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Paul Cantabene
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Record at Stevenson: 79-27 (.745), 6
years
Overall Record: 79-27 (.745), 6 years
Regarded as one of the greatest players and hardest workers in the game's history, Paul Cantabene returns for his sixth season as the head men's lacrosse coach at Stevenson in 2011. Using the same work ethic and ability that made him one of the greatest face-off specialists of all-time, he has bulit Stevenson into one of the elite programs in Division III.
The program's winningest coach in both wins and percentage, Cantabene has led the Mustangs to a school record for wins in each of his six seasons while winning at least 10 games the last five.
During that time, the Mustangs have appeared in five conference championship games, made two appearances in the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship, won its first conference title in 2010 and an ECAC championship in 2006.
Stevenson has also ranked in the top 20 nationally the last four consecutive seasons, finishing at No. 1 the last two.
A year ago, the Mustangs finished at No. 1 in the final USILA poll and won a school-record 19 games, its first conference championship with a 10-6 victory over Salisbury on the road, ending the Sea Gulls' 15-year reign, while advancing to the national semifinals for the second-straight season.
The team boasted a nation-best eight All-America selections while Steve Kazimer was named Division III Attackman of the Year for the second time in as many seasons. Stevenson also had eight players named All-CAC, including a league-best six on the first team.
In 2009, Cantabene was named College Coach of the Year by the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association after leading the Mutangs to a 17-2 record, its first-ever NCAA appearance and a No. 1 ranking in the final USILA Division III poll. They also won a school-record 14 consecutive games and went 7-2 against teams in the top 20 with wins over Gettysburg, Lynchburg, Salisbury, Denison and Cabrini.
A total of six Mustangs were named All-America, including Kazimer who was the nation's top attackman, while eight were chosen All-CAC and three were selected to the USILA North-South All-Star Game.
Lacrosse Magazine tabbed Stevenson as its Breakthrough of the Year while Inside Lacrosse selected the team as its No. 6 Moment of 2009 after the team snapped Salisbury's 105-game CAC unbeaten streak with a 12-8 road win on April 4.
In 2008, Stevenson posted 13 wins, going 13-4 and being ranked as high as No. 8 in Division III. The team finished the year ranked 10th and received the program's first three All-America selections.
Stevenson spent most of 2007 ranked in the top 20, getting as high as as No. 11 en route to an 11-5 record. The team started the season with a 10-9 victory at home over No. 3 and defending national champion Cortland State who went on to lose in the national championship game to Salisbury at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Mustangs also finished the year 7-1 in their first season in the CAC, advancing to the semifinals of the conference championship, and had five players named All-CAC.
In just his second season, Cantabene led Stevenson to the ECAC Metro/South championship with a 10-8 record after wins over Kean and Montclair State in 2006. The team also advanced to the championship game of the Colonial States Athletic Conference tournament.
The Mustangs finished with a 9-6 record overall and a mark of 4-2 in the PAC during Cantabene's first season in 2005.
A long-time assistant coach at the Division I level, Cantabene spent nine combined seasons at Maryland, Towson and Johns Hopkins before coming to Stevenson. During his two seasons at College Park in 2003 and 2004, he served as an assistant under Dave Cottle for whom he played for at Loyola.
In 2003, Cantabene helped the Terps' offense to one of their most successful seasons en route to a 12-4 record and an appearance in the NCAA semifinals. Maryland ranked ninth in Division I in scoring offense and three of Cantabene's players, Mike Mollot, Ryan Moran and Joe Walters were named All-Americans. Walters was also the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year.
Before Maryland, Cantabene spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Towson from 1999-2002 under head coach Tony Seaman under whom he worked for at Johns Hopkins from 1996-98.
Cantabene was a key component in the Tigers' revival which saw them reach the 2001 NCAA semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Princeton. Towson finished with a 14-4 record and the highest scoring offense in the nation.
While at Towson, Cantabene coached five All-Americans, including Spencer Ford who was a 1999 honorable mention selection after leading the nation in assists per game and ranking second in points per game. Kevin Sturm also led the nation in goals per game.
Prior to Towson, Cantabene served as the midfield coach at John Hopkins where he helped the Blue Jays to a 41-15 record and three consecutive berths in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship, inlcuding a semifinal appearance in 1998. He worked with six All-Americans in three seasons, inlcuding three-time honorees A.J. Haugen and Brian Carcaterra.
Ironically, Cantabene began his coaching career in Owings Mills at The McDonogh School where he spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator in 1994 and 1995, highlighted by a victory over Gilman, the No. 1-ranked team in the MIAA in 1995.
A 1993 graduate of Loyola (Md.) with a bachelor of arts degree in communications and advertising, Cantabene was a second team All-America selection at midfield as a senior. He was also named team MVP and selected to the North-South All-Star Game in 2003 after leading the Greyhounds to the NCAA quarterfinals, the last of four consecutive NCAA championship appearances.
In 1990, Cantabene was a freshman for the Greyhounds who went 11-4 and lost to Syracuse in the national championship game.
Cantabene's legend as a player began following his graduation from Loyola when he embarked on what was a 13-year professional career on the indoor, outdoor and club level.
In the indoor game, Cantabene played 11 seasons in the National Lacrosse League from 1994-2004 with the Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh Crossefire, Washington Power and Philadelphia Wings. He finished his career with a 55.8 face-off percentage, winning 982-of-1759 in regular-season play while recording 859 loose balls, 107 goals, 184 assists and 291 points in 114 games.
A three-time NLL All-Star and 1999 All-Star Game MVP, Cantabene is still ranked fourth in faceoffs won. He was also selected as the Thunder's team MVP and Rookie of the Year.
Cantabene began his outdoor career in Major League Lacrosse when he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2001 MLL Inaugural Draft by the Baltimore Bayhawks. In six seasons with the Bayhawks and Philadelphia Barrage from 2001-06, he played in five championships, winning three in 2002, 2004 and 2005. In addition, he was a five-time All-Star, two-time All-MLL selection and recipient of the SoBe Iron Lizard award in 2002.
Cantabene led the MLL in face-offs won and percentage in 2004 and 2005 and still holds the league's career records with 1,015 face-off wins and 538 ground balls. He also is the single-season record holder in face-off percentage at .633 and ground balls at 156, both accomplished in 2004. Only five players have totaled 100 ground balls in a season and his record is 51 more than second place on the single-season list.
In addition, Cantabene also holds the MLL record for ground balls in a game with 23 and the postseason marks for ground balls in a game (16) and face-offs won in a game (27).
In its August 2008 issue, Lacrosse Magazine named Cantabene as one of the top 10 players in the history of the MLL. Noah Sharfman of majorleaguelacrosse.com said of Cantabene in an article on June 13, 2008, "Although winning a championship is a reflection of an entire team and not just its face-off specialist, the numbers prove that Cantabene was able to elevate his team to a higher level. In the debate of who is the MLL's all-time best FOGO, there is a clear winner ... because Paul Cantabene, with his three championships, is the MLL's undisputed, all-time greatest face-off specialist."
As a club player, Cantabene played six years for Mt. Washington Lacrosse Club from 1995-2000. He was a six-time All-South First Team selection and a two-time second team honoree. He also played for the Maryland Lacrosse Club in 1994, earning his first, first-team all-club selection.
In 2000, Cantabene was named the 2000 Southern Division Player of the Year by the United States Club Lacrosse Association (USCLA). That year, he was also chosen first-team all-club at midfield after leading the league in face-offs and ranking third with 20 goals.
Cantabene was inducted in the Rochester Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003. He is the owner of Old School Lacrosse Camps (www.oldschoollacrosse.com) as well as the Baltimore Hawks Lacrosse Club. After serving as an alternate in 2006, Cantabene is an assistant coach on the U.S. National Team while also serving as a member of the Division III All-American Committee and chair person for the U.S. Lacrosse National Convention speaker process.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Cantabene is married to the former Tracey Whetstone and the couple currently resides in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania with their two children, daughter Lilly, and son, Curry.
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Tim Puls
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One of the greatest coaches in the history of the NJCAA, Puls begins his seventh season as an assistant coach at Stevenson in 2011 as the team's defensive coordinator.
After a record-setting season in 2009 in which the Mustangs won 17 games, advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship and finished the year ranked at No. 1 in the final USILA poll, Puls was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Puls coordinated one of the nation's top defensive units in 2009 as the team finished the year ranked 10th out of 151 teams in Division III in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of just 6.89 goals per game. In addition, Two of Puls' defenders, Mike Simon and Evan Douglass received All-CAC honors. Simon was also selected as a second team All-American.
The Mustangs have ranked in the top one-third of Division III in scoring defense in four out of the last five years since Puls' arrival in 2005 and, in 2008, they ranked 10th in the nation in man-down defense, holding the opposition without a goal nearly 86 percent of the time.
Prior to Stevenson, Puls made his mark as a highly successful coach at CCBC Essex where he spent 22 seasons from 1983-2003. He won over 71 percent of his games, totaling a 213-90 career record while winning 15 Maryland Junior College Championships, 14 Region XX titles and the 1991 NJCAA national championship, becoming the first Maryland junior college to ever win the NJCAA title.
The Knights advanced to the NJCAA semifinals 14 times and finished as the runner-up on six ocassions.
Puls was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1995 and Maryland Junior College Coach of the Year 15 times, including eight-straight from 1988-95. He was named the McDonald's Challenge Cup Coach of the Year in 1983, a finalist for a coaching position on the U.S. National Team in 2002 and head coach of the NJCAA Region XX and NJCAA South All-Star teams.
A member of the U.S. Lacrosse Century Club for reaching 200 career wins, Puls has had 71 players named as an NJCAA All-American and three selected NJCAA Player of the Year while 10 former players have played professionally in the National Lacrosse League or Major League Lacrosse.
Puls has had 30 players selected as a scholar All-American and five who were named recipients of the James A. Newpher Award which recognizes outstanding academic and athletic achievement at CCBC Essex.
Off the field, Puls has served as president and publicity director of the NJCAA Lacrosse Coaches Association, director of the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1988, 1997 and 1998, chairman of the NJCAA All-America Selection Format Committee and member of the NJCAA National Tournament Format Committee.
In addition to his efforts with the NJCAA, Puls has also been a contributing writer for Lacrosse Magazine, a panelist for the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Coaches Association annual meetings and as as chief scout of the MLL's Baltimore Bayhawks in 2004 and 2005.
Puls currently resides in Ellicott City with his wife Cassie. The couple are the proud parents of three children, Tim, Meghan and Travis. Travis just completed his first season at Division III Virginia Wesleyan where he totaled 32 points, including a team-high 23 goals as a freshman in 2009.
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Kevin Slafkosky
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After four seasons as a defender on the Maryland men's lacrosse team, Slafkosky joins the Stevenson coaching staff in 2010 where he will serve as the team's recruiting coordinator and defensive assistant.
A member of the Dean's List and 2007-08 ACC Honor Roll, Slafkosky will graduate from Maryland in May 2010 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication. He appeared in 32 career games for the Terps, including 24 as a junior and senior after recovering from a broken foot in 2007. He was a member of four NCAA tournament teams, including the 2006 team that went 12-4 and advanced to the semifinals.
While at Maryland, Slafkosky worked as an intern in the media relations office. He has also served as the assistant director of the South Run Lacrosse Camp since 2004 and as a volunteer at the Brine Indian Summer Lacrosse Tournament in 2008.
Slafkosky is the son of Dave and Michelle Slafkosky and is one of four children. His father enters his 27th season as an assistant coach at Maryland in 2010 where he serves as the team's defensive coordinator while his sister Sarah played lacrosse at CAC rival Salisbury from 2001-05.
A graduate of Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Slafkosky lives in Catonsville.
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Brian Davies
Title: Assistant Coach Email: bdavies@archbishopcurley.org Phone: 443-352-4254 College: Stevenson '03 |
A standout defenseman at Stevenson from 2001-03, Davies returns for his fifth season as an assistant with the Mustangs in 2010, working with the team's attack and goalies. He also serves as the offensive coordinator of the team's junior varsity team.
In five seasons since Davies joined the coaching staff, Stevenson has been ranked among the top 30 nationally in scoring offense and scoring margin each year, including as high as fifth in scoring offense and seventh in scoring margin in 2008. The Mustangs were ranked 13th in Division III in scoring offense in 2007 and 17th in 2009. They also were 12th in scoring margin a year ago.
Also under Davies, Stevenson has posted three of the school's top five records for goals scored in a single-season while three players have earned All-America honors. The team scored a school record 416 goals in 2008 while its total of 401 in 2009 ranks second all-time and the mark of 326 in 2007 ranks fifth.
Meanwhile, Steve Kazimer, Jimmy Dailey and Richie Ford were each honored as All-Americans by the USILA with Kazimer being named Attackman of the Year in 2009.
Prior to Stevenson, Davies served as an assistant junior varsity coach in 2004 and 2005 at Baltimore's Archbishop Curley High School where he also teaches history. He has also worked Tom Gravante's Elite 150 Lacrosse Camp, Johns Hopkins Blue Jay Camp under Bill Dwan and various Fellowship of Christian Athlete camps since 2001.
In 2008, Davis founded the North County Club Lacrosse team and the Curley Summer Sports Camp.
A 2003 graduate of Stevenson with a bachelor of science degree in computers and history, Davies played three seasons for the Mustangs from 2001-03. He was a two-time All-PAC and ECAC All-South Region selection on defense after transferring from UMBC where he was a letterwinner for the Retrievers who were ranked as high as No. 11 in Division I in 2000.
As a senior in 2003, Davies served as a team captain and led a defense that ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 6.17 goals per game en route to winning the ECAC Metro/South championship. Also that year, he received the Fighting Heart Award which is given to a Stevenson student-athlete who has overcome adversity.
A graduate of Hereford High School in Parkton, Davies is currently working on a masters of liberal arts degree at Johns Hopkins. He and his wife Lauren reside in Baltimore.
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Pat Gill
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A three-year starter in goal for the Mustangs, Gill returns for his third season as an assistant coach at Stevenson in 2010 where he works as the team's goalie coach.
In three seasons as the starting goalie at Stevenson from 2001-03, Gill was a two-time team MVP and 2002 All-PAC Second Team selection who appeared in 38 games while totaling 509 career saves, a mark that ranks second in school history. He also ranks third with a 13.88 goals against average.
As a senior in 2003, Gill ranked third in Division III with a .699 saves percentage and seventh with a 6.20 goals against average, allowing just 74 goals in 12 games.
Gill came to Stevenson from the Gilman School in Baltimore where he won the MIAA "A" Conference championship as a senior in 1998. He currently plays plays for the Mt. Washington Lacrosse Club.
A 2003 graduate of Stevenson with a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies, business and psychology, Gill graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in January 2008 with a 3.652 grade point average. He was ranked 21st in his class of 271 and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi International Honors Fraternity.
Most recently, Gill served as project manager for Gill Properties, LLC after serving as a law clerk for Covahey, Boozer, Devan and Dore, P.A., in Towson, Leitess, Leitess, Friedberg and Fedder, P.C., in Owings Mills and Judge Richard Bennett of the 4th circuit of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. He also served as a Rule 16 Student Attorney at the Immigrant Rights Law Clinic at the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Gill currently resides in Ruxton.
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Bob Tarring
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An avid supporter and coach of lacrosse since 1971, Tarring
begins his 32nd season coaching college lacrosse and his second at
Stevenson. During his career, he has been a part of two national
championship teams at Division I and II, coached 42 All-Americans,
including six goalies, 15 Hall of Fame members and two ILF
Grandmasters World Championship teams.
A 1968 graduate of Virginia, Tarring began his coaching career with
the Cavaliers in 1971 under head coach Glen Theil and spent three
seasons as the assistant head coach working with the defense and
goalies. The team went 31-10 during that time and made three NCAA
tournament appearances, highlighted by its 1972 national
championship.
Tarring coached two All-Americans while in Charlottesville,
including three-time honoree Brice Mangels. He also mentored Rodney
Rullman who ranks second on the school's career saves list with
553.
In 1974, Tarring led Virginia to become the defensive coordinator
and goalies coach at Towson under head coach Carl Runk. He spent
six seasons with the Tigers from 1974-79 where they won the 1974
College Division National Championship. Towson finished with a 14-1
record and earned the title with an 18-17 overtime victory against
Hobart.
Under Tarring's tutelage, Wendell Thomas was named USILA Defenseman
of the Year and earned first team All-American in 1974 after
earning second team accolades the year before. Tarring worked with
four All-Americans at Towson, including Paul Russo, Steve Hornis
and Tom Harrison.
Tarring left Towson in 1980 to become the assistant head coach
under Richie Mead at the University of Baltimore where he spent
five seasons and helped the team to an upset of fifth-ranked
Maryland in his first year.
During his tenure at Baltimore from 1980-84, Tarring was also the
Executive Director of the U.S. Lacrosse Foundation and Hall of Fame
before serving as an administrator, television commentator and head
coach of Team USA in the Indoor Lacrosse League (now Major Indoor
Lacrosse League) from 1985-87.
After a five-year hiatus scouting and working camps and
tournaments, Tarring returned to the college game in 1992 as an
assistant coach at Goucher during the team's inaugural season,
beginning a 17-year career with the Gophers. He remained a staple
of the program under three different head coaches, helping the team
transition to the Landmark Conference in 2008 after 17 seasons in
the CAC.
Goucher totaled 117 wins, 34 All-CAC selections and eight
All-Landmark honorees during Tarring's tenure, including USILA
Honorable Mention All-American defender Chris Webber and goalie
Craig Reeves. The Gophers won a school record 13 wins in 2001 and
posted an 11-5 record in 2008 and advanced to the Landmark
championship game.
Off the field, Tarring is a board certified owner of his own
company, Tarring Orthotic & Prosthetic Services, Inc., located
in Towson.
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Greg Furshman
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The greatest face-off specialist in the 16-year history of the
Stevenson men's lacrosse program, Furshman joins the coaching staff
for his first season in 2010.
Furshman was a two-time honorable mention All-American and
three-time All-CAC selection for the Mustangs from 2006-09. He
played in a school record 68 games and won 381-of-568 career
face-offs for 67.1 percent to set new school records for face-off
wins and percentage. He also ranks second in school history with
222 ground balls, third with 96 goals and sixth with 129
points.
As a senior, Furshman won 63.6 percent of his face-offs, ranking
him fourth in school history while totaling 110 wins which is the
second-highest total all-time. He was named Inside Lacrosse/Nike
Division III Player of the Week and CAC Player of the Week honors
after totaling six points, four goals, 10 ground balls and winning
20-of-29 face-offs in wins over No. 2 Gettysburg and Ursinus.
Following his senior season, Furshman was selected to participate
in the USILA North/South Senior All-Star Game at Harvard Stadium
where he was named MVP after he leading the South squad to a 17-13
victory with three goals and two assists.
A native of Miami, Florida, Furshman attended the Kent School in
Connecticut before transferring to Stevenson from Towson
University.
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Geoff Hebert
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Steve Kazimer
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