Back for More: Caldwell Lacrosse Returns 11 Starters

When you take a look at the probable starting lineup for the Caldwell High boys lacrosse team this season, there is one thing that surely jumps out. The Chiefs will field a team that returns 11 of its 12 starters from last spring.

"Our strengths are the number of returning starters from last year, however, we are still a young team with only seven seniors on the squad," Caldwell coach John Timan said.

The Chiefs finished last season 10-11 with a second-place finish in the Kimber Division. Caldwell's season ended with a loss to top-seeded Mountain Lakes in the second round of the Public Group 1 state tournament.

"In 2010, we have moved from the Kimber to the competitive Waterman Division of the New Jersey Interscholastic Lacrosse League with all of our returning starters from 2009," Timan said. "We look to be more competitive this year, but having moved to a higher conference, it's hard to say how we will compare."

The division switch will bring new challenges for the Chiefs. The Waterman Division consists of Glen Ridge, Cranford, Arthur L. Johnson, Millburn, Montclair Kimberly Academy, Morristown-Beard and Nutley. The new division will better prepare the Chiefs for postseason play, Timan said.

"In the past, we were very successful in the Pooley and Kimber divisions, however, when we started tournament play we were less prepared than we wanted to be," Timan said.

Timan, who is in his sixth year as coach, believes that Glen Ridge, Cranford and Johnson will be the class of the division.    

Caldwell will return a wealth of talent and experience on attack, led by senior co-captain Andrew Kratsch.

Kratsch netted 28 goals and dished out 33 assists in 2009 and was named first team All-Kimber. The senior will continue his lacrosse career next season at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

Joining Kratsch up front will be junior Chris Lawshe, a starter since his freshman year and the team's top returning  scorer from last season when he netted 50 goals and recorded 24 assists to earn first team All-Kimber recognition.

Also back on attack will be seniors Jesse McAlister and Dan Garguilo. McAlister scored six goals and finished with three assists last season. Garguilo will return to the lineup after only playing seven games last season due to injury. However, he was effective in those games as he scored 10 goals and assisted on three others.

Senior co-captain Bryan Lockward will anchor the team in the net. Lockward saved 60 percent of the shots that he faced last season, finishing with a total of 258 saves and was named to the second team All-Kimber.

The midfield is an area where the Chiefs have no senior starters. But junior Jason Kratsch, who has started since his freshman year, was named honorable mention All-Kimber last season when he scored 21 goals and dished out six assists.

Fellow junior Griffin Nikolayuk, who scored 11 goals last year, will join Kratsch as a starting midfielder. Sophomore Anthony Maddaloni returns for his second season after finishing his freshman campaign with 12 goals and five assists.

Junior Chris Zaorski will begin his third year as a starting defenseman for the Chiefs. Zaorski, named second team All-Kimber, scored two goals last season and also collected 85 groundballs. Senior Dan Pierce and sophomore Henry McCoy are the two other returning starters on defense.

Senior Anthony Marotta will join the starting lineup for the first time.

Caldwell, which plays six of its first seven games on the road, lost 9-5 to Don Bosco Prep on Saturday. Leading 5-4 heading into the fourth quarter, Don Bosco outscored Caldwell 4-1 in the final 12 minutes.

"We are required to schedule games months before our first practice not knowing how competitive our team will be," Timan said. "After a month of practice and a few scrimmages, I am very confident that our team will step up to meet the challenge of this season."