2014 Preview: Trust. Believe.

The 2014 incarnation of the West Orange varsity lacrosse team is one in which high expectations are abundant.  This is a squad that has one of the most robust rosters of returning talent seen in WOHS history, including five all-district honorees – three of which are returning All-Metro Conference selections.  With this depth in talent, look for the Warriors to strive towards their season goals of winning the conference and district titles and advancing in the state playoffs. 

To attain these goals, the Warriors are building their 2014 squad on the foundation of two pillars of teamwork: Trust & Believe.  Head coach Bill Baker has spent the preseason laying the groundwork for a more complex offense and defense in which the Warriors must trust and believe in not only themselves as individual players, but more importantly in their teammates in order to succeed. 

 

Senior Nick Poidomani looks to lead the Warriors to three-straight district and conference titles.

ATTACK

The attack will be lead once again by four-year varsity starter and Co-captain Nick Poidomani (2013 All-Metro and All-District).  He led the Warriors last season with 90 points, including a school-record 53 assists.  Poidomani had a strong club season improving his already strong array of skills in both scoring and assisting.  Already the career leader at WOHS in assists, Poidomani is poised to overtake Alec Benkovich (Class of 2012) as the all-time leader in career points early in the season.  Additionally, Poidomani is in striking distance of Dan Crayner’s (Class of 2010) career mark for goals, although it will take a career-best 51 goals to do so. 

Working alongside Poidmani for the second-straight season will be fellow senior Connor McElvaney.  McElvaney (2013 All-District) had a strong first year on varsity last season with 23 goals and 23 assists.  This season he will be looking to improve his numbers thanks to improved shooting mechanics that includes the quickest release on the team.

Joining the duo of seniors in the starting lineup will be junior Bailey Sarp, who makes the move from midfield.  Sarp earned All-Metro and All-District honors last season with a school-record 64 goals by a midfielder.  Although Sarp will be sidelined at the beginning of the season while recovering from off-season surgery, his involvement in the attack unit should be seamless once he returns.

Freshman Liam Mueller will benefit from the injuries at attack by gaining valuable experience starting at attack to begin the season.  Mueller, a gritty hard-nosed player, will become the fourth freshman to start at attack under Coach Baker.  Adding to his experience playing alongside the likes of Poidomani and McElvaney will be his positioning on the left-handed wing, earning him a chance to improve his all-around game.

Rounding out the attack unit is senior Blake Angione.  Angione is a lefty who has played both attack and midfield for the Warriors.  Unfortunately, the injury bug hit Angione during the preseason and will have to rehab from surgery before his welcomed return later in the year.

MIDFIELD

            A key to a successful campaign is depth at the midfield position.  Coach Baker believes he has the talent this season, albeit young, to put together one of the best midfields WOHS has ever had.

            Leading the first line are two senior Co-captains in Logan Dyer and Grant Malquist.  Both are looking to end their career with strong seasons by contributing offensively to their potential.  Dyer is coming off a junior season in which he scored 18 goals and dished out eight assists, finishing second among midfielders in goals and points behind Sarp.  Dyer benefited from a strong off-season with various club teams and comes into the year vastly improved physically.  He is the team’s best shooter on the run, and Coach Baker thinks he can improve his numbers offensively with a much more accurate shot.

            Malquist has not been called on before as an offensive threat in the past, but his improved dodging ability and cannon for a shot will make him a player all defenses must pay attention to in 2014.  Where Malquist has succeed his whole career has been at face-offs, and that won’t change this season.  Malquist enters the season already the career-leader in face-off wins and set the season-best mark last year 182 victories.  After spending his offseason working with MLL pro Greg Gurenlian, Malquist looks to continue giving the Warriors the upper hand in possessions each game.

            Rounding out the first line is junior Jason Gise.  Gise was an early season call-up from JV last year and eventually made his way to the second line by the end of last season.  Gise benefited from a strong club season in which his vastly improved his dodging and shooting abilities.  Coach Baker believes Gise has the ability to have a break-out season amongst the first line players, especially if defenses choose to focus on the two seniors he plays alongside.

            The second line will be the youngest group of midfielders Coach Baker has ever fielded on a varsity squad.  But they are no doubt a talented group.  Sophomore Hunter Fromberg will be the elder of the bunch, looking to have a strong second year on varsity after an early-season call up from JV last year.  Freshman Zach Malaussena is a dual threat with both hands and a quick dodger.  Additionally, Malaussena will face-off for the line.  He will look to upend Malquist’s freshman face-off record after also spending time in offseason learning from Gurenlian.  Fellow freshman Danny Luette rounds-out the second line.  Luette is a promising talent, as well, strong with both hands and a good lacrosse IQ.

            The third line will most likely be called upon more so than any other third line under Coach Baker simply due to their depth and talent.  Seniors Spencer Craig and Danny Perez are joined by first-year varsity member Blake Frazier, who is a junior.  Craig has shown signs of offensive talent with improved dodging and shooting coming into the season.  Perez possesses a strong shot that he is still improving, but his defensive skills and tenacity for ground balls will be a huge plus for the Warriors.  Frazier is adapting well to the varsity game and his improved fundamentals should allow him to contribute this year.

DEFENSE

            Defense is the cornerstone to any championship team and the Warriors will be fielding one their best defenses ever in 2014.  The close defensive unit will be anchored by senior Trenton McGee (All-District) and junior Ben Irwin (All-Metro and All-District).  Both are great on-ball defenders and play well in the team-oriented defensive concepts.  McGee possesses possibly the best stick-check game in Central Florida and will look to continue causing turnovers for the Warriors this season.  Irwin is strong-bodied defender with a quick stick to disrupt any offense.  They will be joined on the starting line by promising freshman Alex Kouchalakos.  Kouch has shown strong defensive skills in on-ball defending not normally seen by freshman.  Junior Matt Cohn has benefited from a good off-season, improving his all-around defensive game.  He will see plenty of time on the field, including starting roles.

            The long-stick midfield (LSM) defensive group is more athletic than ever this season for the Warriors.  Senior Trevor Peters returns and will be pain for any opponent to deal with.  Peters not only has good on-ball defense, but is a hawk for ground balls which will lead to transition opportunities for the Warriors’ offense.  Junior Josh Haith enters his second season on varsity.  Haith is athletic and hardworking as they come and will be able to hang with many top midfielders defensively.  Both Peters and Haith can also substitute down to close defense if needed.  Senior newcomer Adam Honour adds even more athleticism, defensive ability and depth to the LSM unit.  Honour will compete for starting opportunities with his stable mates and ensure that the Warriors always have a fresh, competent LSM on defense at all times.

GOALIE

            The past three seasons the Warriors have fielded the best goalie in the conference.  Coach Baker is hoping that trend continues with a pair goalies looking to win the starting spot in cage.  Senior Co-Captain Tyler Barreto spent last season as a back-up for the varsity team, earning one start in a victory against Wekiva.  He will battle it out with junior Garrett Burns, who spend last year starting for the JV team. 

            Both goalies possess their own strengths and weaknesses.  They have performed well in the preseason and regardless who starts, will benefit from the strong defensive unit playing in front of them.  Neither has solidified themselves as the clear-cut starter, so look for the possibility of split-time in the cage early in the year until one emerges. 

SEASON OUTLOOK

            After an upstart run to repeat as district and conference champions in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 2013, there is no question that this year’s team should be the frontrunner to three-peat for both titles.  The Warriors’ district is joined this year by rival Olympia.  Both Olympia and Ocoee will give the Warriors their toughest challenge for a third-straight title.  Those two squads will join Apopka and Dr. Phillips as the main roadblocks to a third-straight West Metro Conference title. 

            The Warriors’ non-district, non-conference schedule is bolstered by taking on top programs in Central Florida.  State champion contender Lake Brantley and East Metro Conference frontrunner Boone highlight tough early-season match-ups.  The Warriors will host Lake Mary, another top-tier state contender, prior to spring break.  The regular season will wrap-up with the Warriors participating for the second time in the TFA Wounded Warrior Tournament, hosted by The First Academy to highlight the Wounded Warrior Project.  West Orange will take on two of the top private schools in Central Florida in TFA and Bishop Moore. The postseason will kick-off with the district tournament hosted by West Orange, with the champion moving on to the state tournament.