CSU Men's Lacrosse Ready to Kik Off Title Defense

CSU MEN’S LACROSSE READY TO KICK OFF TITLE DEFENSE

Nine months after claiming their record setting fourth MCLA national championship, the Colorado State Rams men’s lacrosse team is ready to get back on the field. While most of the championship team remains in tact, some major changes and a difficult schedule will test CSU’s mettle in 2007.

Fresh Face
The Colorado State Rams are pleased to unveil a significant website update for the 2007 season. Thanks to webmaster Andy Sharp, head coach of the Calvin College lacrosse team, CSU’s site has a sharp new look with several new features. Coach Flip Naumburg’s journal is still prominently highlighted, along with news, pictures and info about the team. Surf the site at www.csulacrosse.com.

Hall of Famer at the Helm
In the fall of 2006, long time Colorado State head coach Flip Naumburg was inducted into the Colorado Lacrosse Federation Hall of Fame. In 2007 Coach Naumburg enters his 11th year as head coach at CSU. He graduated from Colorado College in 1975. During his first 10 years at Colorado State, Naumburg’s record stands at 170-32 (84.2% winning percentage). CSU has appeared in the national championship game in seven of eight national tournament chances. In those eight national tournament appearances, CSU’s record is an astounding 24-4 with four national championships. As owner of Rock-It Pocket, Flip is well established in the lacrosse community. Naumburg has also been co-director of the annual Vail Lacrosse Shootout for the last 35 summers.

Graduation Nation
Perhaps the most notable loss for Colorado State this season will be three-year starter Pete Jokisch in goal. Jokisch was the unquestioned mainstay in the pipes for the Rams since the 2004 season and will be severely missed. The Rams also lose two starters from their close defense as Kellin Bershinsky and Kurt Nakazono played their final seasons in 2006. Midfielders Tyler Bue and Mike Murphy join do-everything Matt Reiss in the graduated ranks as well. Reiss could prove difficult to replace as his versatility allowed him to move from playing attack for most of his career to becoming a dominant long stick middie by the time his senior year was finished. His offensive approach to defense is not something that can be trained. One more significant loss, though not due to graduation, will be felt up front as the team’s second leading scorer, Tyler Treece, left school for personal reasons.

Filling the Holes
Colorado State had an unprecedented eight goalies in the fall, all of whom brought something to the table in an attempt to replace Jokisch. Two goalies separated themselves from the rest as junior Garrett Fitzgerald (Regis HS; Denver, CO) and sophomore Lance Simmons (Thunder Ridge HS; Highlands Ranch, CO) became the heir apparents. Fitzgerald and Simmons bring two completely different styles to the goal and will likely each see some big moments this season. Junior Kurt Bisnette (Hinsdale Central HS; Hinsdale, IL) and transfer Alex Jacques (Bainbridge Island HS; Bainbridge, WA) will also push for some time as the season progresses. This is the first time CSU has been without a clear-cut #1 goaltender since 1999, when Ty Wilson and Cale Vanvelkinburgh shared duties en route to the Rams’ first national championship.

The defense appears to have made a strong transition as four long poles have risen above the rest. In a traditionally deep position for CSU, what the Rams lack in depth, they make up for in talent. Senior captain Adam Schnirel (Mt. Lebanon HS; Pittsburgh, PA) is ready to step into the national spotlight after consecutive 2nd Team All-RMLC seasons. Schnirel’s athleticism and poise make him one of the top defenders in the country. Joining him will be senior Ian Wilson (Arapahoe HS; Littleton, CO) and junior Dylan Preble (Bainbridge Island HS; Bainbridge, WA). Wilson and Preble bring size and experience to the back line. The wild card will be redshirt freshman Andrew Stein (Columbine HS; Littleton, CO). Stein sat out last year to focus on academics and the time off seems to have been more than beneficial. With great stick skills and a flair for the dramatic, Stein will be instrumental as the season progresses.

Sophomore Jay Matlin (Boulder HS; Boulder, CO) returns after a stellar freshman campaign as the team’s primary long stick middie. Freshman Chris Rosa (Pomona HS; Arvada, CO) and junior Tom Fender (Thunder Ridge HS; Highlands Ranch, CO) will both contribute at LSM as well. Fender will also likely see minutes at close defense.

CSU will not be quite as deep at midfield as they have been in the past. Returning stalwart Pat Bird (Bishop O’Dowd HS; Oakland, CA) is perhaps the most physically imposing force in the MCLA and will lead his team in more ways than one. Juniors John Tomlinson (Smokey Hill HS; Aurora, CO) and Ryan MacDonald (Smokey Hill HS; Aurora, CO) join sophomores Stephen Lundberg (Cherry Creek HS; Denver, CO) and Will Cantwell (Lakewood HS; Lakewood, CO) to put pressure on opposing defenses. Cantwell’s versatility will allow him to fill in at attack from time to time while Lundberg presents an athletic match-up problem every time he is on the field. Senior Ryan Trude (Mt. Lebanon HS; Pittsburgh, PA) and Robert Morris transfer Justin Backstrom (Heritage HS; Littleton, CO) provide some depth along with junior Joel Tromburg (Heritage HS; Littleton, CO), who will spend a lot of time at the face-off ‘x.’

CSU’s defensive middies are among the best around as senior Jack Genadek (Roseville HS; Roeville, MN) appears to have recovered fully from a broken leg suffered against Arizona in the national quarterfinals last year. Junior Lee Cates (Rangeview HS; Aurora, CO) and senior Brian Vickery (Rangeview HS; Aurora, CO) are physical and athletic while junior Dylan Bowman (Fairview HS; Boulder, CO) can flat out run the ball up the field.

While they have always been known for having some of the best attackmen around, CSU will be tested up front in 2007. Losing Treece hurts, but it helps to return the services of the country’s best all-around attackman in senior captain Danny Stevens (Suffern HS; Suffern, NY). Stevens led the RMLC in points in 2006 and hopes to continue his success this season. Already at fifth all-time in the CSU record books, Stevens stands a good shot at moving up to third with a decent season this year. Senior Brian Stone (Air Academy HS; Colorado Springs, CO) scored the game winning goal in last year’s championship game against the University of Colorado and appears ready to step into a starting attack role this season. The third spot will be filled by junior Campbell Diebolt (Central Bucks East; Doylestown, PA), who had a solid sophomore season. Junior Ben Wallace (Thomas Jefferson HS; Denver, CO) and Cantwell will need to step up at times also.

Scheduling for Success
Colorado State’s 2007 schedule is packed with quality opponents. Starting the season with a February 24-26 trip to Eugene, OR to take on the #8 Oregon Ducks and #4 Sonoma State Seawolves will be challenging. The Ducks have been on the rise nationally for the past four years and Sonoma State is one of CSU’s best interconference rivals.

Upon returning, CSU faces a unique “home” weekend as they travel to Colorado Springs to take on Division III rival Colorado College on Saturday, 3/3 before driving back across the state to play up and coming Loyola Marymount on Sunday. CSU has won three straight against CC while LMU will be ranked by the time they get to Fort Collins and should be well-rested and ready to play on Sunday.

The very next weekend, CSU is on the road for their most foreboding trip of the season. Four games in five days await the Rams as they bus to Utah. First on the docket is RMLC opponent Utah State. The very next day, the Rams take on #3 Brigham Young in a nationally televised contest. After a day off, CSU gets to play #13 Utah in another RMLC league game before finally concluding the trip with #12 Minnesota-Duluth. BYU could very well be the best team in the country this season, despite their #3 ranking, so the Rams know they could be walking into a trap in Provo on March 10.

After a week off, CSU welcomes “Spring Break at Home.” Four teams from the WCLL trip to Colorado during their own Spring Breaks and CSU will face an extremely difficult stretch of home games from March 24 – March 31. After numerous trips to the west coast over the past 10 years, California teams are finally returning the favor and the result is a veritable gauntlet for the Rams. On Saturday, March 24, Chico State comes calling for their second ever match-up with CSU. Two days later, one of the most anticipated home games of the year takes place with #6 UC-Santa Barbara in town. On Thursday, the Rams welcome #18 UC-San Diego before finally wrapping up the stretch against #15 Chapman on Saturday, March 31.

The next weekend, CSU travels to St. Louis, MO to take on #10 Lindenwood on April 8. On the 9th, long time rival #5 Michigan awaits. CSU hasn’t played Lindenwood since 2004, when they handily defeated the Lions 25-1. LU has gotten significantly better since then, however and with Michigan also on the docket, this road trip will not be easy.

The regular season concludes after a week off with the highlight match-up of the season. For the second consecutive season, Colorado State will square off against the #2 University of Colorado in the “Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Showdown” which will be played at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium presented by the Denver Outlaws. CSU defeated CU three times last season, including a one-goal victory in the national championship game, and this April 21st contest could be the game of the year. With a rivalry that extends beyond the fields of athletics, the Rams and Buffs are playing for more than RMLC tournament seeding in this one.

In all, CSU’s schedule contains 11 teams ranked in the preseason top 25, one Division III Varsity opponent and one more team that will be ranked by the time the Rams play them. For a detailed schedule, please visit www.csulacrosse.com.

Captaining the Ship
Colorado State will have four captains in 2007. With three elected in the fall and one more to be elected prior to CSU’s first game, this group will be counted on for their leadership. Seniors Pat Bird, Adam Schnirel and Danny Stevens are all among the most talented in the country at their respective positions and were elected prior to the fall season. Bird is the only returning captain on a list that will also include a player to be named this week.

Alumni Advancement
Colorado State men’s lacrosse is extremely excited to announce the first ever annual scholarship awarded to the team. Former MCLA All-American Nick Stanitz-Harper has generously agreed to donate a yearly scholarship to a player in financial need. While the scholarship will not cover university expenses, Stanitz-Harper’s scholarship will extend to the dues and equipment costs for one player per year. This season, Lee Cates is the recipient of Stanitz-Harper’s generous donation.

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Colorado State men’s lacrosse competes nationally in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) and regionally in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC). The MCLA consists of nearly 200 teams across the country in nine conferences. While the team is over 40 years old, CSU lacrosse has made its most strides in the past 10 years. CSU has won a record four MCLA national titles in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2006. They also hold RMLC conference titles in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. CSU lacrosse is supported by Sport Clubs at the University, but receives less than 5% of their operating budget from the school each year. The rest of the money is self-funded and comes through dues and fundraising. One of the most important fundraisers is the CSU Men’s Lacrosse Ram Camp, held every summer. More information can be found at www.csulacrosse.com.