The 1972 Notre Dame Lacrosse Club, under the guidance of Coach Rich O'Leary, started practice in late January, their goal - to improve on last year's 6 - 4 record. To accomplish this, they will have to defeat some stiff competition, but the revenge motive, due to some 1 point defeats last season and in the fall will provide the desire for the coming season.
Coming off a highly successful first year, O'Leary has many veterans returning and will devote his full capacities to developing a more sophisticated squad. These capacities include a wealth of experience as a player and coach. O'Leary has played on strong squads at East Meadow HS, LI, NY, Nassau Community College and Cortland State. Designated as a small college All-America in '69 and '70, he played in the North South All-star Game in Lexington, Va in 1970. He has also seen action with the LIAC lacrosse club, the best in club lacrosse. As a coach, O'Leary has been on the staff at Cornell, last year's NCAA champs. Coach O'Leary has implemented a quasi-sophisticated offense and has made extensive use of game films in an attempt to polish the squad.
The Notre Dame Club Sport scene offers a unique opportunity for development of an ND student. A profile of the fourth year and graduate students best illustrates this idea.
· Co-captain Ed Hoban, a four year veteran, hails from Wilmette, IL. As a prep-student at the Cranwell School, Lenox, MA, Ed played lacrosse and skied. In his senior season, he was an All-New England selection. If he remains healthy, look for Ed to be among the point leaders in the Midwest this year. A General Program major, Ed's outside interests include forming deep interpersonal relationships and bowling.
· Gary Riopko, also a co-captain, is from Elmira Heights, NY. He attended Edison High participating in football and track. Gary has been part of the Lacrosse scene for four years and a starting midfielder for the past two. An accounting major, Gary plans to work for a CPA firm next year.
· Jimmy Bingle, from Toledo Ohio, is one of three brothers who have been associated with Irish lacrosse. In addition to being Pesident of the Club, Jimmy also is a starting midfielder and scoring threat. A pre-med major and Dean's List student, he plans to attend Ohio State or Georgetown Med school.
· Ace Defenseman Timmy Baker from Towson, MD, is also a veteran of four stickman campaigns. At Loyola High, Timmy played football and is a product of the Baltimore area's fine summer league program and was voted "Outstanding Defenseman" in the Alumni Game. A business major, Timmy plans to enter the world of business next year. He is very logical.
· "Electric" Freddy Morrison is a doctoral candidate in Aerospace. He is a five year veteran of the team and a valuable defensive coach. As an undergraduate at ND, Freddy wrestled and in Beaver High he was known as "superman". Next year Doctor Morrison hopes to secure a faculty / coaching position at the collegiate level.
· As if one doctoral candidate is not sufficient, the Stickmen possess another. He is Dave Lando, also in Aero and also a fine defenseman. He is from Schenectady, NY and has been a member of the team since 1966. Dave is also active off the field and he and his wife expect a "little stickman" in the near future. O the versatility of the ND lacrossemen!
· Rounding out the grad school's contribution are second year law students Paul Reagan and Jim Courtney. Paul, from Seaford, NY played high school lacrosse at McArthur High before playing three varsity years for Rutgers University. He taught and coached before coming to ND where he immediately worked his way into the starting midfield. He experience has proved valuable to the younger players. Jim is from Glen Cove, NY. He played four years for the Holy Cross College lacrosse team where he led the team in assists in his senior year. Jim has proven to be a valuable addition to the Irish attack. His trademarks include his fine feed passes and his ubiquitous purple drawers.
· Rick Love, from Cumberland, MD is a newcomer to the ND stickmen. At Bishop Walsh High school, he played football and baseball. However, he has always wanted to be a lacrosse star. He shows an amazing knack for the game and a few years will be all Rick needs to come of age. An English major, Rick plans to enter the Peace Corps next year.
· John "Buford" Dowling hails from Gladwyne, PA where he attended Malverne Prep. He has four years experience at midfield. Although he has suffered everything from hemorrhoids to pneumonia Buford shows amazing resiliency. The General Program major describes himself as a "wheeler-dealer" with the emphasis on the latter.
· Bill Harrison, a senior from Amityville, NY, has been in the margins of ND lacrosse for the past three years. He has, in the past, proven himself to be an expert program salesman and equipment manager. He has participated in the Long Island Summer Lacrosse League against some of the best collegiate players where he found the contrast "appalling". Describing himself in relation to his team, he says, "I'm like a cleft-palate. You can't pretend its not there, but you can't stop eating either." A Pre-Med major and a Dean's List student, Bill plans to attend Med school next year.
