The Guilfordian
March 27,1998
Lax: looking good despite losses
O O JL
BY JOHN "ASTOR" ANKNEY
Staff Writer
This season will mark Randy
Mercer's fifth year as head coach of
the men's lacrosse team. It may be his
hardest yet.
The men's lacrosse team needs
to rebuild after several key players
graduated last year. With 15 first-year
players and only one returning senior,
Mercer is still optimistic. "This is go
ing to be an interesting season because
we're so young," he said.
There is some returning experi
ence, though. On offense, juniors Fran
Randalf and Chad Tripp will be return
ing. The team's only senior, Josh Beau
mont, will lead the team from the de
fensive end.
Another defensive leader will be
junior Tim Gerbracht, who says the
coming season looks "promising." He
also thinks the team's attitude has im
proved. "We've got a positive attitude
and we're working hard."
One of the major changes this
year is the loss of goalie Steve Dia
mond. Mercer is confident, however,
that Diamond's replacement, freshman
Anthony Roman, can get the job done.
Roman shares this attitude, saying,
"It's going to be tough trying to fill his
shoes. I don't want to live under his
shadow...l just want to build a name
for myself"
Other freshmen to watch for are
Frank Cole at midfield and Quentin
Packard on defense.
One thing lacrosse fans can look
forward to this year is a full schedule.
With only four away games this sea
Men's Lacrosse Schedule
Washington & Lee 2/25 3:30 pm*
Potsdam State 3/4, 3:30 pm
Kenyon 3/7, 1 pm
Shenandoah, 3/11, 1 pm
at Roanoke 3/18, 3:30 pm*
Villa Julie 3/21, 2 pm
Eastern Conneticut State 3/35,
3:30 pm
at Virginia-Wesleyan 3/28, 2 pm*
Hamden-Sydney, 4/4, 2 pm*
at Lynchburg, 4/8, 4 pm*
Randolph-Macon, 4/11, 1 pm*
at Marymount 4/18, 2 pm
Greensboro 4/25, 2 pm
* - ODAC conference games
son, there are plenty of opportunities to
catch the Quakers in action. The only
thing missing in the schedule is the an
nual Guilford Invitational Tournament.
Mercer says the event was canceled this
year due to scheduling conflicts.
Season update
BY ALLISON STRIZAK
Staff Writer
Crunch went the sound of shoulder
pads as the small white ball was stripped
from an opposing player and scooped up
by Guilford. In a game of little finesse and
lots of aggressive physicality, Guilford la
crosse played a turbulent home game on
Saturday against Villa Julie, a team ranked
and in the ODAC.
It was a wet gloomy afternoon. Rain
fell with soft vengeance on the small but
defiant crowd who braved the conditions.
They hugged the bleachers and yelled
support from behind multi-colored umbrel
las.
The third quarter rang in with a six
to six tie. The fighting got intense with play
ers slopping through a field of red clay
soup.
Because the ground kept slipping
from under them, they toppled over one
another with domino-like precision fend
ing for possession of the small white ball.
The score board volleyed back and
forth throughout the game announcing up
coming victory.
While painted in a layer of mud, the
Quakers trudged on.
With well-practiced precision Guil-
Women's Lacrosse Schedule
Mercyhurst, 3/5, 4 pm
Pfeiffer, 3/17, 4 pm
Greensboro 3/22, 3 pm
Virginia Wesleyan, 3/28, 2 pm*
at Roanoke4/2, 4 pm*
Sweet Briar 4/4, 1 pm
Hollins 4/4, 2 pm*
at Lynchburg 4/8, 4:30 pm*
at Bridgewater 4/11, 2 pm*
Limestone 4/13, 4 pm
at Long wood 4/16, 4 pm
at Randolph-Macon 4/18, 2 pm*
ODAC Quarterfinal 4/22
ODAC Finals 4/25-26
* - ODAC conference games
Sports
ford passed the ball
effectively, despite
the loss of steady
footing.
Matt Synowiez
led the team in scor
ing followed by Fran
Randall and Chad
Trip, with the offense
plugging away at the
opposing goal.
Anthony Ro
man, the Quaker
goalie, effectively
obstructed most at
tempts made on goal,
proving an efficient
combination with the
blocking defense,
who continuously
drove Villa Julie
from their defending
goal.
These alliances
provided effective
for a Guilford victory
with a score of nine to seven in the final
quarter.
When asked how they felt the
game went, player Mark Wilson, smil
ing from behind a mask of red dirt re
sponded, "I enjoyed it. It was a pretty
rough game I thought."
While Fran Randall, looking down
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The Quakers hope to utilize an attacking offense.
PHOTO BY CHRIS CARLSTROM
on his mud-ridden body remarked, ' % I
think it went nasty, it was disgusting."
Coach Mercer on the other hand,
felt it was a good victory.
Commenting on the game, Mercer
said, "We're glad we won that's for sure
and we've just got to make sure we keep
getting better."
15