Jan. 21, 2007

"No. 15 Fahy from No. 5 Lally."

It was if the Endicott College scorekeeper could jot down this ubiquitous combination four or five times before the first face-off, just to get a head start. It was a connection that will go down in the lore of the college, located in Beverly, Mass., as well as the record books. It was also one that made men's lacrosse coaches in the Commonwealth Coast Conference prone to bouts of insomnia.

Attackman Burt Fahy and middie Kevin Lally were Endicott lacrosse for the past four years. The duo helped place the Gulls on the national map with a prolific offense and three straight trips to the NCAA tournament.

Fahy was the finisher. He was third in the country in goals per game (3.53) last spring and finished his career with 198 goals, more markers than anyone in school history. Lally was the playmaker. The NCAA Division III career leader in assists with 272, he dished out 77 in '06 and finished second in the country in points per outing with 5.21.

"Over the past four years it was the Kevin and Burt show," admitted Sean Quirk, the head coach of the Gulls for the past nine seasons.

Alas, Fahy and Burt, both All-Americans last year, have moved on to the next phase of their lives. Gone, too, are their 89 goals and 100 assists from '06 alone -- nearly 40 percent of Endicott's offensive output.

Left in their wake is an offensive unit still stocked with plenty of talent, but as yet unsure of their individual roles. The weight carried by a two-man operation will now be dispersed among a traditional six-man attack. Players once accustomed to watching `The Show' when it came down to crunchtime will now find the ball in their crosse.

Not to say these players simply ran around and set screens last year -- a pair of 49-point players complemented Fahy and Lally -- but when the game was on the line, there was no question where the ball was going. That will change this year.

"We're a work in progress," said Quirk. "The thing I saw in the fall is we didn't rely on two guys. We're running more of a balanced offense."

And it may be for the better.

While it was nice to have the feeder-sniper combo when the team needed a clutch goal, it was also predictable. Burt and Lally didn't face many problems in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, however, they were subjected to multiple shutdown long poles in games against some of the better teams in the region during the regular season and tournament, putting a substantial crimp in the offense.

Of the six New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) teams -- traditionally the stronger programs in New England, along with Springfield -- Endicott played, the Gulls lost to four of them. Endicott finished with a 14-5 record, with the other loss coming to St. Lawrence in the NCAAs. The Gulls averaged 14.37 goals (fifth in the nation) for the season, but just 8.6 in its losses.

With its dominant pair gone it may take Quirk and his charges more time to jell at the beginning of the season, but they may be more dangerous at the end. The crucial goal could now come from any number of candidates.

Sophomores Brandon Dube and Nick Cosco, along with senior Josh Gilbert are all threats to score while sophomore Eddie O'Reilly, a transfer from Binghamton, is expected to play Lally's role of playmaker, according to Quirk.

In addition, unlike last season when the attack received so much attention with eye-catching numbers, the spotlight will be on the defense this spring. Lost amid the scoring sprees was the presence of a stifling backline that allowed just 7.16 goals per game.

In wins over Bowdoin and Amherst, two top tier NESCAC squads, the Gull defense allowed just five and six goals, respectively. Heady stuff, especially considering Bowdoin boasted the conference player of the year in attackman Connor Fitzgerald.

Anchored by long pole Patrick Gaffney, who Quirk calls an All-American candidate, the returning unit is experienced and deep, despite the graduation of goalie Ryan Walsh.

They will have to be. Five NESCAC teams, in addition to Springfield, litter the non-conference slate again. While it makes the regular season record less shiny than it could be, Quirk insists on taking on the better teams whenever possible.

"It makes us better down the road," he said. "It really helps us prepare for the conference. It gets us ready."

The Gulls are the odds on favorite to finish atop the Commonwealth Coast Conference standings again for the fourth consecutive season, but Quirk thinks the league gets stronger every year. Gordon (11-4) is not too far behind Endicott, while Salve Regina (11-5) and Roger Williams (7-8-1) are expected to take a step forward.

The improvement within the conference, as well as the notoriety gained through its multiple NCAA trips, has helped Endicott in recruiting circles. Quirk, an All-American goalie at Springfield in the early `90s, has a pretty good grasp on New England, but the Gulls' reputation is starting to seep into the traditional power bases.

"We have to do a lot more homework now," said Quirk, who is quick to credit his assistant coaches for scouring the prep ranks.

The Endicott staff may very well be on the verge of finding the next Burt Fahy or Kevin Lally, but they also know it's more than a two-man game. If they are to get past the second round of the NCAA tournament -- the Gulls current high-water mark -- all phases of the game must be addressed.

The era of the Dynamic Duo was memorable, but Endicott is ready for the next step.