New faces, new places
BUTLER TWP — Justin Karam is back where his lacrosse career began.
The 2005 Butler High School graduate, who played midfield for the Golden Tornado, was approved as the boys lacrosse team's head coach in January.
“It wasn't something I was anticipating, so that made it more special,” said Karam, who coached Mars' boys team to the WPIAL Division II playoffs the last two seasons. “The lacrosse program at Butler has grown tremendously since I played. We now have a youth program starting with kids in kindergarten.”
Karam's assistants include Patrick Hitchan and Cody Conklin, who both played on the Golden Tornado's WPIAL Division II title team in 2010. Butler has not made the postseason since moving up to Division I in 2013.
“Division I is a higher level of play,” Karam said. “Butler has not done so well since making the move and we want to improve on that.”
The road to the playoffs will not be easy as the Tornado's Section 2 foes include defending WPIAL champion Shady Side Academy and a strong North Allegheny program.
“We have talent, but we are not deep,” admitted Karam. “We have a lot of youth and our practices have been spent touching upon the basics and establishing an offensive and defensive plan.
“I want for us to at least make a run at the playoffs (top four in the section standings), make some noise,” he added. “It's just a matter of things coming together for us.”
Following are preview capsules for the Butler County high school lacrosse teams.
Returning starters are denoted (*).
<b>Butler </b>Coach: Justin Karam, first yearLast season: Butler was below .500 and did not qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.Top projected players: Attack — Jamison Smith* (Sr.); Midfield — Gavin Terwilliger (So.); Defense — Lucas Dubyak* (Sr.); Goalie — Brandon Martin* (Jr.).Outlook: “I want for us to at least make a run at the playoffs, make some noise,” said Karam. “I think we can do that.”Cardinal Wuerl North CatholicCoach: Don Bryant, first seasonLast season: The Trojans were winless as a club team. This will be their first season at the varsity level.Top projected players: Attack — Noah Kosobucki (So.); Midfield — Alex Culbertson (Fr.); Defense — Thaddeus Benson (Jr.); Goalie — Noah Sperling (Fr.).Outlook: “I'd love to see us go .500,” Bryant said. “I believe Sperling will be an excellent goalie in time.”<b>Mars </b>Coach: Ed Monahan, first yearLast season: The Planets were 10-6 and made the WPIAL Division II playoffs.Top projected players: Attack — Zac Sicher* (Jr.), Blake Thompson* (Jr.) and Anthony Grieco (Fr.); Midfield — Hunter Mincer* (Sr.), Owen Vasbinder* (Jr.), Joe Porter* (Jr.), Ben Lewis (So.) and Andrew Moyer (Fr.); Defense — Peter Stahl* (Jr.), Joey Crognale* (So.) and Cole Hetzler (Jr.); Goalie — Pat Morrow* (Jr.).Outlook: “This is a young program and the sky is the limit for this group of guys,” said Monahan. “I believe if they go into every practice and game with a positive attitude and a desire to win, we are going to have an outstanding season.”<b>Seneca Valley </b>Coach: Lance Diamond, third yearLast season: The Raiders fell to 3-11.Top projected players: Attack — Mike Zoria* (Sr.), Dan Rupert* (So.) and Tyler Spagnolo (Jr.); Midfield — Justin Kolarich* (Sr.), Matt Drambel* (Sr.), Kevin Mason* (Sr.), Marcus Rose* (Sr.), Hunter Holt (Sr.), Tee Moriarty (Jr.) and Cain Brady (Jr.); Defense — Greg Bayne* (Jr.), Mike Moon (Sr.) and Adam Galovich (So.); Goalie — Paul Cundiff* (Sr., University of Delaware recruit).Note: Last season, SV lost four games in overtime, including one in double overtime and another in triple overtime.Outlook: “We have a senior-heavy team that is complemented by a lot of skilled players in the junior and sophomore classes,” said Diamond. “We have the pieces to make a run again this year, but we need to work hard every day to get better and prove that we are a solid contender this spring.”Note: Knoch coach Paul Schwartz could not be reached for comment.
<b>Butler</b>Coach: Rachel Wilson, first yearLast season: The Golden Tornado were 7-5 in section play and qualified for the WPIAL Division II playoffs.Top projected players: Cassie Nading*, Kayla Widenhofer*, Hanna Welty*, Lauren Miller*, Mya Reese* and Reanna Everton*Outlook: “The program has made the playoffs the last few years, but has lost its first playoff game each time,” Wilson said. “We want to get past the first round.”<b>Knoch </b>Coach: Garett Butler, eighth yearLast season: The Knights were 6-10.Top projected players: Attack — Heidi Fanton* (Sr.); Midfield — Elizabeth Butler* (Sr.) and Ally Riley* (Jr.); Defense — Emily Hayes* (Sr.) and Lauren McCrea* (Jr.); Goalie — Emma Federkeil (Jr.).Outlook: “We graduated seven starters and have a lot of holes to fill,” said Butler. “We are looking for our two- and three-year players to step up.”<b>Mars </b>Coach: Lindsay Flavion, first yearLast season: In their first season of varsity play, the Planets went 14-5 and reached the WPIAL Division II semifinals.Top projected players: Attack — Lilli Marcoux* (Jr.) and Cassie Buzzelli* (Jr.); Midfield — Shannon Doyle* (Jr.), Kelly O'Connell* (Jr.), Camille Cipkins* (Jr.), Eden Fletcher* (Jr.); Defense — Erin Bissett* (Jr.) and Landri Shannon (Fr.); Goalie — Charla Tate* (Jr.) and Jackie Bushee (Sr.).Outlook: “We have a smaller roster than most, but even with our small numbers, we have a lot of depth in our talent,” Flavion said. “Anyone has the opportunity to fill a starting varsity spot on any given day.”<b>Seneca Valley </b>Coach: Katie Smolter, third yearLast season: SV was 9-8 overall and made the WPIAL playoffs.Top projected players: Attack — Erin Brock* (Sr.), Emma Chieppor* (Sr.), Allie Head* (Jr.), Lauren Podolec (So.) and Megan Batykefer (Jr.); Midfield — Hannah Kendrick* (Sr.), Mollie Gallagher* (Sr.) and Karina Latsko* (So.); Defense — Maty Zeckzer* (Sr.), Liz Milton* (Sr.) and Alex Miller* (Jr.) defense; Goalie — Abby Miller* (Sr.).2014 stats: Kendrick led the team with 47 goals and 17 assists. Chieppor scored 24 goals. In net, Miller had a 42 percent save percentage.Outlook: “Returning almost a full roster, we are excited for the way the girls have been working together,” Smolter said. “I have no doubt their hard work and determination will lead them to success.”
