The SUNY Potsdam men's lacrosse team enters the 2015 campaign off of one of the best seasons in program history. Led by head coach Rick Berkman, the Bears won 10 games for the third time ever and earned the second seed in the SUNYAC Playoffs for the second time in four years. Berkman earned his third SUNYAC Coach of the Year honor and goalie Ryan Duffy was named the conference's Player of the Year and a second team USILA All-American. Duffy then joined fellow all-conference selections Rob Kunz and Jeff Love in the North-South Game.

The Bears lost some key players to graduation. Kunz finished his career ninth on the program's all-time scoring list and sixth in assists. Love proved to be a top defender and Ryan McConnell led the team in ground balls and provided solid leadership.

"We're definitely going to miss Rob Kunz and Ryan Duffy," said Berkman, who is now entering his 21st season as the Bears coach. "And Jeff Love was a fixture on defense for us for four years. So those guys are very, very talented players, but I'm also of the mindset that I love the d-middies and they're an integral part to a successful team. So Ryan McConnell and Matt Donovan are as big a loss as anybody that was on this team last year. Not only from an athletic ability standpoint, but leadership as well. We lost some important players, but I'm really confident with the new players and think they're going to do very well for us."

As always, the Bears will have strong leadership this season provided by seniors Jon Woodworth (Great Bend, N.Y./Carthage) and Nick Waseleski (Victor, N.Y./Victor) and juniors Pat Bonafede (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) and Kyle Hauk (Sackets Harbor, N.Y./Immaculate Heart).

"As a group, having two seniors and two juniors as captains is very good for the program," added Berkman. "It shows leadership in the younger players and it'll provide great leadership for next year as well. So I'm real happy with the four guys we have. They're four of the hardest working kids on the team and they were voted captains by their peers for a reason. They do a great job and I'm excited to see each of them grow this year."

Woodworth and Bonafede, both midfielders, proved to be offensive forces last season. Woodworth started the year red hot and was fourth on the team in scoring with 21 points (9g, 12a). Bonafede had a breakout season and was second on the team in scoring with 36 points (25g, 11a). Hauk, an honorable mention All-SUNYAC selection, and Waseleski were key parts of a Potsdam defense that allowed a school record 7.33 goals-per-game in 2014.

The Bears' expectations are as high as they've ever been as they shoot for a return to the conference championship game and beyond. Potsdam returns 27 players and 17 new faces join the squad this season.

Attack

"The attack will be one of our younger positions for us, but we have some veterans there as well," Berkman said. "(Junior) Ed Doherty (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst), (sophomore) Berkley Stone (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) and (sophomore) Joe Hayes (Black River, N.Y./Carthage) give us some veteran leadership there. And then we'll mix in (freshman) Eric Soderquist (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) and (freshman) Dalston Day (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) down there as well. We don't know who will be starting yet. We've got a pretty good idea, but we're going to have to play some games. Each of those guys is a very strong lacrosse player. Doherty is the elder statesman of the bunch. He'll be the leader for us, but I'm expecting big things from the whole group."

Doherty had a career year in 2014 with 27 goals and five assists for 32 points, while starting all 16 games. Stone and Hayes had strong starts to their Bears careers with 12 (8g, 4a) and nine points (7g, 2a), respectively. "(Sophomore) Michael Roukous (Dexter,NY./General Brown) also returns for the Bears and will work his way into the attack rotation.

Midfield

"At midfield, we're probably as deep as we've ever been in my 21 years," said Berkman. "We're big, we're fast and we're athletic. We have three solid groups of offensive midfield, where usually we just have a couple."

Woodworth, Bonafede (second team SUNYAC All-Star in 2014) and junior transfer Brian Martin (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) appear to be the first line heading into the season. Martin comes to Potsdam after spending two seasons with Binghamton University, where he saw action in 23 games with the Bearcats.

"You've got two captains on that line and a Division I transfer, so those guys are a very strong unit," Berkman said. "We've got righties and lefties and former attackmen. We're expecting big things out of them."

Junior Matt Kennedy (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and sophomore Matt Moran (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) will be on the second line with the third spot open for the taking right now. Kennedy scored 12 goals and added four assists for 16 points and Moran scored nine times and recorded eight assists for 17 points last year. The duo played in every game last season and Moran started 14 times as a freshman.

Sophomores Casey Boulio (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) and Ryan Conway (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) will look to step up their play and battle for time with freshmen Cullen Swider (Glenville, N.Y./Scotia-Glenville) and Nick Orsini (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport). Boulio and Conway each had three goals and an assist for four points last year.

Defensive Midfield

"Starting with the long poles, that's where (junior) Lindsey Pound (Henderson, N.Y./Immaculate Heart) will step in and help us right away with his speed, athleticism and stick skills," said Berkman. "He'll also play some close defense for us depending on matchups. (Sophomore) Bobby Sollenne (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) has worked extremely hard in the offseason and he's ready to have a breakout year. I am very happy with the development from sophomore Adam Lewis (West Stockholm, N.Y./Potsdam) who has worked very hard in the off-season. I think Lewis is getting to the point where he's ready to take the next step and have a bigger role on the team. I think he'll be ready to help us out."

Pound transferred from Monroe Community College where he was All-Region 3 and co-defensive MVP for the Tribunes. Sollenne played in 10 games and Lewis saw time in three. Austin Muldoon (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) is a very athletic freshman who will work his way into the line-up as well.

"The D-middie position is where we lost Ryan McConnell, our team Defensive MVP last year, as well as fellow senior Matt Donovan," Berkman said. "We've got some young guys and this is another position that's going to take a little grooming and time. There are four or five very talented players there. But to narrow it down and find a couple of guys that really understand all the different defenses that we run, it's going to take a few games to get them comfortable."

Sophomore Nate Rutkowski (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) is the leader of group. He is joined by classmates Ryan Keller (Wallkill, N.Y./Wallkill), Stephen Lewis (West Stockholm, N.Y./Potsdam), Dan MacDougall (East Syracuse, N.Y./East Syracuse-Minoa) and freshman Eugene Carvin (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas).

Also at midfield are freshmen Jack Simpson (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia), Gyle Dominy (South Colton, N.Y./Colton-Pierrepont), Marc Leveroni (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and Kyle Power (Newark, N.Y./Newark).

Defense

Berkman has always built his team around his defense and it will be filled with veterans again this year.

"Close defense will be led by Kyle Hauk who played long stick middie last year," said Berkman. "He'll play alongside Nick Waseleski and (junior) Andrew Swords (Black River, N.Y./Carthage). (Sophomore) Alex Armstrong (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) is also pushing to get into that group as well."

Hauk was second on the team in ground balls last season with 57 and led Potsdam with 16 caused turnovers. Waseleski started in 15 games in 2014, collected 18 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers. Swords played in 10 games with one start and Armstrong saw time in four.

"Hauk will be the athletic guy down there and the cover guy for us," Berkman said. "And Waseleski's just a very steady player. He does everything well. He's a very gritty, tough player. The kind I like to have on my defense. Swords is a skilled player that has been waiting in the wings. He's been the third and fourth guy for the last couple of years. He's finally going to get his chance to be a starter."

Seven other Bears complete the Potsdam defense. Senior Andrew Rupp (Victor, N.Y./Victor) and junior Brandon Kemp (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) are the upperclassmen. Sophomore Andrew Mietelski (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) is also back. Sophomore Utica transfer Naylen Laffin (Akwesasne, Quebec/Salmon River) heads north this year along with freshmen Nick Painter (Scotia, N.Y./Scotia-Glenville), and Tyler Prine (Poughquag, N.Y./Arlington).

Goal

The Bears have three goalies returning this season and one freshman. Juniors Pete Gropp (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) and Jackson Corcoran (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) are back along with sophomore Jack Bezek (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas). Alex Uhlein (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas) is new to the group. Berkman is confident that he has talent between the pipes, but they are untested as Duffy rarely gave them the chance to get into a game last season.

"You don't replace a kid like Ryan Duffy," said Berkman. "He's the first second team All-American in the history of the program. Ryan had a very special year for us. At this time last year, heading into the season, I had the same thoughts as I have going into this season. I feel that we have three very capable goaltenders, but they're still unproven. They all started and played quite a bit in high school. They're all very capable, but this is another position where it's probably going to take us a couple of games to see who emerges out of the group."

Face-off

Potsdam has struggled with face-offs over the last few seasons, but have more experience at the position this year. Sophomore face-off specialist Lucas Canino (Highland, N.Y./Highland) is back and is joined by junior Finger Lakes Community College transfer Brandon Grace (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan).

"Brandon Grace played a couple years at FLCC," Berkman said. "We think he can help us. The last couple years' face-offs have been a challenge for us. I think more ball possession can translate into wins with the skill players I feel we have. Brandon did a great job in our fall scrimmages and we're expecting more from him this spring."

Grace owns Finger Lakes' single-season and career records for face-off winning percentage and wins. He was also honorable mention All-Mid States Athletic Conference and Region 3 and led NJCAA in face-offs-won in 2013.

Schedule

The Bears will face the usual tough nonconference schedule to prepare them for their SUNYAC slate. Potsdam opens with a first-time meeting against a young, but successful Albright College program on March 7. The Bears then square off with Clarkson, Utica, Castleton, Kean and Morrisville in succession before the conference opener at home against Geneseo on March 28. All but one of Potsdam's SUNYAC contests was within four goals last season. Berkman expects nothing different this year.

"Every game in conference is going to be a battle," said Berkman. "It's just a matter of who makes the plays in the fourth quarter to help win the game."

The Bears travel to Scranton, Pa. tomorrow afternoon, for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Lions, who were 13-6 and Commonwealth Conference runners-up last season.