Mahopac Boys Lacrosse

MAHOPAC - Last year's Mahopac High lacrosse team rebounded from a dismal season the year before, and now coaches Mike and Dave Haddeland are hoping the Indians can kick it up another notch and get back to the finals - and hopefully walk off with the Class A crown.

Mahopac's Tyler Perrelle But it won't be easy. Mahopac would have to knock off perennial sectional titlist Yorktown, and this will be a tough year for any Section 1 team to pull off that feat since Yorktown is loaded - even for Yorktown.

Here's a look at this year's squad.

TEAM - Mahopac Indians boys lacrosse

COACH - Mike and Dave Haddeland, second season

LAST YEAR'S RECORD/FINISH - 12-9, lost to sectional champ Yorktown in the Class A semifinals

WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS TEAM? - The easy answer is the Mahopac attack, led by Tyler Perrelle and John Brandofino, two Empire State Games players, along with the dangerous Okie Bernabo. The Indians also have starting keeper John McGuigan back, and the coaches are thrilled to have former Head Coach Joe Corace returning to the boys team as Defensive Coordinator. "Our starting attack all return, so that's huge," Dave Haddeland said. "Hopefully they'll be our staple on offense. Our keeper also returns, and we have some new impact-type players I'm excited about. Defensively, Joe Corace, around here, is like the Godfather of lacrosse. He knows his X's and O's, and Mike and I both played for him on the 1996 state championship team. He can really help us."

RETURNING VETERANS - Tyler Perrelle (senior attack, headed for Binghamton on scholarship, two-time All-Section, led Mahopac in points and goals last year), Brendan Synan (senior, D, team captain), John Brandofino (junior, A), Okie Bernabo (junior, A), John McGuigan (junior, GL), Kevin Knudson (senior, D), Jake Armstrong (senior, D), Billy Carey (senior, M)

KEY NEWCOMERS - Chase Thompson (junior, M), TJ Foley (sophomore, M), Taylor Hamilton (sophomore, M), John Bota (sophomore, A), Joe Gordano (junior, M)

OUTLOOK - "Our attack is the strength of our team," Dave Haddeland said. "They're our breadwinners. We'll depend on them to put the ball in the net. They're all very solid, and it will be hard for teams to match up with three solid attackmen. Our midfield is a young group, but they'll get better every game. They are inexperienced, and we may have some growing pains. And our defense has been getting progressively better... the defense may need a little time to gel, defense is all about communication. But it looks like