, in the title match.
Corona del Mar, which was 20-2 overall and won the Pacific Coast League title with a 10-0 mark, must replace the county player of the year Noah Molnar. In his senior year, Molnar had 79 goals, 43 assists and 81 groundballs.
G.W. Mix takes over as head coach for Mark Todd, who stepped down and inherits a talented team which includes his son, senior attack Ryan Mix. Mix scored 66 goals and had 36 assists despite missing three games with an injury last year. He was named all-county and earned All-American honors.
Among the other top players are senior defenseman J.D. Abbott, who was second team all-county last year, senior attackmen Randall Nelson, Daniel Noto and Alex Mainthow and junior defenseman Donald Dalton.
Senior midfielder Kyle Canale, senior goalie Hugh Russell, sophomore attack Michael Ortlieb, junior midfielder Patrick Ewles and senior midfielder Blake Burkhart are other top players for the Sea Kings.
Click here to see previews of the 6-10 teams in the county preseason Top 10
