Mix Of Returners, Newcomers Spur Falcons' Efforts In 2009
Posted: 2/26/2009
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Fourth-year head coach Geoff Weisenborn will be looking to guide Messiah to its third MAC Championship this spring.

Grantham, PA — Messiah lacrosse returns for a 2009 season after once again finishing regular-season conference play with an undefeated record and an overall record of 11-6 (7-0). The 2008 campaign concluded with a hard fought loss to Widener University in the MAC Championship game by a final of 10-6. The Falcons graduated 11 seniors which included the starting goalie, four poles, five middies and an attackman. After losing such a large class the team reloads giving opportunities for new players to step up and lead the team to another successful season.

The attack is led by returning starter and Second Team All-MAC selection senior Jeff Ziegler (35g,16a – Taneytown, MD), who along with sophomore Phil Wendt (7g,4a – Grand Island, NY) are elusive and shifty dodgers from behind. They play well off each other and will look to catch defensemen off guard all year. Freshman James Baden (West River, MD) will play mostly on crease. He finishes well and seems to find open space in the crease with good instincts that will help out the offense. Senior Matt Ayre (1g – Britton, MI) looks to compete for a spot on EMO with his cannon of a shot and to help out on the crease and on the perimeter in zone offensive sets. Freshman Steve Kozuhowski (Westmont, NJ), a converted goalie, and transfer sophomore Andrew Nichols (Franklin, MA) are both small shifty attackman who will look to contribute. Sophomore Brandon Kaminski (Hanover, PA) will help out as a practice player this year and looks forward to returning to the active roster next season.

The midfield returns some key contributors such as MAC Rookie of the Year and returning sophomore JJ Miller (9g,3a, 57% faceoffs – Odenton, MD), a quick, explosive dodger who will compete for face off time with junior Brent Stewart (8g,2a, 60% faceoffs – Silver Spring, MD). Brent is a powerful face off man and dodger who will move to a more offensive role this year on the top two lines. Junior Nate Windon (1a – Demascus, MD) will contribute greatly as well and is a very smart player who is great at finding open teammates and gets himself into good positions to score. Sophomore Pete Owens (2a – Jessup, MD) has matured and plays with more confidence this year. He will use his large frame to dodge by defenders and has an improved shot from last year which should help him put up some points this year. Sophomore Eric Petters (Ephrata, PA) has moved from a defensive middie to a role as a two-way middie on the top lines and will look to contribute with his strong dodging and shot. Senior Andy Cureton (Grayslake, IL) has moved from attack to middie and hopes to add some size and offense to our midlines with strong dodging. Junior Steve Feltner (Baltimore, MD) will play defensive middie and is a very physical on ball defender. Sophomore Grant Leighty (Vienna, VA) has stepped into an all-around middie role as he will help us on faceoffs off the wing, play shorty on man down and play defensive middie. Freshman Josh Buswell (Mt. Airy, MD) is a quick physical middie who will push for time at defensive middie. Senior Hamilton Anderson (3g,1a – Kirkland, WA) came out very strong this year and was looking to lead our midfield but unfortunately won’t be able to play the season due to an injury. Freshman Greg Morrissey (Westfield, NJ) was showing some very good things on the field but will have to wait until next year as he was injured and will be out for the season as well.

The Defense returns some very good players and with the addition of some talented freshman will look to shut down offenses all year. Junior Morgan Kupfer (1g, 34GB – Annapolis, MD) an All-MAC second team selection, senior Tyler Lee (16GB – Bothell, WA) and sophomore Rod Yates (1GB – Davidsonville, MD) have all been playing very well together on defense. Morgan is physical, very good on and off ball and leads the defense with quick feet and a great stick. Tyler, who switched from LSM to close, has done a great job adapting to dodges from behind and with his athletic ability, physical frame and loud nature will contribute greatly this year. Rod has improved from his freshman year and is very good on crease, slides hard and eats up shots from all over and should see good time. Junior Adam Gerhart (5GB – Ephrata, PA) will step into the LSM roll and may have the best stick on the team this year. He seems to find ground balls and will help greatly on man down. He will be pushed by freshman Matt Everhart (Baltimore, MD) who also has a very good stick and will contribute on man down. Sophomore John Forsythe (Blooming Glen, PA) will push for time at close as he is a very good on ball defender who plays very physical defense. Junior Kenny Allen (Palatine, IL) has shown very good improvements from last year and with an improved stick has a tendency to find and knock down passes and communicates very well. He will look to push for time on man down and defense. Sophomore Kevin Connally (4GB – Carlsbad, CA) who saw time on man down last year will again push for time as well as Freshman Jared Nies (Jamesville, NY) who is a hard hitter and plays physical defense.

In goal we have three keepers vying for a starting spot. Senior Greg Latimer (6 saves – Sykesville, MD) has backed up the starter for the last three years, knows the defensive schemes and is anxious to get his opportunity to shine. Sophomore Zach Cureton (1 save – Grayslake, IL) fills a lot of space in cage and with his quick hands and feet looks to stop a lot of shots and could be a very good keeper as well. Sophomore Josh Stewart (Taneytown, MD) returns from a year off and has shown great things in cage and is skilled at using his body as well as his stick to stop shots and take up valuable space inside. All three have different skills to offer and will battle for time as the season progresses.

The falcons will look to go three straight years undefeated in conference play and hope to win their third MAC Championship since beginning play in 1997. Messiah opens the season this Friday at Ursinus College at 4 p.m. and will play their first home game next Wednesday, March 4th against Washington College at 4 p.m. on Anderson Field.

-Ian Lee