GOUCHER Coach: Steve Hornish, third season, 5-15

2-9

Outlook: The Gophers are green and no one is envying them this season. Sophomore A Tavius Cheatham is Goucher's leading returning scorer after registering only 10 goals and seven assists as a freshman. Senior A Tom Rose (South River), who had 23 goals and 16 assists as a sophomore, broke his wrist in the first quarter of last year's season opener and missed the rest of the season, so he's anxious to play again. Senior Chris Heim (York, Pa.) and junior Bill Condon lead a Gophers defense that yielded 171 goals last season with Dave MacPherson in goal. Freshman Jeremy Olsen and converted midfielder Tom Gabriele are battling for the job as starting goalkeeper. Said Hornish: "We're young, which could present a problem but the enthusiasm is there and the work ethic has been good. Our depth concerns me a little bit because we don't have the numbers, but the kids we have are working real hard."

ST. MARY'S Coach: Jason Hurley, fifth season, 27-13

6-5

Outlook: The Seahawks repeated as champions of the Capital Athletic Conference last season and will try to make it three in a row without the services of last year's leading goal scorer Scott Hahn (28 goals, 15 assists). Hahn has graduated but St. Mary's has plenty of attackmen who can find the net, including seniors ** Chad Christian (Franklin) and Don Brenneman (C. Milton Wright) and sophomore Jimmy Mohler (Mt. St. Joseph). Christian led the Seahawks in points (26, 19), and Mohler had 16 goals and nine assists in his rookie season. St. Mary's senior-laden midfield is solid with Joe Bissette (12, 1), Brian Carroll (7, 4) and Chad Fowler (3, 4). They'll get support from sophomores Marty Kane (Calvert Hall) and Steve Spence (Severna Park). Junior Chris Gress (North Harford) is the Seahawks' top returner on defense. He, along with senior Eric Hue and sophomore Jim Rogalski (Broadneck), should keep some pressure off of four-year starting G Greg Matthews and his capable back-up, Paul Speargas (Loyola High). "We've got a pretty good core of people returning and we have more depth at midfield and attack than we've ever had," said Hurley. "I'm just waiting to see who steps up and

takes over the scoring role."

SALISBURY STATE Coach: Jim Berkman, sixth season, 60-13

13-1

Outlook: Salisbury is 40-4 over the past three seasons but the Sea Gulls are still hungry, especially after last year's season-ending 12-11 loss to Washington College in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament. Last year's freshman sensation, Jason Coffman (51, 38), will lead an attack bolstered by the addition of Sean Radebaugh, a junior transfer from Essex CC. Salisbury's midfield boasts four experienced returnees, including Ryan Murphy (10, 14), Dod Poe (9, 17),

Todd Cliggett (11, 9) and Dan Mergot, an attackman last year and the team's fourth-year leading scorer with 26 points. Sophomore Chris McQueeney heads the Sea Gulls' rebuilt defense and he'll try and lighten the load for senior G Erik Miller, an honorable mention All-American last season with a .676 save percentage. Berkman said: "We have to replace some great players on defense, but there is definitely ability here. How quickly the defense matures will probably be a key to our overall team success this year."

WASHINGTON COLLEGE Coach: Terry Corcoran, 12th season, 115-52

12-4

Outlook: The Shoremen, who knocked off previously unbeaten Salisbury in the Division III opening round last year before losing to Ohio Wesleyan in the semifinals, have the experience, depth and talent to challenge again. "It's a veteran team and everyone is excited," said Corcoran, whose team opened with a 20-10 loss to Navy on Tuesday, and is scheduled to play host to Johns Hopkins on March 9. "We have good depth in the midfield and we may be athletically better on defense than we have ever been." Washington College's defense is led by senior Pat Crann, juniors Greg Miller (Catonsville), Jesse Cook and Jerry Davis and sophomores Steve Bright, Todd Weil and Trevor McNemar. G John Lundberg returns for the Shoremen after a freshman season in which in posted a .576 save percentage. Senior All-American Jason Paige (48, 20) leads the attack along with sophomore Bart Jaeger (21, 5) of St Mary's and freshman Greg Tomasso. Another All-American, senior Chris Cote (24, 15), is one of five senior midfielders. The others are Chris Sanchez (33, 8), Jamie Carver (South Carroll), Brian Flynn and faceoff specialist Blair Muneses (Boys' Latin).

WESTERN MARYLAND Coach: Keith Reitenbach, second season, 10-3

10-3

Outlook: With their schedule boasting five teams that were ranked in the Top 20 last season, the Green Terrors will have their hands full this spring while competing in the Centennial Athletic Conference. Keeping the Green Terrors in the hunt will be star sophomore attackman Dean Coccia (Chesapeake-AA), the Terrors' leading returning scorer after posting 24 goals and 33 assists in his rookie season. Senior co-captain Ken Higgs (16, 7), a product of Westminster High, returns along with junior Mike Marsico (11, 9). Three-year starting goalkeeper Mark Brunco, a senior, is the "backbone" of a defensive unit that will have to step up to get the Green Terrors through the early part of the season. Reitenbach will rely on freshman Scott Hall (Liberty) and sophomore Brian Volk to help get the job done offensively. The defense will be led by senior co-captain Chris Cutler, an All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection in 1992 who missed the early part of last season with a shin injury. Cutler's mid-season return was part of the reason the Green Terrors came on strong down the stretch, winning nine of their last 10 games. Senior co-captain Keith Abel, junior Rob Deller (Mount Hebron) and Pat Bonner round out the veteran defense.