CANANDAIGUA
 March
18,2006 - Like Old Mother Hubbard’s
cupboard, it looks like there is not much left
in Canandaigua after graduation, but the Braves
have a great developmental program and they seem
to attract some of the best athletes in the district
to play lacrosse. After 26 years, Coach John
Johnson is gone (to St. John Fisher College)
and long time assistant, Ed Mulheron is the new
Head Coach. During his career, Johnson compiled
a career record of 357-149, while leading the
Braves to 13 Finger Lakes League titles, six
Section V titles and four Western New York Regional
Championships.
Although the new coach will have
his own ideas about running the team, one would
expect that most things that made Canandaigua one
of the most successful teams in Section Five, will
continue.
The Braves lost 17 seniors to graduation
(53% of the team), including All American and “Offensive
Player of the Year”, Dan Groot (Maryland) and
Academic All American Chris Mulheron (Binghamton).
Gone are middie, Tyler Emery (Lehigh) and attackman,
Aaron Manzer (Mercyhurst). Lost in the defense were
first team all-league players, Ryan Cunningham (Loyola)
and Mike Serron (MCC) and the rest of the starters
with Jay Woodworth (Ithaca) and Ed Walsh (Oswego).
The midfield was also hit hard with the additional
loss of Albert Gianforti (Franklin & Marshall)
and Nick Boylan (Alfred) and a host of others including
Todd Anthony and Brian Hadsell (Keuka College). The
attack saw the graduation of Kyle Wakefield and Jeremy
Nemecek.
 Finishing
the season at 19-2, the Braves lost only to Baldwinsville
(13-8) during the regular season and in the final
game of the year against Orchard Park (14-10) in
the State quarter finals. As predicted, the Class
A finals were once again between Canandaigua and
Penfield and the Braves won again. They finished
9th in the final NYS poll and 47th in the Laxpower
national poll.
The undefeated winner of the Finger
Lakes division 1, Canandaigua placed 2nd in Section
Five offense (256 goals scored / 12.19 average) and
3rd in defense (107 goals against / 5.10 average).
Seeded 2nd in the Class A tournament the Braves beat
Thomas (15-7) and then Fairport (9-5) before winning
the championship against Penfield (12-10) in an exciting
game at Aquinas.
Seven players received first team
all league recognition. In the attack it was Mulheron
and Manzer. At midfield it was Groot and Emery and
in defense, Serron and Cunningham. Dan Serafine was
a first team all league goalie. Dan Groot was named
All American, Chris Mulheron was named Academic All
American and Coach Johnson was named “Coach
of the Year”. 
Junior goalie, Dan Serafine, who
will attend Binghamton next year, was named to the
Class A All Tournament team for the second year in
a row as was Dan Groot (MVP) and Chris Mulheron.
Also making the list were Ed Walsh in defense and
Tyler Emery in midfield.
The Braves should do well in the
Finger Lakes, but don’t expect the normal excitement
in the CA / Penn Yan games this year. Coach Mulheron
will also have his hands full with an 18 game schedule
and out of league games with Baldwinsville, Fairport,
Irondequoit and Hamburg.
Sarafine will return to the goal,
but with a new defense. Juniors, Jeremy Brown (attack)
and AJ Groot (midfield) return with seniors Chris
McWilliams, Eric Klein and Justin Buck in midfield.
Top Returners:
Dan Serafine – 12 - goal
Jeremy Brown – 11 - att
Eric Klein - 12 - att
A.J. Groot - 11 - mid
Chris McWilliams – 12 - mid
Charlie Sauter – 11 - mid
James Regan - 12- mid
Matt Malloy - 12 - def
Alan Zulick - 12 - def
Top New Players:
Jordan Manzer – 11 –
att
Justin Tomzak – 10 – att
Connor Henderson – 10 att
Austin Rogers – 10 - mid
Nick Munn – 10 – mid
Andrew Knoblauch – 10 – mid
Ben Knapton – 10 - def
Evan Roth – 10 – def
Jon Zacharias– 11 – def
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