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CSU Rams Lacrosse 2005 Season Preview
Fort Collins, CO
By By Garrett Fitzgerald
January 1, 2005
Despite losing a heartbreaking 8-7 game in the national championship last year, the Colorado State Rams are determined to make it back to the final game of the year in Blaine, Minnesota for the 2005 season. The 2005 Rams enter the season with a #2 preseason ranking and will have new faces on both sides of the ball joining an already solid core of players. With perhaps some of the greatest players to ever go through Colorado State having moved on due to graduation or other issues, the Rams will be looking for people to step up on both sides of the field.
The 2005 Rams season will have them playing games against six nationally ranked teams. Colorado State will start with an early season trip to Texas to play a tournament at the University of Texas in Arlington. While in Texas the Rams will play Auburn, Texas Tech, #13 Texas A&M, and #20 Texas. They will then return to Colorado to play Division B Northern Colorado in Greeley. On February 26th the Rams then travel to Colorado Springs to take on instate foe, Colorado College (Division III). The team’s first home game will be against the University of Denver club team before heading California for a rematch of last year’s national championship game.
While in Los Angeles, the Rams will play the #1 University of California-Santa Barbara Gauchos at the Home Depot Center on March 12th. That game will be part of a college lacrosse weekend dubbed “The First Four”, featuring a Division I doubleheader with Notre Dame vs. North Carolina and Syracuse vs. Georgetown also part of the schedule. During the trip to California the Rams will also play the University of Utah in a neutral site league game. After their trip to the City of Angels, the squad will head to Salt Lake City to take on Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference rival #3 Brigham Young University.
The Rams will then return home for a three game home stand against #4 Sonoma State University, the Colorado School of Mines, and Utah State University. In their final game of the regular season the team will travel to Denver to play longtime instate rival #9 University of Colorado Buffaloes at Shay Stadium in the Rocky Mountain Showdown on April 16th. Put on by the CSU Lacrosse Alumni Association, last year’s event drew over 2,000 people and is expected to be a highlight of the 2005 season.
The postseason for Colorado State will start at the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference tournament, which will take place this year in Greeley at the University of Northern Colorado. The next and final trip of the season will hopefully take the Rams to Blaine, Minnesota for the MDIA National Tournament in May.
Attack
The CSU attack will have a changed look this year with only one starter returning from 2004. The players not returning for Colorado State include the team’s leading scorer from last year, Kelten Johnson who finished the season with 96 points. 5th year senior Nick Stanitz-Harper (Eaglecrest HS, CO) is the only starter returning from last season. The second year captain hopes to improve on a great 2004 where he was 2nd team All-RMLC and a 3rd team All-American. He was also the team’s leading goal scorer last season with 59 goals and 16 assists. Sophomore Danny Stevens (Suffern HS, NY) and transfer Shay Cunningham (Algonquin HS, MA) look to step in starting roles for the Rams. Stevens’ saw plenty of action last year for CSU and looks to build on his success in ‘05. The sophomore was the Rams’ fourth leading scorer last year, combining for 50 points on 32g and 18a. Cunningham, a freshman transfer from Hartford, is an excellent finisher with great vision and field sense and should open things up for the rest of the offense. The race for the fourth spot on attack is led by freshmen Dylan Bowman (Rangeview HS, CO) who was impressive this fall; however there are several other players chomping at the bit to see time on the field for this Ram team in the spring.
Midfield
The Rams’ midfield was undoubtedly the hardest hit position by graduation but still will likely be a strong point for the team. Arguably the best player to ever go through Colorado State, RMLC Defensive Player of the Year and 1st team All American longstick midfielder Mark Plonkey, was lost to graduation. Derek Koll, a 2nd team RMLC and Honorable Mention All-American is no longer with the Rams and neither is face-off man Dave Clark. Clark was a force at the face-off X for the Rams and was also a 2nd team RMLC and Honorable Mention All American. Also lost to graduation was midfielder Thomas Robinson who had 31g and 15a in ‘04 for the Rams.
But Colorado State enters the spring season with tremendous amounts of talent as well. The CSU midfield returns perhaps the most dynamic player in the MDIA in senior Tim Farquhar (Collegiate HS, VA). Farquhar was 1st team All-RMLC and a 1st team All-American. He was the Rams’ leading scorer from the midfield with 45g and 33a. Junior captain, Michael Murphy (Lake Oswego HS, OR) is a speedy midfielder who can play both ways and had 20g and 16a in ‘04. Sophomore Pat Bird (Bishop O’Dowd HS, CA) is a powerful player who had 41g and 8a last year and can create several matchup problems for opposing defensive units. Converted attackmen, Tim Chorey (Algonquin HS, MA) has great elusiveness which attributed to his 31g and 9a last year. Fort Lewis transfer Tyler Bue (La Costa Canyon HS, CA) was 1st team All-RMLC Division B and is a very talented midfielder who could become a playmaker for the Rams on offense. Sophomore Brian Stone (Air Academy HS, CO) is a big physical midfielder who had 10 points last year on 7g & 3a. Freshmen Ryan MacDonald (Overland HS, CO) will look to make a difference with his speed and good decision making ability as well.
Trying to fill the shoes of the venerable Mark Plonkey will be combination of long poles for the rams. Freshman transfer, Ian Evans (Cherry Creek HS, CO), from Wooster College, is a speedy defender with quick stick. Sophomore Ian Wilson (Arapahoe HS, CO) is an athletic defender who will also take over face-off duties. Converted attackmen, Matt Reiss, one of the fastest players on the team, will make an impact at LSM with his natural talent.
Defense
Colorado State’s defense will be strength of the team this year as they return two starters from last year’s squad. Leading the way in 2005 will be captains Ryan Price (Arapahoe HS, CO) and Kellin Bershinsky (Ft. Collins HS, CO). Price, a senior second year captain, is an intelligent, physical defender who was 1st team RMLC and 2nd team All American. Bershinsky, a junior, improved tremendously last year and was rewarded with 1st Team All Tournament honors at the MDIA championships. He is a big defender with great field sense and incredibly good feet for his size. Sophomore Adam Schnirel (Mount Lebanon HS, PA) is a very quick defender who has a great stick. Schnirel stepped in and played a large role last season filling in, starting at times and was awarded as the team’s Rookie of the Year. Adding depth to this already impressive unit will be transfer Pierre Archambault (Grandview HS, CO), from Cabrini College, Archambault is a good, fundamental defensemen and a welcome addition to the CSU squad.
Goaltender
Returning in net for the Rams will be junior goalie Pete Jokisch (Rockhurst Jesuit HS, MO). Jokisch had a breakout year in 2004 in his first season starting by garnering 2nd team RMLC and 3rd team All-American status. He led the conference in save percentage by turning away 72% of the shots he faced during the regular season. Jokisch finished his sophomore season with 227 saves and 98 goals against. Nipping at the heels of Jokisch is a 22 year old freshman, Tyson Ehinger (Salisbury Prep, Conn), who is an exciting ball stopper with potential to be an impact player for the Rams. Ehinger will challenge Jokisch all spring for time in the cage. For the spring season, between red-shirts and reserves, there will be a total of five goalies on the team, which can only mean good things for the future of the Rams. |
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Flip's Journal
Read a very interesting log of the CSU head coach's thoughts. |
CSU vs CU
On Saturday, April 16, at 7:00 pm the big game will be played at the
neutral site of Shea Stadium, on the south side of Denver, in Highlands Ranch. Last
year the game, which is and was coordinated and promoted by the CSU Ram Lacrosse Alumni Association,
drew almost 3000 fans. Mark your calendars. |
CSU Lacrosse Camp
This summer's High Altitude Lacrosse Camp is scheduled for July 7 - 10, 2005.
It's expected to be even better than last years, stay tuned for all the details. Check
out the 2004 Camp Pictures. |
3rd MDIA Div A Poll
Announced on 3/23/05
1. Colorado State
2. UCSB
3. Sonoma State
4. Brigham Young
5. Michigan
6. Arizona
7. Colorado
8. Virginia Tech
9. Oakland
10. Boston College
11. Oregon
12. UC-San Diego
13. Florida State
14. Georgia Tech
15. Lindenwood
16. Utah
17. Chico State
18. Cal Poly SLO
19. Miami of Ohio
20. Chapman
21. New Hampshire
22. Minnesota-Duluth
23. Washington
24. Pittsburgh
24. Simon Fraser |
All-Time Points
Leaders
since 1998 season: G-A-Pts
1 Mike Roth ('01) 243-132-375
2 Mike Napolilli ('02) 170-160-330
3 Pat Shanley ('98) 138-68-206
4 Ryan Davis ('02) 107-66-173
5 Kelten Johnson ('04) 76-93-169
6 Nick Stanitz-Harper ('05) 123-37-160
7 Jim Hasson ('03) 74-46-120
8 Tim Farquhar ('05) 74-43-117
9 Ryan Ferrin ('00) 60-53-113
10 Brian Linehan ('99) 62-34-96
All-Time Save Leaders
since 1998 season: Saves
1 Alex Smith ('03) 232
2 Cale Vanvelkinburgh ('01) 188
3 Pete Jokisch ('06) 117
See Full Lists |
New Ram Gear
Call the Rock-It Pocket offices and order by
credit card at 1-800-374-7468. |
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