MCLA’s Cream of the Crop: Sonoma State 2015 season preview

(Photo: Sonoma State Lacrosse)

After a down year that saw the Seawolves exit postseason contention at an uncharacteristically early time, they’ll be back with a vengeance. The WCLL will be a tough conference this season, but with four returners who scored 20+ goals last year, it’s a team with an offense that’s going to be hard to stop. This is part of an ongoing series during which we will focus on one of the MCLA’s top teams each day, counting down till Christmas to the true “cream of the crop.”

Last year

Record: 8-6

Postseason finish: WCLL Tournament First Round

Quick season recap: After a great 6-1 start to the season (including a win over Chapman and with the only loss coming at the hands of UC Santa Barbara), the Seawolves would limp to the finish line in a tough second half, going 2-5 down the home stretch. They would ultimately be knocked out of the WCLL Tournament by the California Golden Bears. A season mired by an inability to win close games (1-4 in games decided by two goals or less) is one that Sonoma State would like to forget, as this is a team that was in the national quarterfinals just one year prior.

Roster losses: Blake Olson, the WCLL’s Defensive Player of the Year, is going to be sorely missed by a defensive unit that’s also graduating defenseman Tony Carvutto and goalie Alex Linder. When you factor in the loss of starting LSM Mason Guild, it’s clear that this team is going to be in need of inexperienced long poles to step up and make an immediate impact. It’s likely going to be another tough schedule, per the norm at SSU, a team that played all four of last year’s MCLA semifinal participants (UC Santa Barbara, Chapman, Arizona State, Colorado) during the regular season.

This year

Who to watch for: Brad Bochesa, junior attackman

Perhaps Bochesa is the obvious pick, but for good reason: his 36 assists were good for third in the MCLA last season, and his 65 points led the WCLL. It’s worth noting that he was only a sophomore, and the possibility of him tapping into even more upside makes him a threat to any opposing defense. “I expect him to continue to see him perform at a high level this year,” head coach Panchito Ojeda said. “He will be a tough matchup for anyone in our league.” He had five or more points in a game on seven different occasions last year, after a freshman campaign during which he never accomplished the feat. If his progression continues on the scale it was from 2013 (when he had 36 total points) to 2014, he’ll be a massive force to be reckoned with in 2015.

They’re dangerous if their experienced offense can drown out opposing defenses. Every offensive playmaker from last year is coming back, and while Bochesa may have led the team with 29 goals, he had three teammates with 20 or more goals as well. Michael Tomita, Wesley Koenig, and Connor Kuehnle comprise a deadly starting offensive unit full of skilled midfielders and attackmen that might just overwhelm even the best of defenses in 2015. If Bochesa’s vision continues to allow for quality looks to every member of this core, it’ll be a great formula for success. The playmakers in 2015 aren’t just going to be among the team’s returners, either. “So many freshmen could make an impact for us this year,” Ojeda said. “This is one of the best freshmen classes we’ve seen at Sonoma in a long time, so we are excited about what they can do.”

Achilles’ heel: Defensive inexperience. With a starting defense that will be missing many of its impact players from last year, notably star defenseman Blake Olson and starting goalie Alex Linder, there’s a lot that’s up in the air with this year’s defensive side of things. Samuel Willon will be the core of this unit, as a senior that’s also a returning captain, and Sonoma State’s season may very well hinge on whether or not he’s able to carry an otherwise young defensive front. Look to junior transfer Cam Revere and sophomores Spencer Castonguay and DJ Lopez to possibly become big playmakers on the defense. “Our team follows the ‘next man-up’ mantra,” Ojeda said. “We expect all players to be ready to contribute at a moment’s notice and make an impact in big situations.” As for the starting goalie spot, it’s still up for grabs in a fierce goalie competition between four candidates. Either way, it’ll be up to Willon, the defense’s head honcho, to anchor this unit and try to prevent it from becoming a weakness.

Trey Lanthier is a lacrosse reporter and editor at WCSN, as well as a contributor for Inside Lacrosse. You can reach him at treylanthier@gmail.com or on Twitter, @TreyLanthier.

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