Post's 50th anniversary is truly golden

Steven Marcus

May 26, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- C. W. Post started men's lacrosse in 1960 with just about enough players to complete its five game schedule. This year, the Pioneers' 50th anniversary was laden with gold as they captured the NCAA Division II title by downing previously undefeated Le Moyne, 8-7, Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Post (14-1) set a school record for victories in a season.

The main cast

A, Greg Cerar, Sr., Farmingdale High School.The indispensable three-time All-American had four goals against Le Moyne, giving him 48 for the season and 128 in his career. Will he join former Farmingdale and Duke graduate Matt Danowski on the L.I. Lizards?

A, Dave Loftus, Sr., Calhoun. Transfer from Nassau CC, where he was an All-American. Scored 45 goals this year, 78 in his two seasons at Post.

A, Nicholas Coric, So., De La Salle (Calif.). After scoring just one goal as a freshman, became integral part of the offense with 24 goals and 20 assists.

M, Mike Cama, Jr., Island Trees. First team All-American. The best faceoff specialist in the country with a .685 percentage. Accumulated an astounding 171 ground balls. His father, Richard and brother, Rich, played lacrosse at Post. Also played football and wrestled in high school.

M/A, Matt Dimler, Gr.,

Morris Central (N.J.). Injury curtailed his first season in 2006, so Dimler earned his degree and another year of eligibility. Scored 29 goals. Was vice-president of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A, Nicholas Coric, So., De La Salle (Calif.). After scoring one goal as a freshman, became big part of the offense with 24 goals and 20 assists.

M, Mike Messina, So., Sayville. His 19 goals and six assists are not the best part of his story. He becomes part of the trivia question that asks what two brothers won national titles playing for different teams? (Brother Matt from next door NYIT, the 2008 champ).

D, Jon Kology, Sr., West Babylon. Steady on defense, picked up 36 ground balls, bringing his four-year total to 100.

D, Bryan Leonard, Jr., Lakeland (Yorktown, N.Y.) Another All-American. Scooped up 21 ground balls and caused 19 turnovers.

D, Joe Blount, Jr., Lawrence. Led the defense in caused turnovers with 20 and also corralled 30 ground balls. Brother, Rob, was a standout at Post from 2004-2007.

M, Nick Lacagnina, So.,

Sachem East. Led the non-specialist category with 44 ground balls and now has 91 in two seasons. In high school, was bestowed with Scoop Monster award in lacrosse and Sopracasa Essay Scholarship for his writing ability.

D, Richard Schmidt, Jr.,

Hicksville. Something of a triple threat as he played for Sacred Heart as a freshman, Nassau CC as a sophomore and this season at Post. Snared 30 ground balls and caused 18 turnovers. Aspires to be a New York City fireman. Bet he will not transfer.

G, Dan Sciulla, Sr., Bellmore JFK. Another Nassau CC transfer, Sciulla outplayed heralded Le Moyne goalie Doug McIver in the title game by making 13 saves, including seven in the fourth quarter. Had a .645 save percentage this season.

Coach: John Jez (third year, 35-38). The nicest person you will ever meet. Left Pace a few years ago, phoned Post looking to be a non-paid assistant, suffered a life-threatening stroke in his first season. Elevated to head coach when Tom Postel retired. Beloved by his players. Coach of the year.

Assistants: Frank Vitolo, Chris Gencorelli. Vitolo is tough on defense, but heart of gold. Baby-sits daughter's Labrador puppy in his office. Gencorelli played at champion NYIT last season.

Supporting players

G, Dylan Flegar, So., New Rochelle

M, Chris Fraser, Sr., Ashland (Mass.)

A, Jason Murray, So., Bethpage

A Mark Andreassi, Fr., Sachem North

A, Brian DeSouza, Fr., St. Andrew's (Conn.)

M, Dan Forsyth, Jr., Armstrong (Minn.)

M, Joe Meo, Jr., Sayville

D, Nick Watson, So., Trumbull (Conn.)

A, John Hannan, Fr., Saratoga Springs

M, Wade Unger, Fr., Longwood

M, Matt Merritt, Jr., Long Beach

D, Danny DaCosta, So., Lakeland (Putnam Valley)

A, Vito Minerva, So., Smithtown East

M, James Johnston, So., Sachem East

D, Daniel Neugebauer, Jr., Sayville

M, James Koziakowski, Fr., Lynbrook

A, Robert Masi, Fr., Bethpage

M, Brian Andrews, So., Hicksville

D, Mike Celano, Jr., Calhoun

M, Austin Wolfson, Jr., Calhoun

D, Mike Crisco, So., Bel Air (Md.)

G, Jonathan Matzelle, Jr., Ward Melville

D, Michael Plactere, So., Locust Valley

A, Ralph Pepe, Fr., West Hampton Beach

D, John Wood, So., Marblehead (Mass.)

D, Rich Blumberg, Gr., Plainedge

A, Christopher Kampf, Fr., Ocean Township (N.J.)

D, Steve Malczynski, So., Sachem East

D, Eric Boyd, So., Newfield

D, Mike Bedford, Sr., Rocky Point

G, Drew Smith, Jr., East Hampton

G, Michael Giordano, So., Farmingdale

A, Eddie Plompen, Fr., West Islip

A, Keith Rodriguez, Fr., Lakeland (Cortlandt Manor)

M, Andrew Madsen, Fr., Mounds View (Minn.)

A, Thomas Giordano, So., Kellenberg

D, Keith Acuri, Fr., South Side

G, Nick Foote, So., St. Joseph's (Conn.)

M, Eli Edelman, So., Fox Lane (Bedford, N.Y)

M, Peter Michaleas, So., Glen Cove

M, Nicholas Wramage, Fr., Midwood (Brooklyn)

A, Ryan Pietrzyk, Fr., Lake Norman (N.C.)

D, Jimmy Sporing, So., Bethpage

D, Joseph Barbera, Fr., Sewanhaka

A, Matthew Ricco, Fr., Bridgeton Academy (Conn.)

Newstex ID: 35204152