ARIZONA YOUTH LACROSSE LEAGUE DIVISION II

The Team to Beat: Tucson Catalina Foothills

With nine returning starters, the Falcons look to have a leg up on the rest of Division II. Catalina Foothills graduated just one senior off last year’s team and made a big splash in December with a string of surprising victories over some Division I competition at a preseason tournament.

The Falcons did lose their coach when Mickey-Miles Felton returned to the University of Arizona, but they appear to be in good hands under new co-head coaches Jeff Pfeifer and Matt Hourigan, who inherit a fundamentally-sound team that brings back its entire starting attack and first-line midfield.

Junior attackman Ian Brewer, senior attackman Keenan Anderson, sophomore middie Charlie Yarrington, junior middie Adam DeLuca, junior defenseman Thomas Hanson and junior middie Maverick Tadusco will lead this group.

Contenders: Phoenix Country Day, Notre Dame Prep, Glendale

PCDS returns 19 varsity players and graduated just three seniors off last season’s Division II semifinalist team. The Eagles also got a boost when their coach, Vince Perez-Mazzola, decided in early December that he would return to the sideline. Senior defenseman Michael Perry, senior attackman Kevin Crain and senior middie Douglas De La O are expected to lead the Eagles to, at the very least, another semifinal appearance.

Notre Dame Prep graduated 10 seniors, including its top three point producers, off last year’s semifinalist squad. But the Saints are strong in numbers and have built a tradition recently of being one of the top teams in Division II. Junior middie Benjamin Gassmann is Notre Dame Prep’s top returning offensive threat.

Glendale may be a first-year varsity team, but all signs point to the Vipers being a legitimate state-title contender. Glendale went 7-3 at the JV level last season and brings back all its important players. The Vipers are still young, however, with just one senior on the roster. Junior attackman Zach Johnson was Glendale’s top scorer in 2009.

Sleeper: Pinnacle

The Pinnacle program has been plagued with injuries over the last two seasons. However, the long-term result of having so many reserves in the lineup is this team now has an unprecedented amount of depth. Senior defenseman Connor Young, senior attackman Colby Carrillo and junior attackman Taylor Dye lead a squad that could have a breakthrough year.

Top Players: Keenan Anderson, Att., Tucson Catalina Foothills; Ian Brewer, Att., Tucson Catalina Foothills; Colby Carrillo, Att., Pinnacle; Hugo Casey, MF, Glendale; Kevin Crain, Att., Phoenix Country Day; Douglas De La O, MF, Phoenix Country Day; Adam DuLuca, MF, Tucson Catalina Foothills; Taylor Dye, Att., Pinnacle; Benjamin Gassmann, MF, Notre Dame Prep; Chris Gin, MF, Oro Valley; Zach Johnson, Att., Glendale; Shaun Koenig, MF, Oro Valley; Zach Olsen, Att., Boulder Creek; Tyler Perkinson, Def., Glendale; Michael Perry, Def., Phoenix Country Day; Maverick Tadusco, MF, Tucson Catalina Foothills; Charlie Yarrington, MF, Tucson Catalina Foothills; Connor Young, Def., Pinnacle.

Preseason Top 10: 1. Tucson Catalina Foothills, 2. Phoenix Country Day, 3. Notre Dame Prep, 4. Glendale, 5. Pinnacle, 6. Gilbert, 7. Oro Valley, 8. Estrella, 9. Boulder Creek, 10. Flagstaff.

Notes: Division II is slated to have 10 teams once again this season. Although Tucson Salpointe, Horizon and the Mesa Heat were all promoted to Division I, three new programs have come in to replace the outgoing trifecta. Glendale, Boulder Creek and Flagstaff will all field varsity programs for the first time in 2010....Dan Booth has been named the first varsity head coach at Boulder Creek....Look for Oro Valley to continue its gradual improvement after it graduated just two seniors. Oro Valley anticipates having eight starters back in the lineup.