Boys Lacrosse: Farmingdale 2011 Preview

There's nowhere to go but up for the Farmingdale boys lacrosse squad in 2011. Of course their climb is not as steep as it is for most other teams in the county.

The Dalers are the defending county champions for the 12th time, and hope a powerful offense can propel them to the Class A state finals.  A rebuilt defense and a goalie transition will be the key for Farmingdale to maintain their status as one of the premier lacrosse programs on Long Island.

"Once we get [the defense] figured out and the goalie situation straightened out and they start to play well, then we're really going to be tough to deal with because on the other end of the field offensively we're very, very good," longtime coach Bob Hartranft said.

Last Season: 16-3, Nassau County Champions, lost to eventual state champs West Islip in the L.I. Championship

Head Coach: Bob Hartranft (42 years with the program)

Key Players:

• Sal Tuttle, attack, senior
• Brian Prendergast, attack, senior
• Korey Hendrickson, midfield, senior
• Joe Ostrander, defense, senior
• Kevin Wahl, defense, senior
• Patrick Starke, midfield, senior

Position breakdown:

It all starts with the offense for the Dalers.  Coach Hartranft calls this year's team the best offense he's had skillwise in all his years at Farmingdale. 

"We want to move the ball, we're a transition team, make that extra pass to get the better shot, be unselfish," Hartranft says of his offensive plan.

To execute that plan, he'll look to Sal Tuttle to repeat last year's performance, when he was the team's leading scorer. Brian Prendergast and Greg Catalano will also help key the attack, along with Korey Hendrickson and transfer Mike Perettine in the midfield. Patrick Starke will see plenty of time as a face off middie as well.

The defense is in transition, as many top defenders were lost to graduation.  The Dalers are primarily a man-to-man team, and Kevin Wahl moves to defense from midfield to help shore things up.  Joe Ostrander is another important piece of the 'D.'

Behind them in goal is a question mark to start the year.  Former team MVP Hayden Kirk is gone, and Hartranft says it's a battle between senior Mike Palmer and junior Frank DeLuca. The duo will alternate games in the early going until a starter emerges.

"We're going to fix the defense," Hartranft said.  "But we have to get the goalie situation straightened out...they don't have to play great, they just have to play good, and we'll be really good."

Expectations:

High, to say the least. The Dalers play in a tough Conference I, and have scheduled several tough non-league games to keep their edge as the season rolls on, including games against Shoreham Wading River and Foot Hills, CA.  If the newcomers on defense and in goal get their act together in the first couple weeks of the season, the Dalers may just add another trophy to their already full case: that of state champions.

Key Games:

April 20: Foothill, CA @ Farmingdale, 7 p.m.

April 23: Shoreham Wading River @ Farmingdale, 7 p.m.

April 29: Farmingdale @ Massapequa, 4 p.m.