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PAST ISSUES

New coach to join the lacrosse team

by Audra Clark
Exchange Staff

     The men's lacrosse team has a new assistant coach, recent Muhlenberg College graduate William Messler, who "brings a more competitive edge" to the team, says goalie Ryan Hulse.

     According to Messler, having two new coaches - head coach Kevin Pezanowski started work last year - is a good thing because "we can start our own team culture, it's an opportunity that not a lot of people have."

     Messler, who graduated last May, was part of a developing program when he was a player. "I was only the second recruiting class," said Messler. According to Messler this gives him experience at building teams: "I got to do it as a player and now as a coach."

     Of head coach Pezanowski, Messler said, "I think we're a pretty good match for each other, we have the same sort of outlook on the game." According to Messler both he and Pezanowski "agree on the things that are important to be a successful team."

     According to Messler, Pezanowski came to the school to rebuild the program.

     "We play off our strengths," said Pezanowski, which includes his coaching experience, 13 years at the college level and 21 years over all.

     According to Pezanowski, because Messler is "fairly fresh out of college he has the ability to connect with the players" but also has the "willingness and drive to succeed."

     In addition to playing lacrosse, Messler co-owned a lacrosse academy for youth nine years old to men's league, in Allentown, PA, where he developed lesson plans, ran camps and clinics. According to Messler this experience enables him to fill in holes that may exist in the players training, "If they don't get it now I can go back to what they missed" at the high school level, he said.

     "We're a young team so it's going to be tough for us but I think we can be competitive in this league, it's just going to take hard work," said Messler.

    Long stick midfielder Andrew Othot said, "I like him, he knows what he's doing." According to Othot, Messler "knows how to run our defense."

     Hulse said, "He's bringing a young energetic spirit to the team." . According to Hulse, Messler is "not afraid to help anyone on the team as long as you ask."

     Midfielder Jon Priest likes having a young coach "because they have a lot of knowledge of the leagues." Priest said, "He brings a lot of new knowledge to the team." According to Priest, Messler runs an "up tempo practice, you don't stand around and wait, you're always doing something."

     According to Othot and Priest, Messler makes himself available off the field to talk, even if it's unrelated to sports, which they have both taken advantage of. "We ate dinner with him tonight," they both said, in unison.  Messler relates to the players better than the last assistant coach, according to Othot.

     "It's still a very young team, we have a lot of freshmen," said Priest.

     Othot said, "We all hope we're going to be better than last year, everyone's practicing real hard.  The improvements are very noticeable from last year." According to Othot the two coaches have done a good job recruiting and bringing better players to the team but it is still going to take a few years for the team to develop.

     "The pride, dedication, and commitment are all there," said Othot, "Everyone's looking forward to the new season and we hope everyone comes to our games. So come see the fastest sport on two feet."

     The men's lacrosse team has its first scrimmage Saturday March 1^st at UMass Amherst but its season doesn't officially open until Wednesday March 5^th when they play Dowling College on Long Island. Their first home game is Saturday March 8^th against Dominican College. For the team's full schedule visit: www.franklinpierce.edu/pages/Athletics/MensLacrosse/mlaxsched.htm
 

     New assistant coach William Messler.

Coach Kevin Pezanowski.

Long stick midfielder Andrew Othot.

Goalie Ryan Hulse.