Although the Muhlenberg men’s lacrosse team added 14 newcomers to a talented roster of returning players, perhaps its biggest offseason acquisition was confidence.

The Mules, who open up with a non-conference home game against DeSales on Thursday, set a school record for wins last year with seven, but went winless in the tough Centennial Conference for the second year in a row.

“I think we have much more confidence than we’ve ever had in the past,” said Mike Tentindo, one of four seniors who have been with the program since it regained varsity status in 2003. “We know in our hearts that we

Marsh scored eight of his nine goals in the last five games of the 2005 season; he is third among active players with 24 career goals.

can take advantage of the potential we have.”

Muhlenberg has come maddeningly close to a CC win the last two seasons. Three one-goal losses, a two-goal loss and a pair of three-goal losses have left the team hungry for a breakthrough year.

“Most of the games we’ve played in the conference, even against the better teams, we’ve played with the other team to a point,” noted Tentindo. “But we didn’t have what it takes to win those games in a conference as good as ours. Lack of depth and lack of experience leads to less confidence.”

Depth and experience should not be problems in 2006. The Mules have 37 players on their roster, including all but two of their top 14 goal-scorers from last year. The play of a solid sophomore class, which came back bigger, stronger and more dedicated, could make the difference.

Preventing goals will be of paramount importance for a team that ranked second-to-last in the CC in defense in 2005. Heading the defensive unit will be junior captain Kyle Hart, who earned All-CC honorable mention as a longstick midfielder and was fifth in the conference with 67 ground balls. Other veteran defenders include athletic junior Steven Toto, quick sophomore Carlo Morrongiello, tough junior Christian Messler and physical sophomore Luke Silverman.

The experienced defensive unit will play in front of a new starting goalie. Junior Daniel Kotch transferred to Muhlenberg from Susquehanna, where he was a two-year starter and Middle Atlantic Conference rookie of the year, and will compete with sophomore Christopher Nerney, who started four games last year, for the nod.

The Mules’ increased depth will show up in the midfield corps, which features two of the team’s top three 2005 goal-producers in junior Sean Toohill (22 goals) and sophomore Kyle Farris (17). Senior Galen Marsh came on strong near the end of last season, finishing with nine goals.

Tentindo, who picked up 35 ground balls and scored six goals last year, is expected to play a crucial role as a defensive midfielder and faceoff wing, while sophomores Tim Martin (50 faceoffs won), Tim Dwyre (33 ground balls) and Mike Brown (six goals) also will contribute in the midfield.

On attack, sophomore Mickey Norton returns to spark the offense after setting a school record with 26 assists and adding 16 goals. One of his top targets will be senior James Robinson, who scored 20 goals last year and ranks fourth on the Mules’ all-time list with 57 for his career. Junior Cliff Burwell (seven goals, 10 assists) gives the team added quickness on attack, and sophomore James Corley (seven goals) will seek to further establish himself after improving over the course of his freshman season.

Muhlenberg heads to Florida next week to face Rochester Institute of Technology – fresh off a 10-9 upset of preseason No. 9 Stevens Tech – and will put its new-found confidence to the Centennial Conference test when it opens league play at fifth-ranked Gettysburg on March 29.