Towson State
Tiger Tracks
Published exclusively for Tiger Club members
by the News and Publications Services
Tuesday, March 16, 1976
TIGER STICKERS OPEN WITH BLUE JAYS
Don’t accuse Tiger lacrosse Carl Runk of starting the 1976 campaign
with a breather. In fact, our sternest test of the entire season just might
be that opening game on Saturday, March 27, when we visit the Homewood campus
to battle the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays, one of the top teams in the entire
nation and U.S.I.L.A. National Champions in 1974. By the time Hopkins faces
our stickers, they will already have the advantage of playing experience.
The Blue Jays face Yale this Saturday, and if past performances are any in¬
dication, Hopkins should pull away somewhere following the opening face-off.
Win or lose, coach Runk will not have much time to think about the Blue
Jay opener. The following Wednesday afternoon the Tigers face Salisbury State
in our home opener at 3 p.m. , then host Loyola the following evening, April 1,
in our first of three night games at 8 p.m. Also on this year’s slate are games
with such toughies as Hobart, Cortland State, the University of Virginia, Washington
and Lee, U.M.B.C. , and the University of Baltimore. All in all, there are very
few, if any, "breathers" on this year’s schedule. And to make it doubly tough
for Runk, beginning his ninth year at the Tiger helm, is the loss of such top
performers from last season as Jim Darcangelo, Bob Griebe, Joe Ferrante, John
Baldini, and Dan Miller. Darcangelo and Griebe were both named to the College
Division II and III first team All-America squads a year ago, and Darcangelo
was honored as the Outstanding player in '74 and '75 and the Outstanding Midfielder
in '75. Griebe collared the Outstanding Attackmen honor for 1975.
But Runk welcomes back a host of lettermen that should make the 1976
season just as successful as those in the past. The Tigers were National
Division II Champions in 1974, and last year finished with six wins and eleven
losses, a record good enough to make it to the second round of the Division II
tournament .Tom Kidd returns this season to lead a strong midfield contingent
that includes tri-captain Larry Anderson, Tim Maher, Mitch Lekas , Greg Chasney,
and Jack Warren. Just as an example of the Tigers’ tremendous depth at the
midfield slot this season, Runk still has Frank Atwood, Danny Nolan, Mark
Kroneberger, Jim Holthaus, Denny Holmes, Jeff Davis, and Dave Eichelberger as
reserves. Another strong point this season is the defense and goal. Tri-captain
Tom Harrison leads the defensive corps, and he'll team up with junior Ralph
Ruocco, Bill Treadway, and Clark Bernstein to battle for the three starting
assignments. Joe Higgins and Francis Duffy, along with freshmen Keith Jackson
and Carl Kotowski , are in reserve. Goealies Jeff Jones and Paul Russo will
give lis one of the best one-two combinations at that position in all of
lacrosse. "We’re in great shape with those two in goal," Runk praised. "It's
hard to decide on which one to start."
The attack will be the one questionable spot that may need work. Senior
Wayne Eisenhut, a second team All-America, returns with tri-captain Tom Nelson.
Nelson will play crease attack, but the third spot is open to a list of
candidates that includes Warren Como, Paul Mullen, Jules Siskind, Andy Paris,
and Tom Wagner. "The success of our season will be determined by that third
slot," emphasized Runk.
— over —
