SPORTS

Boys Lacrosse Preview: Dodgers ready to return to the top

Lauren Knego
inactive

If the preseason has been any indication, the Madison boys lacrosse team will be a program on the rise this season.

After a 2014 season in which the Dodgers finished a disappointing 5-14 after advancing to the North Group I final the year before, Madison underwent some changes. Coach Mark Sweeney, who had been at the helm for 14 years, retired and Andrew Apel was hired as the new head coach. Apel spent the last three years with Ridge, helping the team to the Group IV title and the Tournament of Champions crown in 2013, for which he was named the 2013 NJ Lacrosse Assistant Coach of the Year.

"It's great because everyone is taking it a lot more seriously," senior midfielder Ethan Tannen said. "It hasn't been serious the last couple of years, but with this new coach the practices are more serious, it feels more organized and we're all taking it a lot more serious as a team."

The Dodgers return six seniors and a handful of juniors that saw playing time as sophomores, which has given Apel a number of options at each position.

"I am pleasantly surprised, I really am," Apel said. "I think we're better at defense then I expected us to be, we have a lot of midfielders who are very athletic, which is good for us. We have some real good choices at the face off X and we have a lot of choices in the goal right now. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad and they're still playing themselves out right now in a lot of spots."

Seniors AJ Schmitz (27 goals, 15 assists) and Vince Sapio (28 goals, seven assists) are the top two threats on offense, according to Apel, and there are a few sophomores that will see playing time. Attack Pat Grahling and midfielders Will Anton and Charlie Cleaves will see action on the offensive end, while long stick midfielders Mike Kearney and Stephen Esposito will contribute on defense.

Seniors Zach Green and Will Wraith are two returning defensive players, while Tannen, senior attack Austin Sterkel and junior midfielders Justin Dalena (9g, 6a, 20 ground balls), Matt Jackson and Luke Artiglere will be looked to to help generate the offense. The seniors are also looking forward to helping change the culture of the program and return Madison to one of the better teams in Morris County.

"I'm looking forward to having a winning record and doing well, and getting the team back together to where Madison should be," Schmitz said. "We want to change the program around."

The first step is buying into a new coach, a new staff and adapting to changes, which the players have done, according to Apel. Apel said the coaching staff hasn't implemented a ton of new changes, but they've made little tweaks to their offensive and defensive systems designed more specifically to the kind of players Madison has.

The Dodgers open the season at home against Pope John on Saturday and will play in the Waterman Division with Morristown, Morristown-Beard, Columbia, Caldwell, Montclair Kimberley and Livingston. Schmitz and the rest of the team is excited for the first game and to see where the Dodgers can go, as runs in the Morris County Tournament and state tournament are goals this season.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing them progress as a team, as a group and come together and realize that they have to play for each other a little bit," Apel said. "We're trying to get back to the culture of what Madison lacrosse was five years ago, which was one of the dominant programs in the state and that's sort of what I look forward to, is seeing how close we can get to that."

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: 973-428-6674; lknego@gannett.com

Players to Watch

Joe Norton, Boonton

The senior midfielder returns after totaling 36 goals and 12 assists for the Bombers last year.

Graham Jesperson, Montville

The junior attack finished with 25 goals and 15 assists for a 12-8 Montville team last year.

Mark Laratta, Mount Olive

The senior attack led the Marauders with 40 goals and 18 assists last season.

Owen Mead, Sparta

The junior attack, committed to Binghamton, totaled 31 goals and 25 assists last season.

Connor Kirst, Delbarton

The senior midfielder returns after finishing with 20 goals, five assists, 82 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers.

Brad Smith, Mountain Lakes

The senior attack and returning All American finished with 45 goals and 38 assists for the Lakers.

Kevin Beimfohr, Mountain Lakes

The senior goalie split time in net last year and finished with a 61 save percentage as the Lakers went 22-4 last year.

Teddy Hatfield, Morristown-Beard

The senior attack had 89 goals and 81 assists for the 19-3 Crimson last season.

Thomas Rago, Morristown-Beard

The senior attack led the Crimson with 92 goals and had 57 assists last year.

Liam Lilienthal, Pequannock

The junior attack/midfielder finished with 47 goals, 37 assists and 74 ground balls

last season.