Lacrosse Team Ready for Opening of 2017 Season

The Alfred State lacrosse team is wrapping up preseason practices and looks to continue the improvements they made in the 2016 season as they open up their 2017 campaign this weekend at Keuka.

Head Coach Jonathan Hoover will look to the veteran leadership of Ryan Amidon (Fayetteville-Manlius), Teddy Alvarado (Hilton), Joe Johnson (Churchville Chili), of Joe Carr (Churchville Chili) to guide the team.

• Amidon, a senior goalie, has appeared in 47 games and has made 512 career saves. He has a career save percentage of .489.
• Alvardo, a sophomore that missed all of 2016, returns and will be counted on to be a leader in the offensive side of the field. He netted 35 goals and passed out 12 assists in 2015.
• Johnson scored 34 goals and passed out 11 assists during his freshmen season.
• Carr has been a staple on the defensive side of the ball the last three years. He has appeared in 48 games and has 51 career ground balls.

Pat Matkoski (West Genesee), Branden Dickson (Bath), and Tanner Morrow (Grand Island) will also be key to the Pioneer offense.  Matkoski has 36 career points and 36 ground balls, Dickson is a transfer from Finger Lakes CC, and Morrow will be key in the face-off circle.

Brothers Kyle Hoke and Owen Hoke (Tully) will be asked to play tough in front of Amidon and the Pioneer goalies. Kyle Hoke played in 16 games last year and recorded 50 ground balls and caused 29 turnovers. Joe Wittmeyer (Hamburg), who has played in 30 games and has 85 ground balls and scored eight points, will also be key in the defensive midfield.

The 2017 schedule features 16 regular season matches and postseason opportunity to play in the AMCC Showcase. This is the first season that the Pioneers have competed as a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The AMCC Showcase caps a season in which the Pioneers will play teams from the Empire 8, the NEAC, the NCAC, and ORLC.