Laxers challenge Knights with Killoren coaching, not playing

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

Jack Emmer can sleep a little easier.

When the Army coach's squad faces off against the Penn State men's lacrosse team at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow on Jeffrey Field, he no longer has to worry about the nightmare he knew as Chris Killoren.

In his match against Army last year, Killoren haunted the Black Knights, rattling off six goals in a 19-11 victory for the Nittany Lions. But that was last year.

Killoren has hung up his cleats and jersey, trading them in for a golf shirt and khakis. It is part of his new role as a restricted earnings coach for the Lions.

Perhaps no one is happier than Emmer.

"Anytime a guy gets six goals against you and graduates, you're happy," he said.

But the Lions are just as happy to have Killoren. Particularly his former fellow attacker and linemate, John Chescavage.

"I love (having him here)," he said. "I generally talk to him more than any of the other coaches. We both know each other so well. We both know how to run this offense."

Killoren did a pretty good job running it himself when he donned the pads. Last season, he notched 23 goals and dished out nine assists, placing him second in team scoring. For his efforts, Killoren was rewarded with the George Pittinger Award as the Lions' most valuable senior.

As a junior, he did even better. Then he notched 23 goals and assisted on 18 others for 41 points. And in 13 games as a sophomore, he tallied 21 goals and helped out on 13 more.

But Killoren cannot add those numbers any longer. Just when his team needs him most.

The No. 9 Lions (4-2) are coming off a 20-10 loss at the hands of No. 7 Georgetown (5-1) Wednesday in Washington. Needless to say, Penn State will try to get back on track against Army as it hopes to end the three-year jinx of being one win away from the playoffs.

"They flat out didn't put it together," Lions assistant coach Rick Young said of the team's game against the Hoyas. "They are better than that. When you know you don't play your best game and get beat up, bad things happen. It's frustrating."

The Lions' counterpart, on the other hand, No. 16 Army (5-1) is coming off four straight wins. It rattled off victories against Dartmouth, Holy Cross, Bucknell and Hobart.

"They are West Point kids," Emmer said. "They are taught to win wars, and a lacrosse game is a small part of that."

Furthermore, the Knights are led by Charlie and Tim Pearson, a brother tandem that has combined for 25 goals in six games.

Family relations also come into play across battle lines as the Army defense boasts the play of Ken Driscoll, while the Lions benefit from freshman phenom Will Driscoll. They are brothers.

Finally, history is on the side of the Knights. In 31 competitions with Penn State, Army has won 29 games.

"That doesn't mean a thing, that's ancient history," Emmer said. "We've got a lot of respect for Penn State. We're going to have to play our 'A' game."