April 3, 2001

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Villanova Wildcats
versus
#3 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays

Tuesday * April 3, 2001

Homewood Field * 7:00 p.m.

Homecoming: Villanova assistant coach David Marks will be making a return visit to Johns Hopkins for the first time since his graduation in May of 1998. Marks was a two-year starter and the team's leading scorer for the Villanova Wildcats before transferring to Johns Hopkins in 1997. In his two years with the Blue Jays, Marks excelled as a two-year starter. In his senior year, Marks finished as Johns Hopkins third leading scorer in that season and was named the team's Most Improved Senior. Marks is beginning his second season as an assistant coach under his father, Randy Marks. Last season, under the direction of Randy Marks, David Marks, and Mike Corrado, the Wildcats finished with their first national ranking since 1991. Villanova ended the year an impressive 9-5.

Making Their Marks: Villanova head men's lacrosse coach Randy Marks has been at the helm of the Wildcats' lacrosse program for 19 years. As the second longest tenured coach at Villanova, Marks has seen his three sons play for his program. His eldest son David played for two years in 1995 and 1996 before transferring to Johns Hopkins. David Marks returned after the two years at Hopkins to now serve as an assistant under his father. Currently, Randy Marks watches as his other two sons, middle son Justin and youngest son Brian, anchor his first attack line. The two have prospered together tallying a combined 27 goals and 16 assists for 43 points. Those marks account for 39 percent of the Wildcats offense. Justin Marks is second on the team in goals with 12 and has also tallied an assist. Brian Marks currently leads the team in points with 30 after tallying 15 goals and 15 assists.

Wilk's Mastery: He often taunts his teammates in practice that they can not score on him and there is a good reason why. Most people can not score on him. Wilk along with a stellar defense has held opponents to a meager 47 goals in seven games. Over his four-year career at Villanova opponents have scored only 343 goals on the Bound Brook, NJ native. Every year, Wilk's goals against average has improved dramatically. In his freshman campaign he touted a 14.5 goals against average. As a sophomore he improved to 10.5 and as a junior he lowered his average to 9.61. Currently, his 7.25 goals against average is 2.75 under his career average of 10.0 goals against.

Freshman Influence: So far in 2001, Villanova has seen four of their freshman recruits step to the forefront. Matt Lucas, David Cacciabeve, Richie Kratz, and Scott MacMullan all have made a dramatic influence. The four midfielders were all recruited to replace a midfield that was depleted heavily by graduation. Currently, Lucas and Cacciabeve are featured together with junior Michael Holloway on the first midfield line, while Kratz and MacMullan join junior Randall Calvert on the second midfield line. Together the four have combined for 13 goals and three assists for 16 points. Kratz leds the group with six goals and one assist for seven points. Lucas is second amongst his freshman peers with four goals and one assist. Cacciabeve has recorded three goals and one assist, while MacMullan has posted one assist.

Season Projections: As Villanova enters the second half of their 2001 season, the defense anchored by Wilk, fellow captain Brian O'Hagan, junior Chris Bowman, and sophomore Andrew Galano will attempt to break a 17 year Villanova old lacrosse record. Set in 1984, Villanova's defense allowed a stingy 6.16 goals per game. So far in 2001, Villanova has allowed 47 goals for a 6.71 goals per game average. The task will be difficult with their remaining schedule of Johns Hopkins, Fairfield, Denver, Air Force, Loyla, Pennsylvania, and Marsit. Second, Third, and Fourth: If Villanova can get past the first quarter tied or ahead, chances are they will emerge victorious in the contest. In the first quarter, the Wildcats have been outscored by their opponents 18 to 12. For the remainder of the game, Villanova has outscored their opponents 56 to 35. In the second quarter the `Cats hold a 17-9 advantage, in the third quarter they have been equally as good, holding a 21-13 lead over opponents, and in the fourth they have been solid outscoring opponents by a margin of five goals, 18-13.

Sophomore Success: Last year, Villanova's sophomore class entered the Main Line school with high aspirations of academic and athletic success. Athletically in 2000, only two members of the Class of 2003 were consistent contributors on the field. In 2001, that number has increased three times to six. The major contributors from 2000, attackman Brian Marks and long stick midfielder Owen Corso have bee spectacular in their second seasons. Marks has 15 goals and 15 assists to lead the team in groundballs with 36. Joining Marks and Corso on the field in 2001 are Frank Falanga, the team's leading face-off man, Andrew Galano, a defensive starter that has recorded 12 groundballs, Eddie Deegan, the team's first defensive player off the bench, and Mike O'Donnell, a strong defensive midfielder that has made his presence felt physically as well as by recording eight groundballs. In only their second seasons their careers have just begun at Villanova, making the future bright for the Wildcat men's lacrosse team, especially with the burgeoning talent of two more of their classmates, Conrad Wiedemann and Oscar James.