Livonia
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 March, 2010 - After making it to the Class C finals last season against Penn Yan, Livonia looks to go one better this season and take the tournament. Coach Brett Wood is looking to a returning team with strong offensive potential and great senior leadership to achieve those goals. The Bulldogs finished at 2-5 in league and 12-6 overall last season. They were seeded third in the tournament but defeated second seeded Aquinas 10-9 in the semi finals.

Graduation wasn't as bad as it could be for the Bulldogs. The loss of three year starting goalie Justin Becker is the most devastating loss. Becker finished last year at 59% for Livonia and continues to play lacrosse at Alfred University. Midfielder Matt Girolmo will be a loss on the offensive side of the field with 16g-30a last season and 41g-63a over the last three seasons.

Coach Wood writes, "Looking at the different facets of the team it is easy to see that our strength lies in the offensive end of the field." Returning to the attack are Chris Bausch and Mike Donals, who were both named to the GRALL First Team list. Bausch and Donals combined for 89g-39a last season and will both be big time players this season. Wyatt Struble, who was named to the All Tournament team last season, returns for his sophomore year. He has already demonstrated his commitment off-season and will be coming back to an increased role.

With the strength of the attack it would be easy to overlook the midfield but the Bulldog midfield holds one of the strongest players Section Five. Jeff Wester (D&C All Greater Rochester Super 16 - 2009, D&C All Greater Rochester Honorable Mention - 2008, First Team All League two years running, All Tournament team two years running) led Section Five in total points in 2009 with 116 and led in assists with 62. In 2008 he was also seventh in points and third in assists. Wester has demonstrated over two seasons that he is an unstoppable force on the field. Coach Wood says "Jeff is our leader and it is so easy to let a leader on the field who has his priority to make others look better." Wester is coming off both a Hockey season during which he was named to the Exceptional Senior game and Football season after which he was named Class C Defensive Player of the Year.

Defensively, the Bulldogs will look to Tristan Hudak both in the close defense as well as matching up against midfielders. Hudak was named to the D&C Honorable mention list as well as All League GRALL and the All Tournament team. He has spent the last two seasons guarding midfielders but has spent a great deal of time in the off-season playing close defense. Kevin Walthers spent a significant time in the weight room over the off-season which has led to an increase in strength and leadership skills. Coach Wood will look to Walthers to lead through "a great example of hard work and dedication to athletics."

Between the pipes Livonia has two strong options to replace Becker. Sophomore Ethan Jamison and junior Jake Keller both look for the job. Keller was the starting JV goalie last season and Jamison was the Varsity back-up keeper. Each has different skill sets which Coach Wood and his staff will be looking at during the early part of the season.

After losing to Penn Yan in finals two years running the Bulldogs are looking for that elusive title. Coach Wood says "It has been great to see what they have done the past two years, yet there is still that empty feeling and disappointment losing the two straight finals." The Bulldogs are looking to a challenging schedule starting early with Penn Yan in their third game of the season. With the lower number of games allowed this season Coach Wood and the GRALL league have decided to drop the GRALL championship this season. Coach Wood has scheduled games against Marcus Whitman, Rush-Henrietta, Thomas, Waterloo, Eastridge, Midlakes and Victor to fill out his schedule.

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Updated:03/26/2010