Golf, lacrosse, softball seek winning seasons

Spencer Schwink & James Whitley, Reporter & Sports Editor

Riverhawk coaches and players said they hope to improve on their records during the spring athletic season.

Men’s Lacrosse:

Joseph Stanilaus, the new head coach for Men’s Lacrosse, said he is looking to build on last season’s 11-5 record.

Stanilaus said he is also looking to build on values and fundamentals.

“Without question I am a defensive-minded coach,” Stanilaus said. “I was a goalie in high school and college, and have always coached on that side of the ball.”

Stanilaus said the keys to success are defense, mental toughness and communication.

Dylan Mansur, attack, said this year’s team is looking to make a splash.

“We are looking to make some waves in the river,” Mansur said.

Softball:

Head coach Guy Klingensmith said the team is looking to carry over its momentum from last year into the beginning of this one.

With coaches Klingensmith and Brittany Nuñez returning for their second year, the team is looking to take the season one game at a time.

As opposed to last year’s team with mostly sophomores, the young team has only two returning players.

Brittney Barlow and Gabrielle Bobel are the only returning players on the roster and Klingensmith said he expects them to be the leaders.

Klingensmith said he wants his players to improve on fundamentals the most.

“I’m a big believer in the three r’s; repetition, repetition, repetition,” he said.

Opening day for softball is set for March 8.

Women’s Lacrosse:

The Women’s Lacrosse coach said he has his eyes set on playing in the national tournament AACC is hosting this year.

Jim Griffiths, the head coach of Women’s Lacrosse and Cross Country, said he would be disappointed if the team didn’t play in the national tournament.

“Our goal this year is to be as good as we can be,” Griffiths said.
Griffiths also said this year’s team has more potential than in the past.

Victoria Mattoon, the goalie, said she wants to become a better goalie. Mattoon said her challenge this season is trying to build chemistry with new teammates in a short period of time.

Emily Rowe, who plays midfield, said her goal for this season is to win more games.

“If we do that, everything will fall into place,” Rowe said.

Women’s Lacrosse ended its 2016 season with a record of 10-8.

Men’s Golf:

Men’s Golf looked to head back to nationals this season, after winning regionals and finishing seventh in nationals last season.

Head coach Joel Thorne said heading back to nationals is the goal every season.

“Our goal is to win our region and go to nationals as a team,” Thorne said.

Thorne said his biggest challenge this season is finding freshmen to fill the team, which has just two returing sophomores.

“I want to see how [the freshmen] perform and respond to pressure,” Thorne said.

Josh Maisel, a returning sophomore, said he is excited about the upcoming season.

Maisel said he wants to place higher at nationals.