The Southampton Graduate Campus Men's Lacrosse team enters their final season with a reduced but competitive squad. The team graduated six starting seniors in the 2004 season, but managed to fill the squad with a few talented newcomers even though the school announced its closing before the 2004-2005 academic year started.
Southampton returns a core group of experienced players for the 2005 campaign.
Leading the offense this year will be scoring machine Ryan Smith. Matt DeVivo will look to continue his strong performance from the 2004 season . Senior captain Ed Mainly adds depth and leadership on the offensive side of the field.
Key midfielders will be junior captain and face off specialist Nick Cardaci. Newcomers Sal Galasso, a Nassau Community College transfer, and Sean Manning, a Suffolk Community transfer will look to step up to play a key role in their rookie season.
On defense senior captain Andreas Nilsson will lead the way along side Mike Gatto, Pat O’Brien and Michael Bienen. Terrence Goin and Richard Dell will provide the defense with an athletic spark.
In goal will be Suffolk Community College transfer Jack Luquer. Luquer, a back up at Southampton Graduate Campus only two years ago, will determine much of the team's success by his performance in net.
Adding strength to the roster is senior attacker Ryan Honstetter, freshman attacker/midfielder Sean Gajewski, senior midfielder Kevin Montalbano, freshman Glenn Roesch, and junior defenseman Kyle Carney.
The Colonials compete in the best Conference in the nation with 2003 national champions NYIT, the 2002 national champions Adelphi and the 2001 national champions C.W. Post.
"It’s going to be an uphill battle," according to coach Blayney McEneaney.
"But our goal is to do the best we can, finish out the season, and represent Southampton the best we can." These guys are working hard and that should pay off as the season progresses.
The Southampton Colonials have produced many All-Americans under the leadership of 12-year veteran Coach Ralph Pepe. The latest, goalie standout Larry Falkman, was drafted directly after his senior year by the 2001 MLL champions, the Long Island Lizards.
