2004 Captain's Newsletter to Alumni Lacrosse Players

Dear Exeter Lacrosse Alumni,

      As captains of the 2004 varsity lacrosse team, we are honored to be writing this second annual captain's newsletter to lacrosse alumni. It is the generosity of lacrosse alumni like you that makes this newsletter mailing possible. The "Friends of Exeter Lacrosse Fund" that was started last year with two initial generous gifts has continued to grow through additional donations. In addition to paying the costs of this mailing, the fund has financed the purchase of new helmets last year, two Under Armour garments for each player to wear under their uniform this year, and has also helped scholarship boys afford to make a lacrosse trip to Florida this spring vacation. In addition, this fund has enabled Coach Bergofsky to improve our meal situations for both preseason and away games. We no longer have any away games in which we have both box lunches and box suppers. On behalf of our teammates, we thank you for you're past support and any future gifts to this fund.

     We are all quite optimistic about the upcoming season, which began on Monday, March 1st with our first indoor practice. Most of our varsity players are attending the World Class Lacrosse Camp in Orlando, FL during the 2nd week of spring vacation from March 22nd through March 26th. Mr. Bob Scalise, parent of teammate Michael Scalise '06, and a former lacrosse coach at Harvard and their current Athletic Director, will be coaching the team and generally organizing the trip. He will have help from his wife and a couple of the other parents of players who are going on this trip. We are all looking forward to warm weather and lots of lacrosse.

     The great tradition of Exeter lacrosse excellence continues. Our record the past five years has been 13-4 (1999), 15-3 (2000), 14-3 (2001), 16-4 (2002), and 10-6 last year. Four of last year's six losses were by one goal, so we know we can improve and win a few more close ones this year. The 2004 season is looking extremely bright. There is a nucleus of experienced veterans returning from last year's team, and this year's crop of new players includes plenty of talent to fill the voids left by a very talented graduating class from 2003. Returning starters at attack are 2003 team high scorer Tom Petty '05 and senior Eric Horan who chipped in 19 goals and 5 assists last season. First or second line middies from last year include senior tri-captains Chris Mottau and Sloan Smith, as well as Michael Scalise '06 and Bobby Goulding '04. Returning goalkeeper Julian Rodier '04, tri-captain Tom Rubel, and veteran Jon Reed '04 will anchor the defense. Five strong PG lacrosse players in addition to other varsity returnees, rising JV players, and other newcomers will assist these veterans. All this talent promises to make Exeter one of the top teams in New England. The lacrosse team's website at http://math.exeter.edu/ebergofsky/ has a full summary of every game, player bios and pictures, and much more in the archive section. We encourage you to visit the site often, and use it to follow the team's progress this year as well as to look back on your own Exeter teams and playing days. Our schedule of 19 games includes the best teams in both Eastern and Western New England, and will be quite a challenge. Coach Bergofsky loves to hear from alumni as often as possible, so do not hesitate to contact him at ebergofsky@exeter.edu to chat about lacrosse and this year's team.

     We hope you enjoyed receiving this second edition of the captain's newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions, we would love to hear back from you. We also hope to see you at some of our games this year, but especially at Andover on Saturday, May 22nd as we try and make it five wins out of the last six games against Andover.

Sincerely,

Chris Mottau '04 cmottau@exeter.edu
Tom Rubel '04 trubel@exeter.edu
Sloan Smith '04 asmith@exeter.edu