CSUF Men’s Lacrosse is proud to announce former UCSB Lacrosse player and former CSUF Captain Christian Wheeler as head coach for the 2012-2013 season. “I was lucky enough to play alongside Coach Wheeler last season, his Lacrosse IQ and knowledge of the game had led us to offer him the Defensive Coordinator position for the team for the 2013 season.
He has single-handedly been running our fall ball practices with efficiency and poise. It was a no-brainer for us to extend this offer to him, “says Paul Morgan, the team’s head administrator.
“As the new Head Coach of the Fullerton Titans men’s lacrosse team is a very exciting venture that I am taking very seriously. Although this is my first experience in coaching lacrosse at the collegiate level, I am very confident in my ability to lead this team to a successful season and to continue the high level of play that Fullerton has been able to produce over the last several years. This year’s team has a very different look than this Fullerton team had last year. This year’s team will have to be much more team oriented and will have many players making an offensive and defensive impact in the games. We are looking to shut teams down with our strong defense, transition with our players that have the ability to push the break, and to possess on offense and work for the best shot. We have had a many changes to our roster from last year and are looking to a new group of players to lead this 2013 Titan team offensively, but the confidence level is still high in Fullerton as we look to have another very successful season”, said Wheeler in regards to his new position.
This year’s Fullerton men’s lacrosse team definitely has a different look than it did last year with a lot of new players looking to lead the Titans to a successful season. The strength of this 2013 Titian team will be its defense. Anchored by a first year starter at goalie, Trevor Wada, the Titans will have a battle-tested veteran group on the defensive end of the field. With senior Captain and three-year starter, Paul Morgan, two-year starter and sophomore Richard Morrison who won 2nd team all-conference honors last year, second year player and Captain Austin Ray, all down at close defense, attack men will have trouble getting to the middle of the field for shots. Up top defensively, four-year starter, senior Captain LSM Kody Kareta who also won 2nd team all-conference honors last season, offensives will have a lot of experience to deal with on the offensive side of the box as the Titans are looking to keep opposing offenses frustrated.
The Offense has a lot of different names who be looking to produce goals for the Titan offense this 2013 season. Instead of relying on one or two superstar players as the Titans have done since Mike Ansel joined the team in 2008, there will be much more balance and emphasis on teamwork this season. Senior Michael Ballantyne and first year player Matt Martinez look to control the midfield for Fullerton and make a big impact on offense. The attack will be headed by second year player Joe Wheeler and third year player and Captain Gabe Alamillo. There are also a great group of young players who are eager to prove themselves and make an immediate impact for the Fullerton Titans. Notable freshman include midfielder Braden Goebel and close defenseman Dakota Silverberg.
Although there were some big pieces lost from last year’s team, most notably, the Cole brothers, Chris and Cameron who have decided to go in a different direction than the team; the Titans are still going into the season with the same high expectations of leading the SLC South, winning the SLC Division, and making it to the National Championships. There is a long road ahead in order to achieve those goals, but the Titans are confident in themselves that they can surprise a lot of critics during the 2013 season.
laxbuzz
