Editor's note: This article has been changed to reflect name changes - Rob Prockett to Crockett, and Billy Pasquale to Joey Pasquale.
A season removed from an appearance in the MIAA Division 1 semi-finals and with the right mix of returning upperclassmen, the future for the Weston boys lacrosse team looks bright.
After defeating Westwood and Arlington Catholic in the playoffs and coming close to making the state finals, a 7-5 loss to Norwell that closed the postseason run will not let Wildcats down. Weston, which finished 14-2 last year, will have nine seniors and 17 juniors returning in 2011, many of which have been at the varsity level for at least two years.
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“Last year was a fun, exciting time and it was a great season for us,” Weston head coach Jim Wilcon said. “The nice thing is that they’re experienced and they played a number of overtime and close games.”
Wilcon said that team chemistry is always different year to year, but the core of this year’s squad has a familiarity with each other’s playing styles. Weston will rely on senior mid fielders Kerry Ecker, Rob Crockett and Greg Cohen, and attack Kyle Nickerson, its four captains, to provide both leadership and strong offensive skill sets this season. Wilcon said the great thing about his captains is how well they complement each other and all add different things to the team.
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"Kerry has a strong knowledge of the game and runs our offensive sets, Rob takes our faceoffs and Kyle is a great finisher and one of our leading scorers,” Wilcon said. “We’re also looking forward to having Greg who also plays football, back from injury because he is big, strong and fast.”
Other seniors that Wilcon said will be key contributors are defensive midi Greg Lanzillo, defenseman Nick Littas, goalkeeper Andrew Edelman, attack Paul Donahue, and midi Nick Peacher.
Although there are will be numerous senior starters returning, the success of Weston’s juniors will be vital to its season. Junior goalkeeper Jared Fong, who has been the varsity starter since he was a freshman, will give the Wildcats experience in front of the net. Stephen Iodice and Rob Bennett will lead the Weston defense and Joey Pasquale, an attack, led Weston in scoring last season and Wilcon has high expectations for him this year.
“He put a lot of work into his game during the offseason and I expect big things on the offensive end,” Wilcon said.
Weston will continue its tradition of maintaining a healthy rivalry with Wayland this season, but in Wilcon’s eyes, Concord-Carlisle is the team to beat. Both of Weston’s losses last year were to C-C.
“The losses were one-goal and two-goal games, so I think we’re on the verge of beating them,” Wilcon said.
Weston will open the regular season at Martha’s Vineyard on April 2 and face Wayland for its first league game on April 5.
