The Elmira College Men’s Lacrosse
team finished the 2011 season with an overall record of 5-8. The
Soaring Eagles went 1-7 in the always challenging Empire 8
Conference, but posted an impressive 4-1 record against
non-conference opponents. In his 12th season as Head Coach of
Elmira, Preston Chapman saw the Purple and Gold defeat Utica
College in Empire 8 Conference play, and come away with one goal
victories over Keuka College and Susquehanna.
In 2011 the offense was led by the
Rick Acorn ’12 (Barrie, ONT --
Innisdale), who tallied a team high 39 points on the
season while only playing in 9 of the teams 13 games.
Acorn notched
21 goals on 61 shots, and assisted on 18 of his
teammate’s scores. On April 17th
Acorn tied an Elmira College record for most
points in a single game as he totaled 13 points on 7 goals and 6
assists against the Mavericks of Medaille College.
David Evert ’14 (Niagara Falls, NY -- Niagara
Wheatfield),
Kenny Keirstead ’11 (Waltham, MA --
Waltham), Adam
Walker ’11 (Corning, NY -- Corning
East), and
Jackson Correia ’14 (Simsbury, CT -- The
Masters School) also provided the offense for Elmira.
Evert finished the season with 14 goals and 18
assists in his first season for Elmira. In his fourth year
Keirstead provided veteran leadership and offense
for the Soaring Eagles from the midfield position, notching14 goals
and 13 assists.
Walker and
Correia ended the season notching 17 and 15 goals
respectively, each finishing with 23 points.
Also contributing to the Soaring Eagles on the offensive side of
the ball was
Dustin Gatt ’14 (Welland, ONT -- Notre Dame
College),
Tyler Campbell ’13 (Mississauga, ONT -- Gordon
Graydon Memorial), and
TJ White ’12 (Collegeville, PA --
Methacton).
Gatt totaled 12 goals on only 23 shots, and had 4
assists as a midfielder while also grabbing a team high 53 ground
balls.
Campbell posted 9 goals for Elmira, while
White netted 8 and recorded 21 ground balls.
The defense for the Purple and Gold was led by
Barrett Gast ’12 (Orchard Park, NY -- Orchard
Park),
Paul Schwartz ’11 (Allison Park, PA -- Kiski
School), and Br
ock Sawyer ’12 (Toronto, ONT -- City
Academy).
Gast and
Schwartz were a force for Elmira starting in all
13 games played, causing a total of 47 turnovers and tallying 82
ground balls between them.
Sawyer scooped up 18 ground balls in his 11
appearances. In the face-off circle Elmira was led by
Travis Armideo ’12 (Kimberton, PA -- Haverford
School) and
Paul Tagari ’13 (Newbury Park, CA -- Newbury
Park).
Armideo led Elmira winning 60 face-offs on 129
chances, while
Tagari won 55 face-offs finishing with a face-off
winning percentage of 47%.
Armideo also had 34 ground balls, while
Tagari picked up 18.
In goal for Elmira in 2011 was
Dave Bucchino ’13 (Cedar Grove, NJ --
Bow),
Brady Richards ’14 (Cortice, ONT -- The Hill
Academy), and
Michael Knowlton ’14 (Manchester, ME --
Maranacook).
Bucchino was the primary net minder, starting in
all 13 games for Elmira.
Bucchino notched 182 saves, allowing 143 goals on
558 shots faced in 702:14 minutes of play.
Richards and
Knowlton appeared in 3 and 2 games respectively,
each gaining valuable experience in their first year for Elmira.
Richard Courto ’11 (Fayetteville, NY --
Fayetteville Manlius),
Brad States ’13 (Monmouth, NJ -- West
Windsor-Plainsboro North), and
John Clewlow ’12 (Brampton, ONT -- Heart Lake
Secondary) also contributed for the Soaring Eagles this
season.
Courto appeared in 12 games for Elmira, while
States recorded 15 ground balls and
Clewlow tallied 5 points. Also seeing time on the
field this season for Elmira was
Sam Gagne ’14 (Goffstown, NY --
Goffstown),
Christian Archambeault ’14 (Horseheads, NY --
Horseheads),
Guillaume Meli ’13 (Burlington, VT -- Rice
Memorial),
Eric Bertsch ’14 (Middletown, RI --
Middletown),
Alex Senchak ’12 (Scranton, PA --
Scranton),
Erik Tibert ’14 (Wrentham, MA -- King Phillip
Regional), and
ErikMeitz ’14 (Sausalito, CA -- Woodson).
In their appearances each gained valuable experience that should be
beneficial towards next season.
The Elmira College Men’s Lacrosse team will have to
depend on its youth to fill the void left by fourth year players
Keirstead,
Walker,
Schwartz, and
Courto.