Veteran Hofstra Team Ready-Div I Lax [Archive]

Dave H

02-16-2001, 03:30 AM

Veteran Hofstra Team Ready for America EastMen's DepartmentThursday February 15, 2001

The Hofstra Flying Dutchmen are returning 29 lettermen including seven starters, and add several key players and be ready for a longer run in 2001. The new odyssey in 2001 will feature a schedule that includes five opponents (Loyola, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Notre Dame and Duke) that played in the 2000 NCAA Tournament as well as the America East Conference battle as league rivals try to knock the Flying Dutchmen off the championship pedestal.

Goalie

The Flying Dutchmen graduated two-time all-conference goalie Michael Demeo, who also captured All-America East Tournament honors as well last year. Demeo posted a 9.14 goals against average and an 11-5 record. Hofstra has four netminders on its roster in 2001 but junior J.P. Brazel, a junior college All-American at Nassau Community College in 1999 who redshirted the 2000 Hofstra season, appears to be the front-runner for the starting nod. Brazel led the Lions of Nassau to the junior college title in 1999 and his 6'1 frame should fill the goal a little bit more than Demeo's did. Pushing Brazel will be senior David Neidhart, junior college transfer Jack Alaimo and sophomore Michael Bennett. Neidhart saw limited action in six games and posted a 6.86 goals against average last year. Alaimo comes to Hofstra from Herkimer Community College where he was a first team All-American. Bennett saw limited time for the Dutchmen in 1999 but was redshirted in 2000.

Defense

The defense is experienced, talented and deep. Leading the pack are two returning starters, senior Richard "Jay" Sullivan and junior Evan Kostewka. Sullivan, who had 32 ground balls in 2000, is solid, tough and poised while Kostewka, a former USA Under-19 Team member, came into his own last season and was named to the all-conference second team. Filling the gap from the graduation of Erik Fitez is two-time junior college All-American Nicky Polanco. The two-time Junior College Player of the Year led the Lions of Nassau to two national titles and has the size, speed and talent to have a major impact on the Flying Dutchmen defense. 6'4 junior Jason Pearl, who had an outstanding fall, should also find his way into the defensive rotation. Junior Freddy Casanova and sophomores Dave Sweeney and Aaron Kozlowki should also see time on special teams.

Midfield

As good as the defense is expected to be, the midfield may hold the key to success for the Flying Dutchmen in 2001. Senior Doug Shanahan, a second team All-American who tallied 16 goals and eight assists last year, is the engine on the Hofstra team and is a bonafide candidate for first team All-America and Midfielder of the Year honors in 2001. Shanahan, a I-AA first team All-American safety at Hofstra, ranked third in the country in face-off percentage, winning181 of 282 draws for a 64.2 percentage, and was fifth in the nation in ground balls per game average with an 8.9 mark. Junior Adam Hananel, who started 10 of the 16 games in which he played and posted 15 goals, six assists and 50 ground balls, has post-season honors ability and 6'4 senior Michael Tierney, who recorded eight goals and two assists last year, could be the first midfield.

But Danowski and staff have many options, as the position is deep. Senior Ramar Clash, a junior college All-American at Anne Arundel Community College in 1999, tallied 13 goals and 10 assists for Hofstra last season. Clash has good size (6'4, 220) and has a strong move to the cage. Classmate Joe Barile, who tallied 10 goals in 16 games in 2000, is a poised played with good moves to the cage. Junior Paul Defendini, who has struggled through injuries during his career, has a canon of a shot and could be a key contributor. Another junior Gerry Donaghy, who saw action in 12 games last season, is a solid all-around player who could see time in man-down situations. Three sophomores, Bryan Walker, Kevin Dougherty and Keith Mekeel should also see plenty of action. Walker played in all 16 games and tallied four goals and four assists in 2000. Dougherty ran with the second middie group last year and tallied five goals and four assists in 15 games. Mekeel is a transfer from Syracuse who had an impressive fall season. Three freshmen could also contribute. 6-3 Ryan Vilar tallied 123 career goals at Southington (CT) High School. Matt Astarita was an All-American and Nassau County Midfielder of the Year at Bethpage (NY) High School last year. 6'3 Rob Peters gives the Flying Dutchmen another big middie.

The Flying Dutchmen also has the luxury of having a number of solid players who can fill roles and wear down opponents. Seniors Frank McDermott (16 games, three goals), Ed Hilbert (10 games, one goal) and Jesuma Janneh (14 games), junior Dan Royle, sophomores Doug Machen (15 games) and Tomar Sarvis, and freshman Brett Tietjen, a transfer from the University of Massachusetts.

Graduation took exciting long-stick middie Brian Spallina, Hofstra's first All-American first team selection since Phil Marino in 1973. Spallina, who may have been the most offensive-minded, defensive-middie in history as his eight goals and five assists will attest, was both a key creator and stopper of scoring opportunities. Senior Lance Yeagle, who played in 14 games and started five last season, and sophomore Mike Allain, who saw limited time in 2000 but had an impressive fall, are expected to share the duties.

Attack

Hofstra ranked fifth in the country in goals scored last year with 212 and were sixth in assists with 118. The Flying Dutchmen attack in 2001 returns five players who accounted for 99 goals and 62 assists a year ago. Junior Tom Kessler, a first team All-America East selection who tallied a team-high 48 goals and 13 assists as well as 49 ground balls, ranked fifth in the nation in goals average and will be looking at All-American consideration in May. Kessler is quick and elusive and compliments classmate Scott Dooley very well. Dooley was third on the team in scoring last year with 19 goals and 18 assists. He can pass and shoot and has a solid all-around game. Dooley underwent off-season ankle surgery so all eyes will be on his recovery. Junior Joe Kostolansky, who was second on the team in scoring with 37 goals and 23 assists last season, also underwent off-season surgery following an off-campus stabbing incident last October. Entering the 2001 preseason, Kostolansky, a first team all-conference selection in 2000, had regained 90 percent of his lost strength and weight from the incident and appeared ready to challenge for All-America honors.

Senior Steve McTigue and sophomore Jim Feminella also figure to contribute on attack. McTigue tallied two goals and five assists in 11 games last season and is a solid set-up man. Feminella, who recorded three goals and three assists in nine games as a freshman, had a solid fall season and will be looking for more time in 2001.

Schedule

Hofstra has its work cut out for them with nine preseason Top 25 opponents including the five NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. With a big 45-man roster, Danowski and staff will continue to wear down teams by playing many of the 45 while also providing more game experience. The deep roster should come in handy during another America East title run one of the Flying Dutchmen's goals this year. There's also more incentive to get to the Tournament and get past the first round as the NCAA Tournament Northern Quarterfinals return to Hofstra Stadium on May 19.

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Dave H