Take a dash of Virginia and Florida, add a handful of New York and Pennsylvania with a pinch of California, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Missouri and New Jersey. Now mix in a heaping helping of Maryland.
That is the recipe that the Salisbury University men?s lacrosse team ? ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III ? is using with its roster for a 7-0 start this season.
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Much of that success stems from a strong Baltimore area contingent on the Sea Gulls? roster. The team has 14 local natives. Senior midfielder Matt Dasinger (Reisterstown/Franklin High) and junior midfielder Brett Yoder (Parkton/Hereford) are tied for fourth on the team with 21 points.
“It is that good mixture of kids that allows us to play with a good mixture of lacrosse styles,” Salisbury coach Jim Berkman said. “We have always had good players from Baltimore in that mix.”
Salisbury has long been a national powerhouse at the Division III level, having won six national titles since 1994. But the Sea Gulls really hit their stride in 2003, the first of three straight NCAA championships. Last year, they lost in the national final to Cortland State, 13-12, in overtime.
Before that loss, the Sea Gulls had set a NCAA lacrosse record for consecutive wins with 69 victories from April 17, 2003 to the championship loss May 28, 2006. That span dwarfed the old record of 47 consecutive wins set by Salisbury in 1994-96.
Coming into this season, Berkman knew he had a solid defense to build around, but he was unsure of how the attack would look. No more worries ? the Sea Gulls have outscored the opposition, 142-30, so far.
“Our attack is better than last year,” Berkman said. “Matt Hickman has given us a true lefty, and with Eric Bishop and Greg Titus, we have three attackmen who can dodge and get to the goal.”
“Everybody is thinking vengeance,” said Hickman, a junior from Darnestown in Montgomery County who leads the team with 30 goals. “I have a picture of the Cortland team with the trophy tacked on my bulletin board in my room.”
That loss has spurred the entire team. The players, who worked out throughout the summer lifting and running, were more focused coming into this season than any year prior, according to senior Mike Edwards, a Calvert Hall alum. Edwards shifted to defensive midfield this season, bolstering an already-strong and senior-heavy defense, which is the team?s backbone. The unit is allowing less than 18 shots per game.
“We are a pressure defense,” he said. “We don?t want opponents to get any shots. It all starts with the defense. If the offense is struggling, we have to stay patient until they can pick it up.”
Berkman and his players know a seventh national title is within reach. Their next game is against visiting Denison (3-1) Sunday afternoon.
“Our team speed is better, and the attack is more multidimensional,” Berkman said. “We just have to jump on every team in the first quarter.”
