The 2006 United States Merchant Marine Academy Lacrosse Mariners will look to build upon last seasons Knickerbocker Conference semifinal berth and 4-2 league mark. Sixteenth year head coach Tom Gill returns a young vibrant team of 21 from last season's roster, in addition to 10 newcomers.

USMMA returns most of its offensive firepower to the squad with the exception of Matt McCarthy '05, who finished third on the team with a total of 29 points coming via 19 goals and 10 assists. All eyes will be on junior attackman Sean Dougherty, who enters the campaign as one of the most prolific scorers in program history. Dougherty, who earned Second-Team All-Knickerbocker honors and was 10th in the country in scoring, recorded a team-best 49 points on 41 goals and eight assists. He enters the season with a two-year career total of 75 goals and 15 assists for 90 points. In 2005, the Elliot City, Maryland native was ranked nationally as the 10th best scorer in the NCAA.

The Mariners also return junior attackman Jim Flannery, who was second on the squad in scoring with 36 points via 22 goals and 14 assists. Coach Gill will also look for returning sophomore Ian Callery and senior Tony McDonald for offense. The duo combined for 30 points in 2005. Other players who will aid to the attack include senior Jimmy Braudt, sophomore Matthew Keeley, and talented freshmen Brennan Dougherty and Robert De Pol.

In the midfield, senior co-captain Tony McDonald will likely see most of the face-offs this season. In 2005 the Weymouth, Massachusetts native was second on the team in face offs won and fourth in blocks. Others to man the midfield include senior Frank Toner and Brendan Myers, juniors Bryan Gray and Tony Buleza, sophomore Matt Scott, Kurt Mast and Jonathan Odell, and freshmen Kevin Miernicki.

Gill will look to his leaders to man the last line of defense. Sophomore Michael Maginnis was among the three USMMA Second-Team All-Knickerbocker members to return to the unit in '06. Seniors Mike Citarelli (co-captain) and Zachary Brown will be looked to for leadership and toughness in front of the net, while juniors Lyle Armacost, Erik Anderson and Jim Clarkeson, sophomore Tom Shannon and Ryan Merritt and freshmen Matthew Falks, Michael Condron and Daniel Schanno will add depth to the position.

Returning to goal is Second-Team All-Knickerbocker member Jon Pagano, who stood strong in the net for the Mariners in 2005. The West Islip, New York native recorded 154 saves while succumbing to 121 goals allowed in 683 minutes. Pagano will look to improve upon last year's .560 save percentage, while lowering his 10.63 goals against average.

Serving as backups in goal will be junior Scott Hughes, sophomore Robert Boyd and Brian McCarthy and freshman Timothy McGovern.

The Mariners will compete in 15 regular season contests during the 2006 campaign, including a trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado to engage in battle with Colorado and Whittier Colleges on March 11 and 12.

A confident bunch of United States Merchant Marine Academy Baseball Mariners enter the 2006 campaign under the motto "One Heartbeat" looking to improve on last season's 14-19 bid and 12-10 ledger in Skyline Conference play. Despite missing out on a chance to participate in the post-season by a single game, Kings Point was one of the nation's most improved teams, earning 12 more victories than the season prior.

Under fifth year head coach Lieutenant Commander Dennis Gagnon, the 2006 Mariners look to jump-start the year in the opening series with a sweep of archrival the United States Coast Guard Academy for a three-game stint in Hollywood, Florida. After four more outings, the Mariners return home for four non-conference affairs against the City College of New York (CCNY), John Jay and a double-header versus New Jersey City.

Returning to the unit includes 2005 Co-Rookie of the Year and Second-Team All-Star in sophomore right fielder Davey May. The Lutz, Florida native had an outstanding rookie campaign for the Mariners with a .330 batting average, .540 slugging percentage and .419 on-base percentage. May totaled 33 hits, 29 runs, 27 RBI and three home runs in 31 games played.

His counterparts in the outfield will include senior left fielder Adam Vanden Boogard and senior center fielder Ross Coviello. The coaching staff expects Vanden Boogard to step it up offensively. In 12 games played last season, the Longmont, Colorado native recorded five hits in 35 at bats. Meanwhile, Coviello, who was limited to just 13 games due to injury, batted .357 via going 15-of-42 at the plate with six runs and five RBI.

The infield will feature senior shortstop Alex DePalo and sophomore second baseman Robert Tenenholz, while the remaining infielders will fight for the vacant positions of first and third base. Sophomore Lauren McCollum, Patrick Boyle and freshman David Dorfman will vie for playing time at the corners.

Sophomore catcher J.B. Zorn will manage the game from behind the plate. The Davidsonville, Maryland native stood strong defensively with 64 putouts and six assists in just 12 games played on the season. Serving as backups and fighting for playing time include sophomore Dylan Tumblin and freshmen Thomas Peyton and Eric Anderson.

On the mound, the Mariners will feature a pitching staff that is deep and talented. The projected starters for Kings Point are senior Kellan Lancaster, juniors Nick Oliva and Justin Backus and freshman Alex Smith. Seniors Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Krohn and sophomore L.J. Fiorvanti will all be pivotal to the Mariner rotation depending on their recovery from various ailments from the 2005 campaign. Hoffman and Fiorvanti are expected to make their way back into the starting rotation, while the flame-throwing Krohn is slated to finish games as the team's closer, but will also see action as a starter.

Sophomore Nick Geier and freshman John Suesli, Timothy Scott and Dorfman are expected to provide middle relief over the course of the year. USMMA will look to lower its 6.79 earned run average in 2006.

"Backus, Oliva, Khron and Kellen, Lancaster will be the starters opening the year. We look to get Firovante and Hoffman into the starting rotation as well," remarked Gagnon. "We're looking at 10 pitchers to be used on the weekend and the freshman will see most of their action in non-conference contests to build them up for later in the season."

USMMA will commence conference play on March 25 at Mt. St. Mary's. The Mariners will host Skyline opponents Old Westbury, Maritime, Centenary (NJ) and Mt. St. Vincent, while traveling to Manhattanville, Farmingdale State, and Stevens Tech.

The Blue & Gray hopes to make an appearance in the Skyline Conference Tournament starting on May 5.