Men's Lacrosse | 2/12/2016 5:43:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men's lacrosse team opens its 2016 campaign Saturday, hosting Seton Hill (Pa.) University on the Graham Gill Field at the Irwin Belk Track Complex. First face-off is slated for 2 p.m.
 
Bulldog head men's lacrosse coach Michael Lawson and assistant coaches Matt Schunk and Jeffrey White sat down with the Wingate University Sports Information department and shared thoughts about the upcoming season. A transcript of the interview follows…
 
The South Atlantic Conference head coaches picked the Bulldogs third in the 2016 pre-season poll. Are expectations higher this year?
 
Lawson: "We are young, but not as young as we have been. We have many guys with much experience. We are looking forward to the challenge."
 
What are the strengths of this year's team?
 
Lawson: "We have two goalies with experience as starters (Jacob Ormerod and Michael Connor)…for two years they have battled back-and-forth. Our first-line attack has played virtually every game together for two years. This is a good thing for us. On defense, we have many guys with significant experience."
 
What areas concern you as the season approaches?
 
Lawson: "We have tough decisions to make as far as personnel goes. We want to advance to the SAC post-season and beyond. We know our starters…but we need to make decisions regarding movement of players from one position to another. We want to capitalize on the talent we have."
 
Talk about the goalie position…
 
Lawson: "We have had good competition at every position. The competition in the cage has been extremely intense. We know who the starter is going to be…the intensity of the competition has caused everyone to elevate their game."
 
Give us a look at the Wingate defense…
 
Lawson: "We are still trying to figure things out defensively. We have a number of guys who can play. Our first line is very talented…we want to utilize our experience."
 
Schunk: "Sophomore Chris Gazzio (Hershey, Pa.) had a good pre-season. He is a hard worker with strong fundamentals. Junior Anthony Crisera (Silver Springs, Fla.) is a vocal leader for us. Sophomore Robert Benjamin (Wantagh, N.Y.) is a natural talent…a cerebral player who works well in every phase of the game."
 
"Sophomore Marc James (Silver Spring, Md.) is very versatile. He is one of the most athletic players on our team. Senior captain Robert Godwin (Greensboro, N.C.) is a stalwart on our team. He is a vocal leader who never takes a play off."
 
Give us a look at the Wingate offense…
 
White: "In the midfield, freshman Daniel Godwin (Greensboro, N.C.) is a big guy who is very physical. Freshman Keenan Reed (Winston-Salem, N.C.) sees the field well. Freshman Conor Gronbach (Cary, N.C.) has great speed and can create his shot on the run."
 
"Freshman midfield Alex Llerandi (Marietta, Ga.) made the move from attack to midfield. Junior Seth Grimwood (Huntingtown, Md.) can play either offensive or defensive midfield, depending on the situation."
 
"Sophomore Jeremy Sullivan (Crofton, Md.) is another former attack who will help us in the midfield. Junior Vincent Aiello (Centereach, N.Y.) and sophomore Brennan Asplen (St. Augustine, Fla.) both bring much intensity to our midfield."
 
"At the attack, senior captain Ryan Vogrig (Vancouver, B.C.) is a quiet leader who does all the right things. Junior captain Tanner Kotch (Butler, Pa.) is a leader on our offense. Junior Austin Murphy (Orillia, Ontario) has been our points leader for two seasons. He can do it all. Freshman Ryan Ormerod (Lake Mary, Fla.) has a high lacrosse IQ. He can distribute and score."
 
Give us a look at the Wingate specialists…
 
Lawson: "Our defensive midfielders…freshman Sean Moran (Lawrence, N.Y.) and sophomore Zach Lord (Woodstock, Ga.) are doing a good job. On the face-offs, we have a talented returner in sophomore James Thatcher (East Patchogue, N.Y.). Freshman Wyatt Weiseman (Jensen Beach, Fla.) brings a different dynamic to the face-off position."
 
Talk about the 2016 Wingate schedule…
 
Lawson: "We've made a concerted effort to constantly improve our schedule every year. We believe we have stepped up our schedule…it is the toughest schedule we've had during my time at Wingate. The early games will be good preparation for our SAC schedule."
 
BULLDOG NOTES
 
Wingate's senior class includes Robert Godwin, Vogrig, attack Matt Lilley (Nashua, N.H.) and midfield Andrew Gobble (Huntersville, N.C.). Three Bulldogs grabbed a spot on the pre-season All-SAC first team: Murphy, Vogrig and junior defense Drew Thompson (Charlotte, N.C.). Benjamin is a pre-season All-SAC second team selection.
 
The Bulldogs play 15 games this year, with seven home contests slated for the Graham Gill Field at the Irwin Belk Track Complex. Wingate will play a neutral site game against the Lakers of Mercyhurst (Pa.) on Feb. 21 in Ashland, Va.
 
The Bulldogs will begin conference play on the road, facing Mars Hill March 5. Wingate closes the season with five consecutive conference games. Three of the five season-concluding SAC games will be in Wingate.
 
The 2016 South Atlantic Conference men's lacrosse championship is slated for April 26, 28 and 30 with quarter-finals at campus sites and the semi-finals and finals hosted by Queens University of Charlotte.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,100 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, master's degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past nine years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 82 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 82 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 91 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.