The 2008 Hobart lacrosse season, the program's 106th varsity campaign, saw the Statesmen compile an 8-6 overall record taking down a pair of NCAA Tournament teams along the way. Hobart defeated MAAC Champion Canisius 10-3 in Buffalo, snapping the Golden Griffins' school record eight-game winning streak, and then became the only ECAC squad to upend conference champion Loyola four days later, outrunning the Greyhounds 10-6 on Boswell Field.

Attackman Daryl Veltman '08 garnered USILA All-America honorable mention after becoming the Statesmen's Division I scoring king and climbing to No. 15 on the all-time points and goals lists. He led the league in goals per game (2.36) and finished his career with 109 goals and 53 assists. Veltman was chosen first overall in the National Lacrosse League's Entry Draft by the Boston Blazers, the first Hobart player to be taken at No. 1.

Classmate and fellow attackman Jamie Kirk '08 also made headlines, finishing his career with more assists than all but two of the Division I Statesmen that came before him. Kirk led the conference in assists per game in 2008 (1.79) and, in just two seasons, compiled 63 helpers, the 16th highest total in Hobart history. He too was selected in the NLL Draft, taken with the 16th overall pick by the Chicago Shamrox.

With Kirk and Veltman leading the way, the Hobart attack finished second in the conference and 13th in the nation in scoring, producing 10.5 goals per game.

The Statesmen will also need to replace two-thirds of its starting midfield unit following the graduation of Nick Currie (Career: 53g, 16a, 53GB) and Sean Murphy (46g, 19a, 88GB).

Kirk, Murphy, and Veltman, along with defenseman Rafe Mattingly '08, and senior midfielder Matt Smalley all earned spots on the ECAC All-Star teams.

Overshadowed, but arguably more important to the team's success in 2008, the defense posted a 7.71 goals against average, second in the conference, 15th in the nation, and Hobart's best since moving to Division I. Unlike the attack and midfield units, the Statesmen defense remains largely intact, welcoming back starting defensemen junior Neal Brown, senior Ricky Evans, and senior Justin Hager and sophomore goalie Max Silberlicht.

That veteran group will be the foundation of Hobart's success this season. First-year Head Coach T.W. Johnson was asked during a preseason interview about his approach to the game.

“We want to build from the goal out,” Johnson says. “We always talk about playing fast on offense, but if you want to play fast on offense, you've got to play good defense. You've got to have a goalie that can make some saves, some defensemen that can handle the ball, and you've got to win faceoffs. If you do those things, they allow you to play fast on offense.”

Keeping with Johnson's approach, this outlook will break down the Statesmen from the goal out.

GOALIE

Silberlicht came into his own during the second half of the 2008 season. Beginning with a 12-4 win at Fairfield on March 29, he posted a .634 save percentage and a 6.70 goals against average while leading the Statesmen to a 5-2 record that included the aforementioned wins over the NCAA-bound Golden Griffins and Greyhounds. Silberlicht produced a season-high 18 saves in the overtime loss to Georgetown and matched that total in the upset of Loyola. He finished the season 11th in the nation in save percentage (.585) and 15th in goals against average (8.05).

Senior Brad Hester and sophomore Evan Kirk (younger brother of Jamie) will have a hard time wrestling the starting job away from Silberlicht, but Johnson says he'd be just as comfortable with Hester or Kirk in the crease. Hester is a speedy change of pace that could get minutes when the Statesmen go to a 10-man ride, as he did so successfully at the end of regulation against the Hoyas, while Kirk is a steady back stop that can enter “the zone” and be lights out, as he did against Presbyterian (9 svs, 1 GA).

DEFENSE

While Mattingly's graduation was a hit to the defense, Hobart still boasts the depth and toughness that was a hallmark of the unit last year. The Statesmen gave up goals on 23.3 percent of the opposition's shots in the first half of 2008, but lowered that figure to 20.7 percent over the final seven games. Hobart was particularly effective in killing off penalties. The Statesmen led the ECAC and finished fourth in the nation in man-down defense, eliminating 81 percent of their opponent's man-up opportunities.

The lineup figures to be populated by some combination of returning starters Hager (13 gms), Evans (8 gms), and Brown (7 gms), as well as sophomores Mike O'Brien and Paul Reintjes. Johnson, a former defenseman himself, is excited about the potential of this group, especially after their efforts in the preseason convinced him they are committed, now more than ever, to playing as a unit, rather than focusing on one-on-one matchups.

Hager is very physical and brimming with confidence following an All-American, record-breaking season on the gridiron. Evans has a nose for ground balls, collecting 31 in '08, while Brown (6-1, 190), O'Brien (6-0, 205), and Reintjes (6-2, 200) are big, strong defenders that are somewhat untested, but possess the skills to give the Statesmen a dominating defense for years to come.

Senior Marcus Craigwell brings leadership and depth to the D, while sophomore transfer John Baumann (Denver) joined the Statesmen in January and could be a regular contributor once he gets up to speed on Hobart's system.

MIDFIELD

Long-stick midfielders sophomore Alex Caton and senior Chris Hurley were key components of the defense's success, as well as the Statesmen's transition game (.821 clearing rate in the second half). Caton, the team's rookie of the year, played in all 14 games, collecting 34 ground balls and three goals, while Hurley is a very intelligent player and a strong defender.

Johnson sees this year's midfield, a deep and versatile group, taking on an old school look.

“Back in the old days, we had more two-way middies, guys that played at both ends of the field,” Johnson says. “Recently, the trend has been to have guys that specialize at one end or the other, but this year I think we have more guys that are good on offense and defense.”

Smalley, juniors Tyler Cassell, Daniel Keegan, Mike Lazore, Doug Shiver, and Mike Suits, and sophomore Nick Blumer fit that two-way midfielder mold.

Smalley is the most decorated of the bunch. A second team All-ECAC pick in '08, he has led the team in ground balls in each of the past two seasons and needs 58 more to become Hobart's DI career leader. Smalley has expanded his role from a d-middie his first two seasons on campus to an all-around contributor.

Lazore and Shiver accounted for 12 and 11 points, respectively, last season, while Cassell, Keegan, and Blumer are poised for breakthrough seasons after getting limited minutes in '08.

“I hate to sound vague, but right now we're expecting to start the year with a midfield by committee approach,” Johnson says.

At the faceoff X, Hobart will have to contend with the graduation of Dan Spinella, but volunteer assistant coach Terry Muffley has a reputation for developing dominating faceoff specialists. His primary candidates for 2009 are sophomore Nunzio Doldo and first-year Bobby Dattilo. Doldo was 17-14 as a first-year, collecting six ground balls, while Dattilo was a two-time high school All-American at Pinkerton Academy, winning an incredible 82 percent of his restarts, while contributing 84 points as a senior.

ATTACK

Graduation claimed 34 percent of Hobart's scoring in Kirk and Veltman alone. To say there are big shoes to fill up top for the Statesmen is an understatement.

“They were two guys that make you look good as a coach,” Johnson says. “I don't know if you replace Jamie and Daryl, especially their chemistry, the way they knew what the other would do with just a look. That's pretty special.”

Senior Jeff Colburn will be looked to as a leader and “go-to-guy” this year. He had 17 goals and 11 assists in '08 and finished second on the team in man-up goals.

Joining him on attack will be some combination of senior Sam Orr, junior Kevin Curtin, sophomore Mike White, and first-years Chris Pedersen and Sean Robinson.

Curtain was the team's No. 4 attackman a year ago, notching 10 goals and an assist, and is poised to step into the starting lineup. Orr, a team captain, will add veteran leadership to the young group. White gained valuable experience on the U-19 Iroquois National team last summer, while Pedersen and Robinson are both strong, accurate lefties.

Senior Tyler Hill and sophomore Tim Bigelow have also shown promise and could earn minutes on attack or in the midfield.

SCHEDULE

The Statesmen are all too aware that there are no “gimmies” on the schedule. Hobart's slate includes five teams ranked in the USILA Preseason Top 20: No. 1 Syracuse (March 24), No. 4 Cornell (May 2), No. 7 Georgetown (March 14), No. 17 Loyola (April 25), and No. 20 Bucknell (March 7).

The toughest stretch may be the first five games of the season. The Statesmen will play three games in eight days to start the year, all on the road, then return home to face the Bison and Hoyas.

Hobart also has a demanding finishing stretch, hosting Canisius (April 21) before traveling to take on the revenge-minded Greyhounds and the Big Red.