PV Tigers Look to Replace Top Scorers

PUTNAM VALLEY—The Putnam Valley High boys lacrosse team has made a habit of being one of the last two teams standing when the time comes to battle for the Section 1 Class C crown.

Brendan McCrudden SKIP PEARLMAN The Tigers have been in the finals five of the last six years, winning sectional titles twice, with the most recent coming last spring. But last season’s quest for an elusive state title came to an end when PV fell to Long Island power Manhasset in the state semifinals, closing the spring at 15-5.

This year’s team will be looking to replace scoring lost to graduation – and plenty of it. The Tigers lost All-American midfielder Jim van de Veerdonk, All-Section attacker Dillon Chesnut, and All-Section midfielder Billy Ries.

“We lost a lot of offense - 150 goals, to graduation,” 10th-year coach Brian Kuczma said. “That’s something we need to replace. This year our brand of lacrosse will be more of a vanillatype game… but sound, well-played lacrosse. We’ll rely on our defense a lot. Our entire defense is returning – so we’ll ride them through the season.”

Putnam Valley does return a talented group of starters from last year’s state semifinalist, including last season’s No. 1 scorer, All-Section attackman Ryan Fitzgerald, a team captain. Senior defenseman John McLean also returns and is another team captain, senior Kris Castro is back on the defensive end, and senior keeper Brendan McCrudden is back for what many expect to be a standout season in net. Junior midfielder Logan Bagarozy is the lone returning starter at midfield.

Also returning from last year’s team are seniors Dan O’Gorman (captain, M), Shane Kelly (M), Jake Flegar (D) and Evan Kneuer (A), and junior Kevin Christopher (M).

New players who figure to be heard from include freshman attacker Johnny van de Veerdonk, sophomores Steve Gair (M) and Rob Pasquale (M) and junior John Warden (M).

The Tigers’ attack will feature Fitzgerald – who will no doubt draw the opponent’s best defender. That means the team needs production from van de Veerdonk and Kneuer. Kuczma believes they will provide firepower.

“Ryan brings a ton of experience,” the coach said. “Then we have a lot of youth and inexperience. Ryan will draw the best defender, and hopefully the other two can take advantage. And I think they should benefit from the strength of our midfield.”

With Kelly, Christopher and O’Gorman – all with experience - anchoring that midfield, the Tigers appear strong.

“They are our most experienced midfielders,” Kuczma said of the trio. They’ll move up the ranks, and we expect them to produce. They’ll play offense and defense. We’ll keep them on the field as much as we can.”

The defensive end is where the Tigers believe they are strongest, with McLean, Bagarozy, Flegar and Castro, and McCrudden between the pipes.

“McLean is the most experienced of the group,” Kuczma said. “Logan, Jake, and Castro are all excellent defenders. And Brendan had an excellent year last year. I believe this is the strength of the team… it’s a pretty talented group.”

The Tigers play in a league with Hen Hud, Ossining, Kennedy, Haldane, North Salem and Croton-Harmon, but the big prize in lacrosse is the sectional title.

“Winning the section is always in our mind as a goal,” Kuczma said. “But we just want to get better with each game. If we can continue to improve, good things will happen. The kids believe that… they saw it last year.”

Putnam Valley was scheduled to open the season Tuesday, hosting Suffern at 4:30pm.