Lack of numbers is hampering team
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
LINWOOD – Mainland Regional lacrosse coach Clayton Smith makes no bones about how difficult this season has been for him and his usually successful squad this year.
Of course, when you’re playing under a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis in the coronavirus pandemic, there will be plenty of things that are going to stick out. From the Mustangs fielding their smallest roster in years to the ever-changing restrictions because of the pandemic, Mainland is winning.
Mainland is 6-4 this season going into the week but suffered their worst loss of the season last week, 15-1 at powerful St. Augustine Prep. It was the Mustangs’ first Cape-Atlantic League loss of the season.
That is not far off from the 12-7 Mainland compiled in 2019. The Mustangs, along with all of New Jersey lacrosse teams, didn’t play the spring 2020 season because of the coronavirus.
The Mustangs played at Cedar Creek Monday and will play at home against Absegami Wednesday. Mainland defeated the Pirates 14-10 earlier this month while downing the Braves 12-11 back in April.
“We’re dealing with a lack of numbers this season,” Smith said. “We have the smallest roster this season that we’ve seen in years.”
But that is just the beginning of the challenges. Mainland not only lost a talented group of seniors from the 2019 season, but also an impressive group of juniors like veterans Brandon Batz, Sean Bradley and Devon Ford who didn’t get a chance to play their senior year at all.
Smith’s top players lost their freshman years due to the pandemic and are now thrust into taking leadership roles this season.
“Jack Venneman, Joe DeGaetano, Elliot Post, Jack Walcoff and Tommy Shenkus are all sophomores who had no high school playing experience last season,” Smith said. “All of the incoming freshmen didn’t even have an eighth-grade season.”
Venneman leads the Mustangs with 25 goals this season. DeGaetano has scored 17 goals going into this week with a team-leading 23 assists. Senior Gavin Weiss has 16 goals while sophomore Jack Walcoff has chipped in another 15.
Smith counts those players along with Sam Walsh (D), Anthony Medina (D), Luke Meister (A), Elliot Post (LSM), and goalie Shenkus as his top performers so far this season, but he still wants more out of his team. He said Carter Mostecki (D) and senior goalie Mac Murphy have been his top newcomers.
Murphy has played in eight games this season at goal with 59 saves in 67 goal attempts.
Smith said while he understands the challenges this shortened, pandemic-havoc season presents, he still wants to see more from his team.
“It’s been very challenging,” Smith said. “The players’ attention span has been a challenge while the lack of conditioning from the online schooling has been close to non-existent. While many are grateful to have a season, some others are just going through the motions.”
Smith, who is also Mainland’s wrestling coach, said the compact, shortened seasons under ever-challenging pandemic protocols have been a challenge for him as a coach as well.
“This is a continuation of wrestling season for me,” Smith said. “Organization is critical with the ridiculous and constantly changing COVID-19 protocol.”
For the rest of the year, including a season-ending contest with rival Ocean City at home on May 26, he said his team will have to stay healthy and play with more consistency.
“We have to stay disciplined with policy and procedure,” Smith said. “It seems like every game you get a chance to play is truly a blessing.”
Seniors like Murphy, Medina and Meister along with fellow upperclassmen Justin Barretta, Will Gandy, Joseph Smarra and Sam Walsh will be wrapping up their playing careers this month. Juniors Zach Dearborn, Nick Diez, Oliver Lamaina, James Mooney, Christian Piereth and Thomas Welsh will be taking over those leadership positions next season.
Mainland will play at home against Lower Cape May before concluding their regular season against Ocean City.
