Medina Journal-Register — Four 20 plus goal scorers head the veteran contingent as the Medina High varsity lacrosse team preps for the March 21 non league season opener against Batavia at Vets Park.
Senior Ben Austin (midfield-attack), who scored 46 goals last season, leads that veteran quartet which also includes junior Kyle Barna (midfield-attack) 35 goals, senior Derek Fuller (midfield-attack) 28 goals and senior Matt Zacher (midfield-attack) 20 goals.
“We definitely have some firepower and defensively we’ll be much better than I thought we’d be,” said coach Gordy Luthart who takes over the Mustangs varsity helm this season after guiding the JV squad for a number of years.
“We have very high expectations for this group. We have 12 seniors so it is a veteran group,” said Luthart. “We have some talent, especially at the offensive end, but staying healthy is the big key. If we can stay healthy I think we can be very competitive. “
The Mustangs also return three other starters including goalie Tommy Zacher, a senior, along with senior Drew McMurray at midfield and senior Bryer Boyce on defense.
The Medina roster also includes seniors Anthony Grazioplene (midfield), Dan Reigle (defense) Octavio Gomez (defense), Dylan Perker (midfield), Tyler Davies (midfield) and Nate Sanders (attack) along with juniors Jacob Hendershot (midfield), Nate Hodgins (midfield/defense), Colin Bentley (defense), Eric Heideman (defense); sophomore Brett Pecoraro (midfield) and freshman Dylan Lewis (midfield/defense).
The Mustangs will also host Lockport (March 23) and Wilson (March 26) before opening the Class C Division capping at Amherst on March 28.
“We’re in a very competitive division so what we get we’ll definitely earn as there are no gimmies on the schedule,” said Luthart. “I’m very excited about this season. We’ve set some high goals and the only way that will happen is by hard work but I think we have the group that can do it. We have the potential to surprise some teams. The talent is there. The key is for us to stay healthy. Our team will definitely be ready.”
Medina went 2-6 in the division and 8-9 overall last year.
Medina Lacrosse COACH: Gordy Luthart LAST YEAR: 2-6, 8-9 KEY LOSSES: Brodie Fenton (midfield-attack), RJ McCormick (defense), Matt Clayton (defense) KEY RETURNEES: Ben Austin (Sr., mid-attack), Kyle Barna (Jr., mid-attack), Derek Fuller) Sr., mid-attack), Matt Zacher (Sr., mid-attack), Tommy Zacher (Sr., goalie), Bryer Boyce (Sr., defense), Drew McMurray (Sr., midfield). Schedule March 21: Batavia, 5 p.m. March 23: Lockport, 12 p.m. March 26: Wilson, 5 p.m. March 28: at Amherst, 5:30 p.m. April 2: Newark, 12 p.m. April 9: at East Aurora, 5 p.m. April 11: at Lew-Port, 5:30 p.m. April 16: Lake Shore, 5 p.m. April 18: at Silver Creek, 5:30 p.m. April 20: at Brockport, 2 p.m. April 23: Akron, 7 p.m. April 25: at Salamanca, 5:30 p.m. April 30: at Batavia, 5 p.m. May 2: Eden, 5 p.m. May 7: Gowanda, 5 p.m. May 9: at Wilson, 5 p.m.
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