Press Releases

March 16, 1998
Defending Champion Colonials Open '98 Lacrosse Season With a Win

Southampton College Men's Lacrosse Shoots for 3rd ECAC title in 4 Years

Contact: Joe Dionisio
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

Southampton -- The last time the lacrosse team at Southampton College of Long Island University was on the field, the players and coaches were celebrating the 1997 East Coast Athletic Conference Division II championship.

On March 7, the Colonials picked up where they left off, defeating Div. I Manhattan College 18-10 in the opening game of their 1997 season. Southampton (1-0), ranked No. 4 nationally in Div. II, got 5 goals and 3 assists from midfielder Les Spence, and 4 goals and 5 assists from attackman Robert Roddini.

One challenge to defending their 1997 title will be replacing four seniors: Marcus Gollenberg, Mike Vitulli, Christian Zarcone and P.J. Laura, a Div. II 1st Team All American and Midfielder of the Year, the first player in the program's history to earn such honors. Zarcone, Vitulli and Laura will serve as student assistant coaches this season.

"It won't be too easy to replace any of those guys," said Ralph Pepe, who has 38-25 record as head coach. "The key to our team will be defense, and how we control the ball."

Three teams are ranked ahead of the Colonials in Div. II: N.Y. Tech (#1), Adelphi (#2) and C.W. Post (#3), Southampton's sister campus of Long Island University. "We have a real tough schedule," added Pepe, whose team went 9-4 in 1997. " But we aspire to beat the top teams and reach the NCAAs."

Pepe, who also guided Southampton to the 1995 ECAC Div. II title, will rely on 24 players as he shoots for three championships in four years:

The seniors are:

• Dan Larkin, a co-captain from Levittown, NY;
• Mike Walker of Elmont, NY;
• Les Spence of Hicksville, NY;
• co-captain Mike Snak of Smithtown, NY, and his identical twin,
• Bill Snak.

The juniors include

• co-captain Robert Roddini of Levittown, NY;
• co-captain Mike Callahan of Glen Rock, Pa.;
• Chris Asaro of Holtsville, NY; Karl Munson of Garden City, NY;
• Charles Masterson of St. James, NY; and
• Bryan Davis of East Northport, NY.

The sophomores are:

• Rich Stoia of Shirley, NY;
• Joe Paluseo of Syracuse, NY;
• Ken Monz of Rocky Point, NY;
• Greg Gorniok of Shoreham, NY;
• Duane Hoch of Boyertown, Pa.;
• Jason Farrell of Queens, NY;
• Jim Laura of Kings Park, NY; and
• Tom Dunn of Shirley, NY.

The freshman:

• Larry Falkman of Lake Ronkonkoma, who will be starting goalkeeper;
• Mark Carlson of Farmingville, NY;
• Brian DaSilva of Garden City, NY;
• Garett Cree of Akwesasne, NY; and
• Nathan Dumdei of Colo, Iowa.

Pepe's staff for 1998 includes Assistant Coaches Blayney McEneaney, who joins the club for the fourth straight year, and Greg Foster, a 1997 graduate of Southampton College who begins his third season. Team managers will be Dawn Wiley, a sophomore from Buffalo, N.Y., and Geneen Clark, a sophomore from Moorestown, N.J.

On Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m., the 5th Annual alumni lacrosse game will be held at the Southampton College Athletic Fields. The game pits the 1998 team against a squad of alumni. For info call Ralph Pepe at 723-2718.