Senior midfielder Sean Fitzgerald and sophomore attackman Carson Kalama scored two goals each to lead Salisbury to an 11-4 victory over Capital Athletic Conference foe Mary Washington on Saturday.
The team also got a goal from an unlikely source.
Nathan Blondino made his season debut after undergoing sports hernia surgery in January, and the sophomore attackman scored a goal on two shots. It was an encouraging outing for a player who was in danger of sitting out the entire year, but coach Jim Berkman said Blondino will have to work himself back into shape after not being allowed to do much activity since the operation.
"He's healed pretty well," Berkman said Tuesday morning. "He's got a ways to go. He's probably still a couple weeks away from being back to full strength. He's practiced four times now. Right now, he's not capable of going very long."
Blondino, who had three goals and seven assists last spring, had been tabbed as a starter with senior Mike Kane, but he was sidelined by the injury. Assuming Blondino can regain his strength and conditioning, Berkman said his presence could be significant for the Sea Gulls (6-3 overall and 2-0 conference), who have won their last four contests and moved from No. 15 to No. 12 in the latest United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll.
"He definitely gives us a threat as an attackman," Berkman said. "He can get to the goal, he's fast, he's right-handed, he shoots the ball hard, and he can dodge. He's just a complete attackman. He would give us another threat to break people down from the attack position."
Another attackman on the mend is senior Jesse Rabishaw, who ruptured his Achilles tendon. Rabishaw, who scored seven goals in 2014, is no longer walking with a limp or in a boot and has thrown the ball around at practice, but Berkman said a timetable for Rabishaw's return is still undetermined.
"If he can play and he feels it's not going to jeopardize his safety, I think he will try to do it," Berkman said, adding that Rabishaw can't apply for a medical redshirt for next season. "He would definitely give us another threat at that left-hand spot. And maybe it could be at the most opportune time as we move into the conference playoffs. But we can't think about that at this point. That's a long way away."