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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital men's lacrosse team have waited nearly a full calendar to get back onto the field in competition and they are ready to make their mark on 2021. The team and head coach Dom Marzano usually have a motto to go by each season and this year it equates to: "Just Play." Everyone from top to bottom in the program is ready to hit the field and are grateful for the opportunity to "just play" once again, but don't think that means they are taking things lightly. "Disclaimer with 'just play.' We are fortunate to get out there but when we are out there, its practice, it's take no prisoners. The intensity is up and I hope you don't think its recess out there, it's definitely not. We are thankful to play but we are still upping the intensity when we get out there," said Marzano.

Coach has also impressed upon his players an "attitude of gratitude." "Everyone has either been quarantined or at home and we definitely want to make sure that is at the front of our minds that we are fortunate to get out there and play as it is still effecting a lot of places in college athletics. We are thankful to everybody that has gotten us out here to this point and that's why I want these guy to display an 'attitude of gratitude.' It's that everyone is doing everything for us and we are doing everything we can to play safely. It's just been great and we want to give thanks to everybody."

The 2020 season was cut after just five games and that meant that a number of seniors had their careers cut short. Many of those 2020 seniors who graduated were big key pieces in the team dynamic but there are a number of guys, young and old, ready to step up and continue the winning ways.
 
TWO-MAN CREW ON THE FACEOFF
Junior Lake Harris will now move into the main FOS role with freshman Mikey Collins getting some time as well. Harris spent the last two seasons battling with Tyler Faig, garnering many reps himself and now with Faig graduated, becomes the workhorse. Harris and Collins have similar styles in terms of getting out of their stance quickly and getting to the ball quickly but offer different looks and will continue to battle with one another to get better. Marzano liked the opportunity of having two guys in the past and, "We want to keep that strategy with the two faceoff guys if we can to make each other better and that's what we are doing."

NEW LOOK MIDFIELD

The midfield will have an entirely new look this year as the trio of Luke Wyatt, Carter McCormick and Adam Rieger graduated and as Marzano said, "You don't replace a senior class like that." What the goal for this season is is to find out what each guy does best and bring the whole position group together. Through that line of thinking, the team sees eight or nine players that are playing at a high level and can each do different things. "Some guys are built for downhill running and speed, some guys shake, and there's guys like Pontiere that can invert, feed and shoot," said Marzano, "I think what you will see out of us is a new look in the midfield and I think it is really exciting that no one really knows what we are going to come out with except the guys in our locker room."

Senior captain Brendan Pontiere is a part of that midfield and reiterated that the position will have a different feel from years past. "We have a lot of young guys, we have a lot of guys who are new to the program and a lot of older guys that are really meshing well together right now. We are very versatile across the whole field. Lots of fast guys, guys that can move all over the field. This midfield is very three-dimensional. We aren't stuck in one area, if we get into a game and one part isn't working out, we can switch to a different area or attack from a different point or change the rotation and mix up guys. I think this year is going to be really exciting for the midfield especially, " said Pontiere.
VERSATILITY ON THE ATTACK

A huge boon for the team was the return of fifth year captain CJ Hughes, the record holder for points in a season (94) and assists (31) in program history and the base of the Crusader offense. The team will also turn to 2019 OAC Rookie of the Year, Jack Scharner at the "X" position. "He will be asked to do a lot whether it's points, settle the offense, tempo, or get CJ or some shooters open, I ask Jack Scharner to do a whole lot," said Marzano. Along with Scharner, there will be some two-way midfielders like Pontiere who will feature heavily in setting up the team's offense. However, the scoring will not be pigeonholed to a few guys, Marzano predicts that a lot of players will have their hands in on the scoring, "I think what you will get out of us this year is that the point distribution will be pretty much all over the place. We have a lot of guys that can contribute and make a difference, week to week, day to day, game to game."

EXPERIENCED DEFENSE
Most all of the key players on the defensive side of the field are returning which makes for a strong and experienced group. The senior leaders in captain Alex Keckler, Hunter Knipp and Doc Crimmel have stepped up and are utilizing their experience to better the group. The junior class is a big and talented one, featuring Jack Conley, Dom Rocco, and Jaden Kaznowski that will help to anchor the unit.

In between the posts to start the season will be a new face to the program, graduate transfer Ben Houser who comes from Illinois Wesleyan with a wealth of experience and leadership ability. "It's been crucial to see his leadership, his voice, his command and how well he has fit in with the team right away. Defense is going to be fun. We have a ton of guys that can play the position and we are really excited to see what the defense does this year and I think they could be a really solid unit. Houser has been the leader and we have guys behind him like Ryan Pierce, Sam McInturf and Nicholas Ferda who have been playing exceptionally well. There's a healthy competition in it and those guys are just trying to get better every day," said Marzano.

READY TO "JUST PLAY"
Even in the most unorthodox season, the team has managed to become one cohesive unit and build the all-important chemistry. "You would think that in a year where we can't really hang out or have out normal activities on the weekends or after practice, that that might be an issue. But as far as I can tell this year, this team has bonded just as well as any other team I have seen in the past three years," said Pontiere, "There's no superstar mentality here, there's no selfishness on this team, everyone gets along really well and I think we all understand that there is still a lot to prove."

As the defending OAC regular season champions there may be somewhat of a target on the team but given their depth and chemistry, everyone involved understands the
moment that they are in and are ready to get onto the turf and compete once again.

The 2021 season gets underway on February 27th at 1 p.m. at Wilmington College, the full 2021 schedule can be found here.