A new head coach. A new starting goaltender. A new starter at every defensive position.
The year 2001 will be a year of change for the Boston University men’s lacrosse team. But, if all goes well, this team could be back where it was last year: playing for the Pioneer League championship.
The 2000 campaign was a successful one for the squad. It posted an 8-2 regular season record, good enough for third place in the regular season standings. But the Terriers would go on to exceed expectations in the playoffs, reaching the finals where they fell to the undefeated University of New Hampshire Wildcats.
For the Terriers to have a shot at a championship this year, they’re going to need some of their new starters to step up. One of those newcomers is junior goaltender Brad Dynowicz. After backing up Dave Devine for two years, Dynowicz assumes the starting role in 2001.
“We have to overcome a lot of losses,” Dynowicz said.
But he should have plenty of help in what figures to be a high-powered Terrier offensive attack. Junior midfielders Adam Krumbholz and Gustav Schmidt both made the Second Team All-Star Pioneer League squad.
These two figure to be the offensive leaders for the Terriers, along with senior captain Mitch Wilson. But one of the team’s assets is its ability to spread the ball around on offense.
“We’re an offensive oriented team and a depth oriented team,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of midfield depth so we can run teams into the ground. We’re going to have a lot of contributors. Everybody will get to showcase their skills.”
As one of only two returning seniors, Wilson will provide some much needed veteran leadership to this team.
“I’m a laid back guy,” Wilson said. “But I’m also demanding and intense. I’m just going to go out and raise hell. If I see no intensity, I’ll get in their face.”
Dynowicz, for one, certainly feels Wilson’s leadership is crucial to the team’s success.
“Mitch is an outstanding leader,” Dynowicz said. “He’s got the pulse of the team. He’s a captain in every sense of the word.”
Behind the bench, the Terriers will have a new leader this year. Dan Morris will be taking over head coaching duties after three years as an assistant.
As Dynowicz notes, Morris brings a different coaching style to the Terriers than that of former coach Brian Earl.
“It’s like comparing apples and oranges,” he said. “Dan is a player’s coach. He’s fair, but tough. We have a lot of faith in him, and he has a lot of faith in us.”
BU lacrosse is entering the year ranked No. 25 in the USLIA. The first game for the Terriers will be today at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology against Northeastern University, a team BU has knocked out of the Pioneer League playoffs three years in a row.
“They’re a tough rival,” Dynowicz said, “and they’re going to be fired up. They have a good attack and solid goaltending.”
But Wilson said he feels the neutral site will benefit the Terriers.
“It’s on AstroTurf, which we play well on,” he said.
Though the Terriers are surely capable of duplicating or even surpassing last year’s results, nothing will come easily for this young team in an improving division.
“Every team has improved,” Dynowicz said. “There’s no weak team in the Pioneer League.”
Wilson said the team’s youth could actually be a benefit.
“What’s good about being young is that we’re really hungry,” he said.
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