The past few seasons have seen the Plattsburgh State lacrosse team achieve unprecedented success. The Cardinals have gone to the SUNYAC championship in both 2013 and 2014 and plan to be back there this season behind a seasoned offense and a less experienced, but capable defense.
Head coach Ryan Cavanagh believes that even though PSUC lost some valuable members to graduation in the spring, there are players ready to step in.
Assistant coach Brett McClelland said there is some competition for starting roles right now, but regardless of who starts, the production will still be solid.
“Our attack is clicking really well,” McClelland said. “We have four guys competing right now, whoever starts will put up some big points and whoever comes off the bench is going to contribute too.”
An interesting new addition to the team is PSUC junior hockey player Connor Gorman. Gorman is a junior and while this is his first season playing lacrosse for the Cards, was an All-American in high school.
As far as the team’s strengths, Cavanagh believes that the Cards are strong all over, but their offensive prowess is likely to give them the most success.
“At attack we have a group that’s very polished,” Cavanagh said. “It really helps that we have one of the best players in the country with Brendan Damm.”
Junior attackman Brendan Damm led the SUNYAC in scoring last season with 51 goals, and was also first in total points with 68. This year he was selected as the preseason conference player as the year.
Damm said although the team has lost some firepower, success in the team’s recruitment process has the potential to fill the void.
“You lose seniors every year,” Damm said. “The hope is that the guys you bring in are going to step up and fill those roles.”
Having a player like Damm on a team opens up the offense for other guys to capitalize on the opportunities opened up.
Cavanagh highlighted some other players he felt will make a significant impact this season.
At midfield he cited senior attackman James Read, a four year starter, who can produce offensively in bunches, and on defense senior Peter Johann, who has been the anchor for the team the last few seasons.
Damm expressed that the cold weather and harsh winter Plattsburgh experiences, limiting their time on the turf, has the potential to provide a bit of an issue for the team.
“We do as much as we can in the gym,” Damm said. “But that isn’t like playing on the field, so the spacing may take a game or two to figure out. That would be our one weakness right now.”
Email Bailey Carlin at bailey.carlin@cardinalpointsonline.com
