Saints face familiar foe

Limestone will meet top-ranked LeMoyne in a national semifinal game on Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y. The Limestone men's lacrosse team returns Saturday to the scene of one of their finest triumphs Syracuse, N.Y., the home of No. 1ranked LeMoyne.

A year ago, the Saints topped heavily-favored LeMoyne to advance to their sixth straight national championship game. The teams will do battle in the same high-stakes game on Saturday.

"LeMoyne is very good," said Saints interim head coach Chris Phenicie, who replaced fired head coach Chris Hasbrouck three weeks ago. "They are a very deliberate team but they will push the ball when the opportunity is there."

Phenicie said LeMoyne is stocked with AllAmericans at every position.

Travis Tarr, who made his debut against the Saints, was recently selected as the Defenseman of the Year.

LeMoyne is just as formidable in goal with AllAmerica goalkeeper Jared Cocoran.

The Saints are familiar with LeMoyne's leading scorer, Jason Longo, who is a former Saint.

Mike McDonald is another potent scorer.

The Saints are coming off a loss to Mercyhurst, which will play Dowling in the other national semifinal. In that game, Phenicie said the Saints committed too many mental mistakes.

"If we make the same mental mistakes we did against Mercyhurst, we'll be in trouble," the Limestone coach said. "We have to be able to possess the ball and stay away from penalties."

The Saints have one advantage everybody expects LeMoyne to advance to the national finals.

"I don't think there is any pressure on us," Phenicie said. "People have already given LeMoyne the national championship trophy."

If the Saints succeed in spoiling LeMoyne's celebration plans, Saint goalkeeper Marty Ward, who will be playing in front of family and friends, must come up huge. Ward had an outstanding game last year against LeMoyne.

"We need Marty to have a great game," Phenicie said.

Harley Beekman must also win his share of face-offs.

"Harley needs to win the face-offs, so we can keep possession," the Limestone coach said.

"We have the game plan. Now we just have to go out there and make plays," Phenicie added. "We have to play above ourselves."