GUILDERLAND — New decorations for the boys’ lacrosse team locker room at Guilderland High School were not all well received.
"In the locker room, we put up the years we reached the sectional finals," said Guilderland Coach Sean McConaghy. "There is 2000, ’02, ’04, and ’05, ’06. But there are no championships in there. And that ticks some of the seniors off. It definitely ticks the coaches off. The juniors and sophomores will learn that. We want to put a sectional championship up there. There is just one year. We’ve reached the semifinals seven or eight times."

After back-to-back losses in the Section II Class A title game the past two seasons — both to Niskayuna — the Dutchmen are looking to take the next step. But they will have to do it without three of their best players from last season.

Graduated are midfielder Bob McIver, goalie Judd Robinson, and do-everything player Mike Camardo. Camardo — who played long-stick defensive midfielder, short-stick midfielder, and defense, has moved on to Division I University of Maryland-Baltimore County. McIver is playing at Binghamton University, and Robinson is playing at the State University of New York College at Oswego.

Guilderland does have 13 returning players on its 24-man roster. There are 10 seniors, three sophomores — one with experience — and 11 juniors.
"With losing Bob, who was an academic All-American, Mike who was an All-American, and Judd who was second-team All-League," McConaghy said, "who knows."
"It depends on what the young guys do," added Assistant Coach Kris Bremmer.
"It depends on what the seniors do," McConaghy chimed in.
"Too early to tell"

Tuesday’s practice was only the second for the varsity team. Last week was filled with tryouts and McConaghy had just finished completing his roster that day. The team was decided on Friday.

He said that it was too soon to know what is going to happen on the field. On Tuesday, the Dutch were practicing in the parking lot in front of the school.
"It’s too early to tell," McConaghy said. "Off the field, the captains are doing a good job. I’ll be able to tell you more next weekend after we have our scrimmages."

The Dutchmen will have a scrimmage at Queensbury next Wednesday and then travel to Long Island — a traditional hotbed for lacrosse — to take on some tough competition. Guilderland will take on Hauppauge, East Islip, and Smithtown East. The Dutch will also play Fox Lane of Section I.
"It’s a little different," McConaghy said. "We’re not scrimmaging teams that we’ll play all year long. That’s what I like about it. Though next Wednesday, will probably be our first out of the parking lot.
"But look, the parking lot is almost as big as a full field with a couple of obstacles," he added. "We lose a couple of balls in the snow banks."

Strong defense

The strength of the Guilderland team will be found in the defensive end of the field.

Scott Raffensperger, a senior, is one of the team’s captains and has been on varsity since he was a sophomore. He was a league all-star last season and will be playing at the University at Albany next year.

Kip Stillman, was an all-league player last year as a freshman; he was a long-stick midfielder and will play close defense this spring.

Kyle Klapp moved from the midfield to defense late last season and will be a starter in the back this season.
"Defense will be the cornerstone of our team," McConaghy said. "I’m looking for good things from them, being led by Coach Bremmer."

The Dutchmen will have nine defensive players on the roster this season. They also have nine midfielders and five attackmen.
"Defense will be the key," McConaghy reiterated. "Raffy and Kip are first teammers and Klapp as a senior had great success on the soccer field."

Klapp scored the game winning goal in a shootout victory over rival and traditional power Shenendehowa in the Class AA soccer quarterfinals in the fall.

Midfielders and attackmen

In the midfield, McConaghy expects big things from six players this spring.

Jordan Dubose returns for his senior season in the midfield and will take most of the face-offs. He was a tough player at the face-off spot last year and earned his way to the University of Albany, which is currently ranked second in NCAA Division I.
Matt Stillman, Chris Conway, Greg Murphy, and Aaron Cahill all return for the Dutchmen. Cahill, along with Raffensperger, played on the Empire State Games Adirondack Team last summer.

Joining the midfield mix is sophomore Rory Nunamacher.
"He’s a super sophomore," McConaghy said. "We expect big things from the 5 foot, 7 inch, 135-pound kid."

On attack are returners Uriah Myrie and Ron Buck. Both started last season for Guilderland.
"We have guys fighting for the final spot," McConaghy said. "Among them are Brian Linehan and Quinn Connell."

Goalie is the biggest question mark for the Dutchmen. Nick Stefani, a senior, and junior Nick Koss are fighting for the number-one spot.
"We have a senior returner that is six, one and 275 pounds," McConaghy said of Stefani. "And we have a junior varsity mover-upper that is six feet and 200 pounds. Judd was in the middle last year at six, three and 250 pounds.

McConaghy added that whoever wins the battle in the preseason will be the starter for the season.
"Both are fighting and working for that spot," he said. "But this is not a quarterback controversy."

"Good athletes that are learning"

When the season begins, the Dutchmen will be in for another tough year in the Suburban Council. Niskayuna looses some key players but does return a lot of players. So do a lot of other teams.
"Nisky had 10 players from the Empires," McConaghy said of the statewide games. "Obviously, they are amongst the top of the class. Shen, I don’t think they lost a single player from last year. I’m sure they did, but the nucleus of that group is back. And Saratoga, could be the best in the section."

Add newcomer Burnt Hills to that list.
"Burnt Hills is in so that makes it more competitive," McConaghy said. "They dominate every sport they play."

McConaghy said that the preseason is too young for him to know where teams will fall. But he said that he thinks his team can be one of the top when May approaches and the Section II playoffs are underway.

Until then, McConaghy and his players will work to put themselves in a good position for the post-season.
"This is a good bunch," McConaghy said of his team. "These are the best athletes the team has ever had. But we’re not the best lacrosse team, yet. They are good athletes that are learning to play lacrosse."