Salisbury Lacrosse: Selected Press Releases*

*releases issued by Salisbury University in Spring 1999

The men's lacrosse team captured its third NCAA Championship in six years with a 13-6 victory over Middlebury in the national championship game on Sunday, May 30 in College Park, MD.   Game MVP Brian Smith had three goals and one assist to pace the offense and senior goalie Jason Tarnow registered a season-high 19 saves as the Gulls scored the game's first four goals and never trailed.    SSU (18-1) set a new single-season victory record while playing before the largest crowd in school-history (17,418). 

As it had done in two previous playoff games, Salisbury jumped to an early lead which it would never relinquish.   Chris Turner put the Gulls on the board with an unassisted goal just 1:28 into the game.   Smith made it 2-0 less than three minutes later, then Peter Troup added two goals late in the quarter to extend the margin to 4-0.   The Sea Gulls led 4-1 at the end of the first quarter and 7-2 at halftime.   Each team scored twice in the third quarter, sending the Gulls into the final 15 minutes with a 9-4 advantage.   Middlebury tallied the first score in the final quarter, closing to within four with 9:01 remaining.  

But Tarnow, who had 14 second-half saves, and the defense then shut the door while the Gulls outscored the Panthers 4-1 the rest of the way to clinch the title.   The SSU attack unit of Smith, Troup and Joe High combined for seven goals and three assists.   Defensemen Hirbod Azmi, Mark Breier, Darren Geraci, and Jordan Austin teamed with Tarnow to hold Middlebury eight goals below its scoring average.  

Unsung heros for the Gulls once again included face off specialist Chris Martin, who won 11 of 17 draws, and long-pole middies Glen Doss and Dave DiPaola, who combined for 11 ground balls.   The lacrosse championship capped a banner 1998-99 athletic year for Salisbury State, which captured six conference titles and claimed the Capital Athletic Conference's All-Sports Trophy.   Seven Sea Gull teams were represented in the NCAA Championships and 14 student-athletes earned all-America honors, including eight members of the mens lacrosse team.

1999 Season Preview

GULLS AMONG TOP LACROSSE CONTENDERS, AGAIN      
February 5, 1999    
"We have several players who can be as good as anybody in the country at their positions. If they play to their capabilities, and some new guys emerge as we expect, we can be a very good team."
--- Coach Jim Berkman 

Salisbury Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll  
The accomplishments are staggering. Start with the best record in NCAA Division III lacrosse over the past five years, 73-5, with just two regular season losses during that time. Add five consecutive seasons with a number one ranking. Add 10 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the longest active streak of any Division III team. Add 60 all-Americans in the 1990s. And of course, there are two national championships since 1994.     Justifiably, accomplishment is always accompanied by its first cousin, expectation. Given the overwhelming achievements of the Salisbury State men's lacrosse program and its consistency of excellence under Head Coach Jim Berkman, the Sea Gulls can begin no season without the weighty expectations of all who follow the sport. Therefore, as the 1999 campaign begins, it comes as no surprise that Salisbury State is once again one of the nation's elite squads. The Sea Gulls, coming off a 14-2 finish last year, have been tabbed third in Face-Off Yearbook's national preseason poll.      The Gulls face the loss of four starters from last year's team, including two of the top three scorers, but Head Coach Jim Berkman thinks his squad can once again forge a union of expectation and accomplishment in 1999.      A closer look at this year's team, by position:    

ATTACK
Last year's leading scorer and offensive team MVP has graduated to the coaching staff, but two of three starters return to lead this unit in 1999.     Senior Peter Troup, a second team all-American last year, returns for his third year as a starter. Troup, coming off a 41-goal, 16-assist season, has been tabbed as a 1999 preseason first team all-America by Face-Off Yearbook and could contend for national player of the year honors. The other returning starter is senior Brian Smith (28g-15a in 98), tabbed as a second team preseason AA by Face-Off Yearbook. The third starter will emerge from among three candidiates. Senior Chris Fowler (4g-3a) and junior Kevin Fox (4g-3a) are the top contenders among the returning players, while Anthony Pisciotti, a sophomore transfer from Nassau (NY) JC, offers the most immediate help among the newcomers. The traditionally high-scoring Sea Gulls once again finished among the national scoring leaders last year, placing third in the nation in scoring offense at 17.2 goals per game.  "This is a veteran group with two senior, returning starters," said Berkman. "Fowler and Fox have both worked hard and improved in the offseason. It's a pretty athletic group and they move the ball well.  I think we can score some goals with this unit."     

MIDFIELD
The return of nine veterans and the addition of at least five newcomers who should contribute right away provides Berkman with plenty of depth in the middle of the field. Junior Chris Turner emerged as one of the best players in the nation last year, earning second team all-America honors following a 26-goal, 17-assists season. Face-Off Yearbook has placed him on its preseason first team in 1999.  Junior Joe High (18g-2a), who moved from attack to midfield last year, offers further scoring punch.  Senior Josh Tidwell (7g-7a) is an experienced veteran who could improve on his scoring totals this season.  Two other returnees who should contribute are senior Chris Mackert (4g-3a) and junior Ryan McKenzie (1g-1a).  Berkman is also counting on several newcomers who should add additional firepower to the unit. Three junior transfers with solid all-around games may offer the most immediate help:  Tim Parks from Towson; Jimmy Barnes from Herkimer (NY) JC; and Jimmy Polucha from Anne Arundel (Md) JC.  Freshman Josh Bergey will also contribute. Three other veterans provide the Gulls with an experienced trio of short-stick defensive midfielders: seniors Chris Bray and Cory Smith and junior Paul Trentadue.   Senior Glen Doss is the top returning long-pole middie, and also plays a wing on faceoffs.  Junior Chris Martin, winner of last year's Most Improved Player award, the the number one faceoff specialist. "We've got a lot of good athletes in the midfield," said Berkman. "We have excellent size and a strong physical presence along with guys who can get to the goal.  There's lots of very good depth here."   

DEFENSE
Last year, the Gulls entered the season with a number of questions regarding a rebuilt defensive unit.   One year later, most of those questions have been fully and positively answered. The Gulls return two starters and three other veterans who were part of a unit that allowed just 8.2 goals per game in 98, among the best in the nation.  Junior Hirbod Azmi (6'4", 220) emerged as a standout defender last year and will serve as a leader on the backline.  He has been selected as a 1999 preseason second team all-America by Face-Off Yearbook.  Senior Darren Geraci also returns to the starting lineup.  Geraci (5'9", 180) doesn't have Azmi's size, but is a tenacious and intelligent player who also ranks among the team's groundball leaders.  The third starter will likely be sophomore Mark Breier (6'0", 195) who saw significant duty with steady improvement last year.      Junior Jordan Austin (6'2", 190) and sophomore Bryan Shanahan (5'10, 200) are also among the key defensive returnees.   "We should have a very good defensive unit," said Berkman.  "Having three experienced returnees in Azmi, Geraci and Breier, in addition to the experienced players at defensive midfield, makes us very solid.  Azmi can be among the best in the country this year."     

GOALIE  
Last year's top two goalies return, with senior Jason Tarnow back as the starter and junior John Dodson as the number one backup.   Tarnow was the Capital Athletic Conference's co-player of the year in 1998 and earned honorable mention AA honors while posting a .594 saves percentage.      He is a 1999 preseason third team all-America pick by Face-Off Yearbook. Dodson saw action in eight games last year, finishing with a .536 saves percentage.   Freshman Pat Tewes is highly regarded and offers Berkman excellent depth at the position.  "We have two very good, proven goalies and a freshman who is very talented," said Berkman. "Tarnow makes somes big saves and he's a good leader back there.   Dodson is also tremendous and would be starting for a lot of other teams."

OVERVIEW
"We have lots of returning talent and experience at a lot of positions," said Berkman.  " We do need a third guy to emerge on attack. We have lots of talented players, but to be great, we have to do everything well, including clearing the ball.   We have several players who can be as good as anybody in the country at their positions.  If they play to their capabilities, and some new guys emerge as we expect, we can be a very good team."