Mustangs boys lacrosse completes 6-10 campaign

Despite some frustrating spurts caused in part by injuries, Brick Memorial High School's boys lacrosse team put together a competitive season.

In fact, the Mustangs were in the running for a .500 season before losing their last two games to finish 6-10.

"It was a very trying season. We faced a lot of adversity and injuries, and the young guys were put in situations they were not ready for before they eventually took on the challenge," said first-year coach Brent Middlemiss, who praised the determination of his players and the efforts of assistant coaches Ben Scheible and Darren St. Jean.

In fact, the Mustangs qualified for the Shore Conference Tournament, where they drew top-rated and eventual champion Christian Brothers Academy before losing, 17-2.

The best news is that all of the leading catalysts for the Mustangs return for next season, and all four are sophomores, including goalie Joe Dimino, midfielder Justin Vinon and attackmen Nick Marks and Dan Lamela, who scored teamleading 25 and 23 goals, respectively.

Among the players lost to injuries who were expected to play significant roles for this season were atackman Rob McSweeney, who was lost for the season in the second game; Jesse Kikert, who broke his wrist early in the season; Nick Alvarez, who suffered a dislocated shoulder at the end of hockey season, and Darren

Hornblum, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during football season.

Despite the hardships, the team strung three victories together midway through the season to raise their hopes for qualifying for the post-season, although they fell short for the NJSIAA Tournament.

"In the long run, it put the younger players in a trial by fire, but next year, we should be a good team," said Middlemiss, who loses eight seniors, although only three of them saw considerable action, including attackman Sean Donald and defensemen David Moore and Dan Burke, an outstanding kicker during the football season who will pursue that career on the college level this fall at Monmouth University.

Along with the nucleus, Middlemiss said he also is looking for strong seasons next spring from junior defenseman Sean Gosselin, sophomore Jake Vescovi and freshmen midfielders Dan Erickson and Travis Barry, who gained valuable experience this season. Middlemiss also has a good incoming freshman prospect as a goalie in Drew Lamela, Dan's brother, who played for the Brick Lacrosse Club that he hopes will continue to supply bright young prospects with some early exposure to the sport. Lacrosse is steadily growing in popularity among the boys in the township over its three seasons on the varsity level.