Culver Military Academy Lacrosse 2013 Season Preview
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The Culver Academies, located in Culver Indiana, offers students the finest combination of academic, athletic, and leadership development programs in the United States.
Under head lacrosse coach Jon Posner (8 seasons, 129-45), Culver Military Academy has built a nationally competitive lacrosse program. From 2007-2012, the Culver Eagles won 106 games, four state championships, and the 2012 North American Elite Tournament. During this period, 29 Culver graduates went on to play NCAA men’s lacrosse.
The Culver Eagles finished the 2012 season 18-3, including wins St. Mary’s Annapolis, Brother Rice, Upper Arlington, and Canada’s Hill Academy. The Eagles also won the North American Elite Tour- nament. In recognition of these achievements, Lacrosse Magazine ranked the Eagles #25 for the second consecutive year, and Inside Lacrosse ranked the Eagles #1 in the Midwest region.
The Eagles enter 2013 determined to improve on last season’s record, which included one-goal losses to Brother Rice and Boys Latin. Early in the season the Eagles travel to Maryland to face the Calverton School, the Landon School, Boys Latin, and Philadelphia’s Episcopal Academy. After returning to Indiana, the Eagles will compete against a number of powerful Midwest programs, including four defending state champions: Brother Rice (MI), Loyola Academy (IL), Carmel HS (IN), and Louisville St. Xavier (KY). The Eagles conclude the 2013 season at the North American Elite Tournament, featuring top programs from across the United States and Canada.
The 2013 Eagles return 7 starters and 17 letter winners, and 16 players have committed to play Division 1 lacrosse. Leading the Eagle attack will be senior captain Dean Ferris (Ohio State). Junior Riley Thompson (Princeton) will join Ferris at attack. Three newcomers will compete for the third position: sophomore Daw- son McKenzie (Princeton), and freshmen Colin Courtney and Harry Bogle. Versatile junior P.J. Bogle (Michigan) will see time at attack and midfield.
At midfield, the Eagles return six talented two-way midfielders. Senior Zach Currier (Princeton) and junior Beau Eckstein (Delaware) will handle face off duties, and both will log significant minutes on offense. The Eagles will also rely on stand- out juniors Joel Tinney (Johns Hopkins) and Pierre Byrne (Notre Dame). Finally, junior Ryan Coulter (Bowling Green-Hockey) and senior Nathan Ralls Feldman (Babson) transition to offense after an outstanding 2012 season at defensive midfield. Talented sophomores Zach Main and Bryce Thompson and freshman Anthony George will give the Eagles depth at short- stick defensive midfield. At long-stick midfield, Coach Posner will rely on gifted junior Matt Neufeldt (Maryland).
The Eagle close defense returns five seniors with starting experience. Talented senior Austin Spencer (UMass) will lead the defensive unit. Fellow seniors Dan Ferrell (VMI), Paul Westman (Bellarm- ine), Mason Quinn (Quinnipiac) and Alec Johnston (Robert Morris) will all compete for minutes, as will athletic sophomore David Dilts.
Junior Michael Calvello (Furman) returns to anchor the Eagles in goal. Calvello has shown vast improvement and appears ready for a breakthrough season. Junior Nick Peterson, who performed well in limited minutes in 2012, will push Calvello for time.
Coach Posner is optimistic about the 2013 season. “We have tremendous talent on offense and depth on defense,” Posner said. “Every team we play this season will challenge us, and our goal is to work hard, compete, and continue to expand the national profile of Culver lacrosse.”
2013 Prep Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
15-Mar MISCD, MO Lake Forest, IL 7:00 PM (CST)
16-Mar Lake Forest, IL Lake Forest, IL 12:30 PM (CST)
23-Mar Episcopal Academy, PA Newtown Square, Pa 7:00 PM
24-Mar Calverton School, MD @ Boys Latin Balitomore, MD 3:30 PM
26-Mar Boys Latin, MD Baltimore, MD 4:00 PM
28-Mar Landon, MD Washington, DC 12:00 AM
4-Apr Detroit Country Day, MI Culver, IN 6:00 PM
6-Apr Worthington Kilborne, OH Columbus, OH 4:00 PM
7-Apr Western Reserve Academy, OH Hudson, OH 1:00 PM
12-Apr Forest Hill, MI Culver, IN 7:00 PM
13-Apr Brother Rice, MI Notre Dame, IN 7:00 PM
20-Apr Bishop Timon, NY Detroit, MI 5:00 PM
21-Apr Hill Academy, ON Detroit, MI 12:00 PM
26-Apr Detroit Catholic Central, MI Culver, IN 7:30 PM
27-Apr St. Xavier, KY Culver, IN TBA
28-Apr New Trier, IL Culver, IN 9:30 AM
4-May Mason, OH Indianapolis, IN 7:30 PM
5-May Carmel, IN Indianapolis, IN 12:00 PM
11-May Archbishop Moeller, OH Culver, IN 2:00 PM
12-May Loyola Academy, IL Notre Dame, IN TBA
18-May North American Elite Tournament Detroit, MI TBA
19-May North American Elite Tournament Detroit, MI TBA