Defending its Section II Class A title has gotten harder for the Shenendehowa boys lacrosse team.
Besides the usual list of suspects including Shaker and Guilderland, the Plainsmen will also have to deal with defending Class B champion Niskayuna. The Silver Warriors are back in Class A where they won four straight titles from 2005 to 2008 after spending two years at the Class B level.
`Niskayuna is still the powerhouse of Section II,` said Shen coach Chuck Holohan. `And even though we are the defending champions, we feel we have to beat them and everyone else.`
Beating Niskayuna hasn’t been easy for Shen in recent years. The Plainsmen own one victory over the Silver Warriors over the last eight years.
`We hold them with a lot of regard,` said Holohan.
For its part, Niskayuna isn’t overlooking a Shen team that returns most of its players from last year.
`They’re the defending Class A champions, and that’s something we don’t have,` said Niskayuna coach Mike Vorgang. `It’s something that we want.`
Shen will have the top goaltender in the Suburban Council with senior Bob Wardwell. Now entering his fifth varsity season, Wardwell has established a reputation as one of the toughest goalies to score on, as he let in less than eight goals per game in 2010.
`I think Bob knows what we’re going to run, and he’s the general on defense,` said Holohan. `He runs around and lets the defenders know what he wants them to do.`
Wardwell still needs the support of the offense, which returns several key players from last year including Tim Cole, Mike Jenkins and Brian Powell.
`We hope we’re more efficient than last year,` said Holohan. `We left a lot of shots off cage last year, and that’s why some of our scores were low. Hopefully with a year of experience, we’ll put a lot more shots on cage.`
Meanwhile, Niskayuna has to reload after graduating 16 seniors from last year’s team including the explosive offensive duo of Mark Panneton and Justin McKinney.
`We need to replace some guys, but the seven seniors on the team are going to contribute for us,` said Vorgang.
Shen begins its season next Tuesday when it travels to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. The Plainsmen’s first shot at beating Niskayuna doesn’t come until April 26.“