Thiel looks for leadership from attackmen

Editor's note: This is the first of a three-part series previewing the men's lacrosse team. Today's article highlights the attack position.

As the Penn State men's lacrosse team enters its second game of its toughest schedule ever Friday against Villanova, there is little question as to who will be expected to lead the team to the promise land this season.

Senior captain and attacker Greg Jackson and junior attacker Chris Killoren once again will lead the way for the Nittany Lions. Jackson has scored 82 goals in his career and needs just 20 more to become Penn State's all-time leading scorer. Last season he tallied 23 goals for the 10-3 Lions.

Killoren also will be expected to continue his offensive contribution. Last season he logged 21 goals and 13 assists.

The final attack space in Penn State's starting rotation will be filled by John Chescavage. Last season Chescavage had 13 goals and three assists.

"Obviously, we're going to be an attack-dominated team with Jackson, Killoren and Chescavage," Penn State coach Glenn Thiel said. "I'm going to expect a lot as far as initiating offense. I think some can be initiated by our middies, but most of it will be by our attackers."

The fourth player on the Penn State attack depth chart probably will be freshman Don Mayerhofer of Kellenberg High School in Rockville Center, N.Y. After a strong fall season and an early spring season, Mayerhofer is poised to make an impact.

"He's kind of inexperienced and maybe a little tentative right now," Chescavage said of the freshman, "but he's got skill."

Behind Mayerhofer, juniors Mike Abell and Ryan Haggerty and freshman Wes Furchner will round out the very deep attack position. Abell appeared in 10 games last season and tallied three goals on eight shots. Haggerty appeared in two games with a goal, and Furchner was a member of the Abington High School team.

Despite limited minutes, Haggerty said everyone understands his position on the team.

"We're pretty talented the whole way down," he said. "Everybody has a role. For example, when I get in there I like to add energy, but I'm not a guy who'll be looked to put up big numbers."

In Friday's 9-5 loss to Notre Dame, no one put up big numbers as Penn State was held scoreless in the second half.

The Lions will look to rebound from the loss against Villanova at 4 p.m. Friday in Holuba Hall. It will be the first chance for the attackers to prove Friday's anemic effort was just a fluke.

"I think we'll rebound well," Chescavage said. "I think we'll come out and take it to them."