The Massachusetts Maritime men's lacrosse team begins its 2009 campaign on Sunday, March 15th when the Bucs entertain SUNY-Cobleskill in a non-league outing at Commander Ellis Field beginning at Noon EDT.

The visiting Fighting Tigers have dropped their first two contests of the young season, most recently to Hartwick by a 12-5 final on March 5th in Oneonta, N.Y.

Here's a look at how things are shaping up for Head Coach Barry Joyce's Buccaneers in the 2009 campaign:

ATTACK. Joyce welcomes back his top two scorers from a year ago, as the junior brother tandem of Brian and Connor Burke (Del Mar, Calif./Avon Old Farms) each scored 14 goals as sophomores, with Connor collecting 10 assists for a combined 24 points and Brian registering seven helpers for 21 points. Senior Kevin Schultz (Crofton, Md./South River) lends additional experience up front for Massachusetts Maritime, as he netted a pair of goals in three appearances in 2008. Freshman Kyle Lersch (Suffolk, Va./Barham Trail) will also be vying for a spot up front for the Bucs during his rookie campaign.

MIDFIELD. Middies will comprise the majority of experienced veterans returning for Joyce this spring, as six midfielders are back in the fold, led by senior co-captain John Herman (Stamford, Conn./Westhill), who netted seven goals and four assists for 11 points. Sophomore Ryan Linn (Bourne, Mass./Bourne) and senior co-captain Dan O'Brien (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) combined for nine goals and two assists for 11 points last season, while the combination of senior Paul Hynes (Dorchester, Mass./Boston Latin) and sophomores Craig Nichols (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) and Max Wigglesworth (Beverly, Mass./St. John's Prep) combined for 15 match appearances in 2008. Sophomores Adam Jaspon (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham), Jake Bickley (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnehcaug Regional), Michael Lambros (Forestdale, Mass./Sandwich) and Nate Dibble (Salem, Mass./Salem), along with freshmen Will Doucette (Manchester, Mass./Manchester-Essex), Jonathan Kincaid (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington), Kyle Scannell (Tierra Verde, Fla./Lakewood) and Chris Kremler (Fernandina Beach, Fla./Fernandina Beach) will all be vying for time in the middle as well for the Bucs in 2009.

DEFENSE. Senior Brendan Linn (Bourne, Mass./Bourne) provides a veteran presence on the defensive side for Joyce's crew, as he appeared in all 12 matches during his junior campaign. The quintet of seniors Nicholas Sacco (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) and Michael Chretien (East Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth), along with sophomores Matt Donahue (Westwood, Mass./Westwood), Mark Robinson (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug) and Ryan Delaney (Whitman, Mass./Xaverian), combined for 34 contests last spring, while freshmen John Garvey (Medway, Mass./Medway), Matt Adam (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich), Nick Bronski (Needham, Mass./Needham), Peter Menard (Somerset, Mass./Bishop Connolly) and Michael Gautreau (Wilmington, Mass./Malden Catholic) will be looking to impact during their inaugural season with the defensive unit.

GOAL. Junior James Hitchings (Dover, Mass./Dover-Sherborn) returns to the Buccaneer cage after posting three victories and a .632 saves percentage (with a team-best 160 total saves) last spring. Senior Alex Deveaux (Northboro, Mass./Algonquin Regional) provides additional experience for Massachusetts Maritime, as he appeared in four matches in 2008, registering a victory and 17 saves with a 6.55 goals against average.