The Limestone College Men's Lacrosse Program has excelling year in and year out for some time now. Limestone athletes have used qualities like class, heart, and talent to turn the program into a national power. This year's team will carry on that tradition while they add a new chapter to the history of Limestone Lacrosse. The Saints have put together five consecutive Deep South Conference Championships and four straight trips to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. Although the team has said goodbye to several key players from the 2003 squad, the 2004 Saints will take the field as strong as ever with a tremendous returning core of players and an outstanding recruiting class.

After being tabbed as the number one team in the nation in the preseason polls last year, the Saints rolled to a 13-3 season. They finished the regular season ranked fourth in the nation and battled their way through the playoffs to another national title game. The Saints also enjoyed their first ever wins over NCAA Division III teams ranked in the top 15. Limestone defeated #6 Lynchburg College by a score of 7-6 on March 15, and dropped #11 Washington and Lee 7-6 in overtime on May 4.

The 2004 Saints will miss the play and leadership of Devan Spilker, Matt Malloy, and Damon Woolford whose careers included four straight appearances in the National Finals and two NCAA Division II National Championships. Spilker was a four-time All-Conference selection at attack in the Deep South. He was also a two-time USILA All-American who holds the Limestone College career records for points (293) and assists (134). Malloy was a four-year starter in goal and a three-time All-Conference performer. Last season he earned Deep South Player of the Year honors. In his career at Limestone he earned USILA 2nd-Team All-American honors as a junior and senior and was selected for honorable mention honors as a sophomore. Woolford served as the squad's top short stick defensive midfielder last season, and his on-field leadership will be sorely missed.

While these losses were large, the Saints will return seven All-Conference players and four All-Americans from the 2003 squad. Nick DeLonga, Nolan Heavenor, Nick Kobakof, Clint Pitts, Jason Randolph, Bobby Woody, and David Wooster all earned All-Conference honors for their performance in 2003. DeLonga, Heavenor, Pitts, and Randolph were also selected as USILA All-Americans. The Saints have also brought in an outstanding recruiting class including prep-school standouts Cory Dion, Matt O'Neil, and Brett Wanner as well as junior college transfer Josh Waite. Dion was a standout athlete in lacrosse and football at Kimball Union Academy in Meredin, New Hampshire. He was a two-time 1st-Team NNELL All-Star and three-time Lake Region All-Star selection in lacrosse as well as an All-New England selection in football. O'Neil was an All-State performer in Michigan. Wanner was a two-time All-State selection in Ohio. He was named the Ohio Player of the Year as well as a High School All-American for his performance that led Dublin Scioto to the State Championship. Waite is a junior transfer student out of Herkimer County Junior College. He earned 1st-Team All-American honors at Herkimer County while leading his team to the Junior College National Championship in 2003.

The Saints will feature an attack unit that really began to mesh during the fall season and has the potential to once again be one of the top offensive units in Division II. The unit will be led by Jason Randolph, David Wooster, and John Navarro. Randolph, a senior from Arnold, MD, was an honorable mention All-American and 1st-Team All-Conference selection last season. He is an excellent shooter who has developed into a solid dodger and feeder as well. He will be the leader of the Saints offensive unit and is a strong candidate for Attackman of the Year in Division II. Wooster, a sophomore from Annapolis, MD, earned 2nd-Team All-Conference honors in his first collegiate season. He has the ability to finish on the inside and score from outside. Navarro, a senior from Crofton, MD, possesses an excellent knowledge of the game. He has an uncanny ability to get open inside and possesses great stick work. He made great strides this fall both on the field and in the weight room and will be stronger and even more effective in 2004.

Head Coach T.W. Johnson feels that the Saints midfield is perhaps the deepest and most athletic unit he has seen in his tenure at Limestone. Junior Nolan Heavenor will be a leader in the midfield. Heavenor was an honorable mention All-American and 1st-Team All-Conference player in 2003. He has the ability to face-off and plays a very high speed game. His tremendous work ethic helped him to a great fall season in which he played perhaps the best lacrosse of his career. Junior Bobby Woody, a 2nd-Team All-Conference selection last year, will look to become a greater scoring threat this season. He is an excellent shooter with a very high shot percentage and has made great strides in improving his scoring ability this fall. Senior, Chris Barrett will play a large roll in the Saints' face-off unit. This fall his intensity set the tone for each practice and his work ethic has made him a leader on the field. Junior, Jesse Buppert was still recovering from a torn ACL last season. He worked hard over the off-season and has returned stronger than he has ever been. He is a good shooter on the run and has greatly improved his dodging ability. Josh Waite is one of the fastest athletes on the squad. The junior midfielder can handle the stick and will provide added depth in face-offs. Brad Patridge may have the quickest lateral movement on the team which makes him a great dodger. This fall he has shown improved stick handling and shooting ability. Junior, Kyle Zentz had back surgery over the summer and has returned stronger than he was in 2003. Brett Wanner, Chris Wolf, and Seamus Rhodes will also compete for time at midfield. Nick DeLonga and Harley Beekman will carry most of the face-off load. DeLonga is a two-time All-American and should once again be one of the best in Division II in face-off situations.

Defensively the Saints will be led by two seniors, Nick Kobakof and Clint Pitts. Kobakof is a two-time All-Conference selection who possesses excellent stick handling ability and a tremendous understanding of opposing offenses. Nick has returned for his senior campaign in the best shape of his life and should have a strong year. Pitts was a 2nd-Team All-American in 2003 and could emerge as a candidate for NCAA Division II Defenseman of the Year in 2004. A physical and aggressive player, Pitts is a great one-on-one defender and one of the best pure athletes on the Saints' squad. Sophomore, Sean McQuin will also be a key defender for the Saints. A year of experience at the collegiate level greatly improved every facet of Sean's game. After a solid freshman campaign, look for McQuin to have a breakout year. Freshman, Cory Dion could be a pleasant surprise for the Saints in 2004. An outstanding athlete, Dion has adjusted well to the college game during the fall and should have an immediate impact as a freshman.

At long stick the Saints are led by two young but very talented athletes. Travis Bitter started for the Saints as a freshman in 2003 and is one of the most skilled stick handling long sticks in Division II lacrosse. He has the ability to be a takeaway player and an offensive threat in transition. Red-shirt freshman, Mike Freudiger will provide depth and talent at the long stick position as well. Freudiger is a very hard worker who is always around the ball. His work ethic, energy, and intensity make him a great asset for the Saints.

In goal the Saints will miss the play and leadership of four-year starter and 2003 Deep South Player of the Year, Matt Malloy. Fortunately the Saints have plenty of talent to fill the void. Freshman, Marty Ward is a great communicator in goal. Red-shirt freshman, Charlie Gray is a pure stopper with extremely quick hands. Sophomore, Ryan Demorest communicates well and has a solid outlet, and junior, Ben Crosser has returned healthy this fall after an injury plagued career. These athletes are all extremely talented and will give the Saints great depth in goal for several years to come.

Limestone Men's Lacrosse has been ranked in the top-ten nationally for 11 straight years and 2004 should be no different. This season the Saints will look to continue their dominance by winning a sixth consecutive Deep South Conference Championship and earning a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA playoffs and the national finals. The team is loaded with talented athletes and is anxious to improve on a tremendous 2003 season.