Mustangs lacrosse squad is returning plenty of veteran firepower
Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading the Medina lacrosse team into the upcoming season is this veteran contingent which includes, in front, Mason Lewis, Brendan Luthart, Ian Joseph and Mason Pecoraro. In back are Mike Carson, Coby Albone, Tyler Howard, Jake Cotter and Cody Crane.
The return of four of their top five scorers anchors the lineup for the Medina Mustangs lacrosse team heading into the upcoming season.
Senior Jake Cotter, who has also ready accepted a scholarship to play lacrosse at Canisius College, heads that veteran quartet as he had 61 goals and 20 assists last year.
The Mustangs also return junior Brendan Luthart (32 goals, 17 assists), junior Mason Lewis (28 goals, 31 assists) and senior Coby Albone (24 goals).
“We return a lot of firepower so scoring goals should be one of our strengths,” said Coach Gordy Luthart. “And in this division you have got to score a lot of goals.”
The Mustangs also return varsity experience in seniors Tyler Howard on defense and Mike Carson at attack along with the junior trio of Ian Joseph (midfield/defense), Cody Crane (goalie) and Mason Pecoraro (goalie).
Medina’s youthful defensive unit also looks to include junior Luke Wilson, sophomores Tim Roy and Blaire Prest and freshman Bobby Geiger.
“I’m really excited about our young defensemen,” said Luthart . “Overall we’re ahead of last year defensively even though that young group doesn’t have any varsity experience.”
The Mustangs lineup also includes juniors Austin Cox (midfield/defender), Ethan Leonard (midfield), Joe Gates (midfield), Josh Miller (midfield) and DaRon Bellan (midfield) along with sophomores Christian Silversmith (attack) and Chaise Prest (midfield).
“We have a lot of speed,” said Luthart. “I’m very optimistic about this season. This group has a lot of energy and it has a good mix although we are still very young.”
The Mustangs graduation losses include midfielders Tyler Valley, Greg Husung and Dylan Lewis along with defensemen Trent Cotriss, Kalvin Packer, Charlie Enderby and Josh Klotzbach.
Medina, which went 6-8 in the league and 7-10 overall last year, will be competing in the new Section VI Class D division this season along with Akron, Wilson, Gowanda, Silver Creek, Salamanca and Eden.
The Mustangs are scheduled to open the season at home next Wednesday with a non league game against Lockport after scrimmaging West Seneca West on Monday..
Schedule:
March 22 – Lockport, 5 p.m.
March 29 – Gowanda, 5 p.m.
March 31 – at Salamanca, 5:30 p.m.
April 3 – at Gananda, 5:30 p.m.
April 5 – Silver Creek, 5 p.m.
April 7 – Akron, 7 p.m.
April 18 – Eden, 5 p.m.
April 21 – Wilson, 7 p.m.
April 24 – North Tonawanda, 7 p.m.
April 26 – Salamanca, 5 p.m.
April 28 – at Gowanda, 7 p.m.
May 1 – at Brockport, 7 p.m.
May 5 – at Wilson, 5 p.m.
May 10 – at Akron, 5 p.m.
May 12 – at Eden, 5:30 p.m.
May 15 – at Silver Creek, 5:30 p.m.
