Mustang stickmen return solid nucleus

Photo by Mike Wertman – The Medina lacrosse team’s returning regulars include, in front, Christian Silversmith, Blaire Prest and Bobby Geiger. In back are Da’Ron Bellan, Luke Wilson, Brendan Luthart, Mason Lewis and Ian Joseph.

Boasting a good contingent of returnees on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field, the Medina lacrosse team is prepping for the season’s non league home opener against Greece on March 24.

Offensively, Medina is led by the senior duo of Brendan Luthart, who scored 55 goals and added 34 assists last year, and Mason Lewis, who had 31 goals and 30 assists.

In the attacking zone, the Mustangs also return junior Chrisitian Silversmith (14 goals, 8 assists) and senior Da’Ron Bellan (5 goals, 3 assists).

Senior Ian Joseph returns as a long stick middie/defenseman. The defensive unit also returns the trio of senior Luke Wilson, junior Blaire Prest and sophomore Bobby Geiger.

“Offensively we have a lot of guys returning so we should do well there and we’ve got three defensemen returning. The big questionmark spot is the goaltending,” said Mustangs Coach Gordy Luthart who has senior Cody Crane and sophomore Wesley Hughes working out at the key netminder position.

The Mustangs lineup also includes seniors Ethan Leonard, Jacob Bensley and Joe Gates at midfield along with Trenton Jones and Kyson Bellan on defense; juniors Tim Roy at attack, Chaise Prest at midfield and Diago Russell on defense; sophomores Cooper Fearby on attack, Thomas Vasquez at midfield and Colby Petrie on defense along with freshman Zach Blount at attack.

“I think we’ll be a pretty balanced team,” said Luthart, “We have very high expectations.”

The Mustangs will begin play in the Class D Division on March 27 at Salamanca. The smaller five team D Division also includes defending champion Akron, Wilson and Gowanda this season as East Aurora and Eden have both moved up to Class C and Silver Creek has merged with Lake Shore which is also in Class C.

“Akron is the team to beat again for sure,” said Luthart.

Medina went 8-4 in the division and 10-7 overall last spring.

Schedule
March: 24 – Greece, 2 p.m.; 27 – at Salamanca, 5:30 p.m.
April: 10 – at Lockport, 5 p.m.; 14 – Eden, 12 p.m.; 17 – Wilson, 5 p.m.; 19 – at Akron, 5 p.m.; 21 – Brockport, 11 a.m.; 24 – at Gowanda, 5:30 p.m.; 26 – Salamanca, 5 p.m.; 28 – at Amherst, 1 p.m.
May: 3 – at Wilson, 5 p.m.; 5 – at Iroquois, 3 p.m.; 8 – Akron, 5 p.m.; 10 – Gowanda, 5 p.m.; 14 – Gananda, 6 p.m.; 15 – at West Seneca West, 5 p.m.