Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse at RV/#19 Fairfield on March 1, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 15
Men's Lacrosse
at RV/#19 Fairfield
Final
7
-
15
Providence College Athletics
Men's Lacrosse Outlook - Friars Prepare For 2000 Season
2/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 24, 2000
Providence College Head Coach Chris Burdick believes the 2000 Friar lacrosse team has enough talent to compete with any team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He knows that if his team gives a complete effort all season, the squad will have a chance at reaching the inaugural MAAC Final Four and winning the Conference title.
"Defense will be our strength this season," Burdick said. "Last season, our defense was ranked 25th in the country, including No. 9 in man-down percentage and No. 1 in man-down stops."
This season, the Friar defense could be described as young, aggressive and loaded with depth. Senior co-captain Sal Papa (Manchester, Conn.) will lead the team's defense in 2000 as a short-stick midfielder. Last season, Papa netted two goals and was second on the team in groundballs with 27. Papa will be joined at midfield by junior Brent Swaby (Freeport, N.Y.), who has shown the most improvement on the team. Junior John Pisinski (Hingham, Mass.) and sophomore Mark Brady (North Providence, R.I.) will add depth as short-stick midfielders.
Sophomore Brian Shipp (McLean, Va.) is one of the team's top long-stick defenders. Shipp has excellent speed as well as quickness and agility. Last season, he gained valuable experience, playing in all 15 games. Adding to the team's competitive balance at long-stick defense will be freshman Matt Berk (Glencoe, Ill.). Berk, who played for Bridgton Academy last year, brings speed, discipline and a desire to compete to the Friar lineup.
The defense also will feature returning starters sophomore Tom McCoughlin (Yorktown, N.Y.) and sophomore John McCullough (Glen Head, N.Y.). Junior Stephen Farina (Port Washington, N.Y.) played 14 games for PC last season and has shown tremendous improvement this season. McCoughlin, McCullough and Farina will combine to give the team three strong, athletic defensemen.
Freshman Tim Connelly (Wilton, Conn.) will help round out the defense. Connelly, who also competed for Bridgton Academy last season, should make an impact for the Friars this season.
Although four-year starting goaltender Rob Chambers graduated in 1999 and is on the sidelines as an assistant coach and not a player this season, the Friars' last line of defense will once again be one of its strengths. Senior goaltender Brian McCarthy (Townsend, Mass.) has the ability to completely dominate a game and intimidate shooters. Last season, McCarthy played in 12 games, recording a .640 save percentage and a 9.59 goals against average. McCarthy's statistics were very impressive in 1999. He would have been ranked No. 1 in the MAAC and in the top five in the country in save percentage if he had played more minutes.
Senior Kevin Kelly (Needham, Mass.) and freshman John Farely (West Simsbury, Conn.) will serve as backup goaltenders this season. Kelly returns to the team in 2000 after missing the 1999 season. He is the best conditioned athlete on the squad and will provide a spark off the bench.
On offense, senior co-captain Ken Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.) will serve as the team's quarterback. Leahy has the ability to dodge and feed to the left and right. He will be responsible for establishing the tempo of the game. Last season, he led the team in scoring with 33 goals and 17 assists. Junior Jeff Merklinger (South Orange, N.J.) will be looking to add to the offense this season after missing five games in 1999 with a fractured foot. He can go to the net and dodge. He will help the team in man-up situations.
Sophomore Steve Heo (Chicago, Ill.), sophomore Chris Kloepfer (Floral Park, N.Y.), freshman Rick Aurigemma (Garden City, N.Y.) and freshman Skip Dunphy (Manhasset, N.Y.) will all contribute from the attack position. Heo has quickness and dodging ability and will also play at the midfield. Dunphy could see time as a swing man between Leahy and Merklinger. Kloepher and Aurigemma will add depth to the offensive attack.
The Friar midfield possesses more depth and athletic ability than last year's squad. As a result, Head Coach Chris Burdick will allow the midfielders to push for more offense. Leading the way will be junior midfielder Jim Dooley (Maplewood, N.J.), who returns after finishing third on the team in scoring last season with 28 points. He was second on the team in goals in 1999 and should be a major offensive contributor. Dooley's scoring ability should attract the opponents' long stick defenders, which will open the door for senior midfielders Dan Moran (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and Brian Walker (Roslyn Heights, N.Y.). Moran is a dodge and feed midfielder, who recorded four goals and three assists in 15 games last season. Walker has the ability to drive to the net.
Rounding out this group of mature midfielders will be sophomore Chris Houston (Garden City, N.Y.), senior Don Chapman (Centerville, Mass.) and junior C.P. Kenny (Upper Montclair, N.J.), who all will be looked upon to help provide more offense in 2000. Freshmen Cam Roller (Sudbury, Mass.), Chris Fumuso (Stony Brook, N.Y.), Dave Kole (Montclair, N.J.) and Jon Meehan (Peabody, Mass.) will all compete for playing time in the midfield.
Once again, the Friar lacrosse squad will play strong defense and rely on team discipline to win lacrosse games. Head Coach Chris Burdick has a strong nucleus of veterans and newcomers on the squad that will look to capture the inaugural MAAC title in 2000.
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