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LINCROFT – In only its eighth year, the Brookdale Community College Lacrosse program is one of the most successful programs within Brookdale’s highly accomplished athletic program.
The 2014 team won its fifth consecutive NJCAA Region XIX lacrosse title defeating top-seed Union County 11-8 in the championship game. This year’s squad not only hopes to make it six region titles in a row but get their first win in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament after falling to CCBC-Essex in the quarterfinals last season as the sixth seed.
The Brookdale Lacrosse program was established in 2008 under the leadership of current head coach Steve Heller. Heller was a three-time All-American selection while playing for Army from 1991-1993. While at Army, Heller led his team to three Patriot League titles and was an All-Patriot League pick in each of his three years in the league. He broke Army’s career scoring record racking up a staggering 130 goals and 74 assists while at West Point.
He also helped engineer one of the biggest wins in Army lacrosse history as the cadets upset Maryland 15-11 in the first round of the 1993 NCAA National Lacrosse Tournament before losing to No.1 seed North Carolina in the quarterfinals.
Before starting Brookdale’s lacrosse program Heller was head coach for the Army prep team for seven seasons. And because of Heller’s connection to the Army program the Blues are able to travel to West Point each year for a preseason game against an Army prep team that is filled with DI recruits.
Heller is extremely optimistic about this year team and even though they lost last season’s top goal scorer Tom Dougherty to graduation they return four of their five-top scorers from a year ago. They’ve also brought in midfielder T.J. Coleman – a second-team All-Shore pick from Saint John Vianney – where he scored 30 goals and had 30 assists last season as a senior.
“We look really good, I feel really good about our offense,” Heller said. “With our four scorers back, T.J. coming in and picking up a few other kids this is potentially the best offensive group we’ve had here in the eight seasons of the program.”
Heller also feels this is the deepest offense he’s ever fielded. “Lack of depth is something that’s always challenged us. We definitely have more depth on offensive this year then we’ve had in the past and that’s great.”
Heller likes to rotate his offensive players and they need to be able to play all six positions, and be comfortable playing them. His philosophy is to create matchup problems with his ability to interchange his players between midfield and attack allowing him to create different player personnel options depending on the game situation.
All-Region XIX selection Dan Bury and freshmen Jake Deitrich (Newton H.S.) and Joe Collins (Monroe Township H.S.) will get the start at the attack position. Bury is a true attacker and scored 41 goals his senior year at Brick Memorial. Last season as a freshman he was second on the team in goals scored (27) and first in assists (20) and total points (47). Dietrich was an Independence Division honorable mention pick in the NJAC Conference as a senior while Collins was a first-team All-Greater Middlesex Conference selection as a senior in 2013 when scored 42 goals and had 41 assists for 83 points.
“Jake’s 6’4″ and is a tall lanky kid,” Heller said. “When he gets his shoulder down and goes forward he’s a nice attacker. He’s really just learning his skill set and at 6’4″ he needs to learn to go north and south and forget about playing that small-man game. He’s done well for us and we expect him to continue to do a good job.”
Collins teammate at Monroe, Andrew Dooley, is back at midfield after scoring 16 goals with nine assists in only 10 games last season. Dooley was also first-team All-Greater Middlesex as a senior when he netted 44 goals and had 31 assists. Joining Coleman and Dooley at the starting midfield spots is returning sophomore Nick Paolillo (Howell H.S.). Paolillo was third on the team in goals (22) and points (29) last season for the Blues. Both Dooley and Coleman were chosen captains.
“Bury is a traditional attacker,” Heller said. “He’s left handed as is Dooley and Colman. With three lefties, that gives us a lot of flexibility and a unique way to attack defenses; that’s a nice feature to have.”
Sophomore Ben Talcott is back after a short stint with the Blues in 2013 and will be used as both attacker and midfielder. As a senior at Howell in 2012 he tallied 22 goals while assisting on nine others
Also, sophomore midfielder Tyler Verdoni will see an increased role this season after seeing action in 14 games last season with one start, as will short stick middies Jimmy Montgomery (Neptune H.S.) and Dom Parente (Monroe Township H.S.) both in their second season at Brookdale.
Defensively the Blues are not as deep and have been hurt by the loss of All-Region XIX defenseman Ryan Raslowsky (Allentown H.S.) who’s out indefinitely after recently undergoing back surgery. However, Heller expects him back at some point around midseason and ready to go for the playoffs.
“Our defensive concept is going to focus more on team defense rather than the individual,” Heller said.
“The defense has a lot of potential and is very athletic, but it’s also a little raw on the stick-skill side of the game. We don’t have the great one-on-one guys; it’s a six man unit. But with our athletic ability we feel we can be pretty good.”
Sophomore Nick Caruso (Red Bank Regional) – a midfielder last season who scored 10 goals and had 7 assists – volunteered to switch positions and is now playing long-stick middie and defense and has been a quite a pleasant surprise.
“In our Army Prep scrimmage he did an amazing job on defense and I could not believe how good he was at the pole (long stick),” Heller said. “If the job he did against Army was any indication of what he’s capable of….. he may have missed his calling and found a home as a traditional defender.
Another surprise has been the play of freshman Jack Kelly (Shore Regional) who’s been so impressive he was given a captains tag. He came in as an offensive-minded midfielder, was switched to long stick and it’s been a match made in heaven.
Freshman Oliver Warnes (Manasquan H.S.) and sophomore Chris Schmidt (Howell H.S.) will anchor the defense along with Kelly and Caruso. Caruso and Kelly will switch with each other between poll (long stick) and defense. Scott Zackman (Red Bank Regional) was a late arrival to the team but has shown he’ll help the team on defense.
“Both Oliver and Warnes are very athletic,” Heller said. “They’re both raw but are really learning how to play defense and like what I’ve seen of them.”
In goal for the Blues will be Todd Bitsko (Freehold Township H.S.), who after playing football at Gettysburg College for a year decided to return to lacrosse. At Freehold Township he was All-Shore in football and lacrosse.
“What’s great about this team is that their extremely coachable,” Heller said. “This is one of those groups that will listen. They really want to become better players and the whole teams like that. It’s a fun team to coach; they get along well and have a lot of chemistry. They’re starting to learn their strengths and weaknesses and it’s a group of kids which I think we can do some really fun stuff with this year.”
— By Mike Ready
