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Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Hobart

We’re back with the Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Previews! Like last year, we’ll go through all of the D1 men’s teams for 2014 (there are 67 this year!) and we are now moving on to the Hobart Statesmen, located in Geneva, NY.

Photo Credit: Larry Palumbo

Hobart had a very up and down 2013 season but it was a step up from their 4-9 showing in 2012. They won their first 2013 game, then lost two in a row, and then won three more to sit at 4-2. They then dropped four straight games (two to Top 10 teams) before winning two straight one goal games (over Bellarmine and Cuse). Hobart finished the season with two losses to Loyola and Air Force. 2014 sees Hobart move from the ECAC to the Northeast Conference, and it is resulting in a very different schedule for the Statesmen.

Hobart’s big OOC games are against Cornell, Brown, and Syracuse. They also play Siena, Binghamton, Colgate, Canisius, and St. Joseph’s. Their NEC foes are Robert Morris, Bryant, Mt St Mary’s, Sacred Heart, and Wagner. If Hobart comes together they can go 10-3 with relative ease, so 2014 needs to be a year of opportunity for Hobart!

Offensively, Hobart lost a little leadership from the midfield, but their core of scorers is definitely still intact. Derek Akner and Jake Silberlicht are gone, but offensive wizards Alex Love, Cam Stone, Jake McHenry, Frank Brown, Taylor Vanderbeek, and Zach Reed all return. Love and Stone combined for 104 points last year, and should definitely lead the way. Hobart has a number of A/M players, and can get as many as six offensive specialists on the field with ease.

On the other end of the field, Peter Zonino is back for his Senior year. Zonino was consistent last year for Hobart, and provides a solid base for the 2014 version of the team. Zonino will have very little experience around him though, and Peter Bolte is one of few poles with game experience from 2013. Hobart has good size and a bunch of young players with potential, but they lack experience down low. It could be an issue.

Another big area for concern for Hobart has to be face offs. Sipe and Kelly took almost every single face off last year (aside from 9) and both guys are no longer on the Hobart roster. Peter Bolte took 8 face offs, winning 2 in 2013, and he is the face off man with the most experience on the team right now. Combine this with a younger midfield, and Hobart could definitely struggle in the middle of the field.

Overall, Hobart looks to be a strong offensive team in 2014. They have solid senior goaltending, and a couple guys with experience. My concerns are rooted in their defense (it is going to be young) and their midfield, especially when it comes to face offs. If Greg Raymond and Co. want to see success this year, they have a lot of work to do.

For more NCAA D1 Lacrosse coverage, check out Alphabetical 2013 NCAA D1 Preview: Air ForceAlbanyArmyBellarmineBinghamtonBostonBrownBryantBucknellCanisius,
Colgate,  CornellDartmouthDelawareDetroitDrexelDukeFairfieldFurmanGeorgetownHartfordHarvard, and High Point.