Attack is the biggest question mark right now followed by close defense.
For Attack I have the following: Solomon, Evans, ?
It doesn't appear that Forkin made it back to Campus as he is not on the 2017 Roster. There is still time for him to make it but it appears unlikely at this point. To me this is the biggest concern right now on the team. Losing Donahue is a big loss and we still have no true feeder which diminishes the role a player like Rehfuss or Thorpe can play without someone to set them up. Assuming Forkin doesn't make it back Solomon will get the first crack to be the PG of the attack unit. Evans as a Sr. will certainly be a starter, Desko has a history of rewarding his upper classmen and after starting all year last year he is a lock to start barring an injury. I do expect that his leash will be short if he struggles mightily like he did at points last year. Really need to hope for a big Senior year jump from Jordan a la the last player to wear 22.
Shewell, Voight, and Grass would appear to be the logical third candidates at this point. Shewell has shown flashes but needs to stay healthy. Grass has a huge reputation but didn't show much in his one year at JHU. Former UA, he has a big shot to earn that third spot. The Roster lists Mariano as an attackmen but I don't see him being moved there unless the unit struggles mightily. The staff appears to be high on Clayton Burt but there's a lot of bodies ahead of him. Again if the unit struggles I could see him given a shot. I am a big fan of Thorpe, but without a feeder it's hard to see him getting big minutes. I would like to see Thorpe on the man up unit and rotating in. Wild Cards are Rehfuss and Voigt. Rehfuss put up monster high school numbers but left before playing a second at Holy Cross. Will be interesting to see what he brings to the table. I believe he is more of a finisher then an initiator but his game may have evolved. Voigt like Rehfuss put up monster highschool number and then did a prep year. He spent last year playing middie and saw sometime on the 3rd line. He surprisingly started in the fall ball games which I thought was very odd seeing he didn't real play attack last year. He's a good overall player but he would fair better as a third option in a more experienced attack unit. With a young Solomon and an up and down Evans not sure he projects well as that third man.
Middie - Salcido, Mariano, Lane/Trimboli/Bomberry
This unit projects very well on paper and on the field. Salcido and Mariano are/should be pre-season AA candidates and there are litteraly a dozen prospects for the third spot. The light really seemed to come on for Lane late in the year as he shined against Albany and after two bad man up shots against Maryland he adjusted and buried his third look with a better shot/angle. Information coming out of the fall was that he continued to take another step forward and was looking to seize that third spot. I think he has to be considered the favorite at this point to grab that last spot. I do like his familiarity having played the second mid line all of his last year and a good portion 2 years ago. If Desko rotates that third spot at all, Lane could really add a scoring threat on the second line, SU hasn't had in a while. The other candidate for that third spot would appear to be Trimboli - Under Armor AA from Victor who everyone is high on. I am very high on Trimboli, and expect him to make a impact his frosh year. Bomberry was a very pleasant late summer transfer and a huge coup for the team. A deft scorer from six nations he has experience out the wazoo. SU has struggled a bit to bring in Native players since the Thompsons and that whole situation so getting Bomberry was nice to see. He gives a Desko an immediate man up star and a guy who can play on either mid line. If Bomberry won the third spot you could see a second line of Lane and Trimboli which would be extremely talented.
2nd Mid line - Like the first line there appears to be only one spot up for grabs as the two of three between Lane, Bomberry, and Trimboli will bump down depending on whoever takes that last 1st mid line spot. Romano has been setback by injuries but was able to make an appearance in the fall. SU can easily run three lines like they have in the past but the competition for the second line should be fierce. Simmons and Westin have the most experience but both were underwhelming last year and that's putting it nicely. Desko likes to reward seniors so Westin may get the first shot but he's going to need to produce. The staff is high on several frosh middies including Peter Dearth and Devon Sullivan, Dearth has already blown his redshirt I believe so keep an eye out on him. The red-shirt sophomore middie class will have another chance to break out after all three of them failed to break out last year. - Carlin, Ford, and McKinney. Schwasnick was moved to SSDM last year where he exceled and will play big minutes and start on the faceoff wing. There a few redshirt sophs including Hutchings and O'sullivan who will also be in the mix.
SSDM- After a position of weakness the past few seasons, SSDM looks very strong this year. Seniors Joe Gillis and Paolo Cifferi will get the start with Cal Paduda and Luke Schwasnick seeing extended minutes. This position has strength, experience and depth. 3 of the 4 main cogs are seniors which while concerning for next season bodes well for this spring.
LSM - Scott Firman has excelled here the last few seasons and he will remain the starter unless he is bumped down to close defense. Austin Fusco played well as the backup as a r-frosh last year and could slide into the starter if Firman gets bumped down. There is impressive depth at LSM, SU is stocked for the foreseeable future at the position with RF Andrew Helmer and Soph Jonah Swigart one to watch.
Close D - Outside of attack this is the second biggest question mark on the team.
AA Nick Mellen will be the leader and being only a true Sophmore he has plenty of room to continue to grow. Who will join him at close D is still up in the air this point however. Marcus Cunningham would appear to be a pretty sure bet to be a starter after seeing sometime last year and showing well in limited minutes. Third spot is up for grabs. Tyson Bomberry came in highly regarded but seemed to have some frosh struggles last year and saw little time. True Frosh Brett Kennedy seemed to make a nice impression in the fall but he sustained a knee injury in the alumni game and looks like a sure redshirt candidate. Laz Chavez will be in this third year in the program and should be able to make a strong case for PT on the man down unit at least. The staff is said to be very high on Jonah Swigart who could be a candidate to bump down if the staff leaves Firman at LSM. Lastly True Frosh Nick Dipetro is highly regarded and a USA today AA. He seems primed to make an impact.
Goalie - Until further notice this appears to Evan Molloy's job. After taking over midway through the season Molloy played extremely well outside of the Maryland game. The biggest challenge is likely to come from Ohio State transfer William Klan, former UA who played in the U-19 WC this summer. Klan was a surprise transfer this summer and will no doubt be looking to grab the starting position. Strang and Porter seem like locks to red-shirt at this point barring multiple injuries or defections.
