Salisbury graduated a senior class that included five starters and two major contributors, but the team could welcome back a potential starter for the 2016 season.
Brady Dashiell (Parkside), who could play as either an attackman or midfielder, has told coach Jim Berkman he would like to return for his last two years of eligibility. Berkman, who said in the preseason that Dashiell had been suspended for the season, said he and Dashiell have had "an ongoing conversation" about his return.
"Obviously, people make mistakes, and sometimes when you step away from something, you're older, you're a little bit more mature, you understand the bigger picture, you start to realize that you only have a couple more years to be able to play college lacrosse and get your education," Berkman said. "In our experience, when somebody does step away and come back, not only does he want it a whole lot more, but he usually works a whole lot harder and he's better because he's a year older in all aspects. The skill set is better, the strength, and hopefully, that will be the case so that he can step in there and be that left-handed sniper that we thought he was going to be after his freshman year when he had three goals in the semifinals against Stevenson."
Dashiell scored 26 goals and had seven assists as a freshman for the Sea Gulls. But injuries to his arch and ankle limited him to action in 13 of 23 games in 2014, with four goals and five assists.
Berkman said that if Dashiell returns, he could start on attack as a left-handed shooter the offense sorely lacked this past spring.
"We were almost playing with two crease men," Berkman said, referring to senior Mike Kane and sophomore Carson Kalama. "Mike was a true crease man, but we put him in the left-handed attack spot because we didn't have anybody. Brady's more of a wing dodger and can move the ball and plays a little bit at X, but is a true lefty who can finish down there. I think that hurt us in some games, when you had a righty playing at that lefty spot."
Dashiell could join Kalama (56 goals and 13 assists) and sophomore Nathan Blondino (23 G, 16 A) on attack, providing the offense with a steady veteran presence.
"Having an experienced guy in that spot who has been to the Final Four before, that definitely would be an asset on offense," Berkman said. "Who knows if that's going to come to fruition, but it is a possible option."