Lacrosse Season In Review – Lakers Experienced Seesaw Like Ride In 2012
CANANDAIGUA, NY. -- A season full of ups and downs in the win-loss column for Finger Lakes Community College (CC) ended with more positives than negatives, despite their losing record. The Lakers 2012 season, which consisted of an overall record of 9-12, contained 9 games where the outcome was decided by 3 goals or less (5 of which were decided by 1 goal or less). In these 9 games, Finger Lakes went 4-5. They were 2-3 in games decided by 1 goal or less.
The Lakers greatest winning streak this season came in at 2 games (3 times) in opposed to their longest losing skid, which was reached at 3 games. There 3-game losing streak came back in early April when they lost to a trio of tough opponents in Suffolk CC, Mercyhurst North East, and Harford CC. Finger Lakes did what they did best after a losing streak -- followed it up with a statement win. For instance, after the 3-game losing streak, they rose to the occasion and came out in an April 9th road match against Mohawk Valley CC by posting a 6-2 victory. They would then follow a well-played win over Mohawk with another road victory, which came on April 11th at Alfred State College, 12-11. Through all of the streaks, the Lakers continuously worked hard as a team both on and off of the field.
Finger Lakes most exciting win came on the road on April 16th at Broome CC. Tied 7-7 with 51 seconds remaining in the game, promising freshman midfielder Jack Timerson (Newark, NY) poured in the game winning goal by using his sheer athleticism to beat a group of Broome defenders.
Despite the seesaw like ride that Finger Lakes was on all season long in the win-loss column, they managed to make it to postseason play, where they would fall (20-0) to Genesee CC (#4 nationally ranked at the time) on the road in the first round of the 2012 Regional Tournament (NJCAA Region III Division III).
The Lakers gathered a plethora of positives from their 2012 season. They finished it with a winning record of 3-2 in their conference (Mid-State Athletic Conference). Four of Finger Lakes top players were selected to the All-Conference Team. These players included the likes of Steve Campaniello (Rochester, NY – Sophomore Attackman), Chris Tauterouff (Canandaigua, NY – Sophomore Defender), Joshua Taylor (Calgary, Alberta – Sophomore Attackman), and Timerson. The Lakers experienced a channel full of great individual offensive performances this season led by Taylor's 56 goals (in 21 games). His gaudy goal total put him in the seventh position in the nation for the category for 2012.
Finger Lakes also saw goaltender John Perrucci (Myrtle Beach, SC) evolve into a reliable starter this season, one that can be depended on in 2013. Perrucci finished the season 3rd in the nation in saves with 334 (in 21 games).
Finger Lakes future beams bright. They will be returning a core group of players despite losing the likes of Campaniello, Tauterouff, and Taylor. As mentioned, they will return Perrucci, but will also bring back the hot stick of Timerson along with a cast of strong freshmen in Matt Fuller (Medina, NY), Cale Giese (Kamloops, British Columbia), and Rob Pelkey (Fairport, NY).
From an individual standpoint, Campaniello, Fuller, Taylor, and Timerson casted the most productive season's offensively for Finger Lakes. Campaniello's 55 points was good for 36th in the nation. He finished the season in the top 15 in the nation in assists (14th) with 33. The sophomore also scored 22 goals. All of his numbers came in 21 games.
Fuller finished his first season in a Lakers uniform with 25 goals and 6 assists (in 19 games played).
Taylor's 56 goals also came with a hat-trick of assists. He finished the season with a point total of 59, which was good for 30th in the nation.
Timerson notched 60 points (28th in the nation) in 2012; 31 goals (42nd in the nation) and 29 assists (22nd in the nation). All of his stats came in 21 games.
Giese and Pelkey also added a great dimension to the Lakers offense this season. Giese, who battled injuries for most of the season, scored 19 goals and handed out 11 assists in just 9 games of action. Pelkey discovered the goal-scoring column 11 times. In addition, he dished out 6 assists. All of his points came in a span of 21 games.
Not only did Finger Lakes miss not having Giese around for the full season, they also sorely missed the presence of Andres Torruella (Geneva, NY – Sophomore Defender) on the field. Torruella was plagued by injury for a majority of the season. He came into 2012 as one of the more highly rated defenders in the region.
All and all, Finger Lakes season was certainly an adventurous ride. It contained its ups and downs, but along the journey, the Lakers discovered that their future looks bright from a talent standpoint. With a strong returning freshman class from this year, expect Finger Lakes to be among one of the top competitors in their conference as well as in their region and in the nation next season.