Here is the seventh installment of a series taking a look at each of the eight Division III programs in the state according to their order of finish from last season. This is Washington College's turn.
Overview: In their continuing evolution as a contender for the NCAA championship, the Shoremen advanced to the tournament semifinals for the first time since 2004. Although Salisbury moved to the title game with a 13-8 victory, the team had reason to celebrate an 18-2 overall record, an 8-0 mark in the Centennial Conference, and a clean sweep of the league's regular-season and tournament crowns. Washington College continues to make progress toward its first appearance in the NCAA tournament final since 1998.
Reason for optimism: The midfield graduated Hunter Nowicki, the 2014 Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year who recorded 36 goals and 41 assists, and Kodie Englehart (11 goals, 20 assists).
Fortunately, the Shoremen are deep in the middle of the field. Junior Sid Looney (28 G, 15 A) and senior Grant Hughes (26 G, 6 A) are expected to be joined by senior Luke Birnbaum (4 G, 4 A) on the first line.
Sophomores Matt Allen (1 G, 3 A) and Jon Heneberry (0 G, 0 A) and juniors David McBrien (4 G, 0 A) and Stephen Goff Jr. (1 G, 1 A) are vying for time on the second line, and coach Jeff Shirk thinks the team will replenish that unit quickly.
"Time will tell, but I think we've got some pieces in place that will hopefully help replace the guys that we lost," he said. "Grant Hughes and Sid Looney, those two guys have to step up and do some of the things that [Nowicki] did last year and carry some of the weight, and I think they're ready for it. So it's nice that we have two guys instead of one guy that can possibly fill that void."
Reason for pessimism: The defense was much stingier in 2014, surrendering an average of 7.8 goals after allowing 9.1 goals per game in 2013. But the unit lost two starters, including goalkeeper Ted DiSalvo (7.50 goals-against average, .605 save percentage).
Senior Andrew Bolland was the leading candidate to start after fall workouts, but he slipped on some ice and separated his shoulder. That has opened the door for sophomore Jackson Szurley, who will open Saturday's scrimmage against Virginia Wesleyan in the net.
Shirk wasn't prepared to name a starter for the season opener at Goucher on Feb. 21.
"We've got to figure out our goalie situation, which I think will turn out into a positive," Shirk said. "But the unknowns are always a concern, and right now, the goalie position is the one unknown in terms of how it's going to play out."
Keep an eye on: For the second consecutive year, the attack graduated a pair of starters.
Bennett Cord (33 G, 31 A) and Matt Lewis (18 G, 7 A) left after the 2013 campaign. Jim Cusick (46 G, 10 A) and senior JD Campbell (30 G, 7 A) departed after last season, and junior Casey Kermes (7 G) was forced to retire after chronic back issues.
Senior Stephen Luck (32 G, 8 A) is back, but who will join him? Senior Sam Birnbaum (8 G, 3 A) and sophomore Owen Evans (5 G, 5 A) have the inside track, and senior Adam Smith and freshmen Tanner Barbieri and Tyler Powers are also in the mix.
"I don't think we're going to see a drop-off in our level of play," Shirk said. "With a couple of freshman attackmen that have been playing at a high level in the preseason, we've added to the depth of our attack, which I think bodes well for the style that we play. … I think we're more focused on individual development within our system and how high of a level we can play at. While we might not be able to replace someone like Jimmer right now, we just want to keep working at it, and the thought process is, we're going to have some guys rise to the top and we're going to lean on those guys this year."
What he said: In four years, Shirk has helped revive the program that hadn't won 18 games since 2004. Washington College will open the spring as the No. 5 team in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association preseason poll, and Shirk isn't shying away from whispers that the team should be in the discussion for the NCAA championship.
"I feel like the expectation is that we should be a national contender every year, and it's not just an expectation from the alumni or the coaching staff," he said. "I think the players really believe that now, too. I think that's the most important piece. I don't think there's a game anymore or a point in the season where our guys feel like they don't belong there. So I do think the expectations are very high. We talk about one game at a time, but this team fully expects to compete at the national level this year and in our recruiting, we talk about it all the time. So hopefully, we're doing a good job of bringing in players who are not only talented, but also have that mentality."