Florida Tech lost some of the team’s heart and soul to graduation after the 2015 season.  They lost Andrew Conley and the rest of the original recruiting class who helped grow the program from a 28 man roster with a 2-14 record in 2012 to a fully loaded team playing for a conference championship in 2015. Coach Ryan McAleavey knows he lost plenty of solid impact players.  But he is excited about the level of talent that he has on this team.  He said the question is, “Can the new guys pick up where we left off or is it rebuilding year?”  He also knows that recruiting the right guys is only the beginning.  “Talent-wise we aren’t that far off but we still need to educate these guys.” While the Panthers looked decent at the Lax vs Cancer event, they weren’t playing at the same level they did last season.  A big part of that, however, was the absence of the 6’8″ 250 pound Jason Terry.  In NCAA D2, unlike D1, eligibility is counted by semester, not years.  Terry took the fall semester off from lacrosse to preserve his final semester of eligibility.    Terry is a rare player that can fit into the attack unit or midfield and cause big problems for opposing defense at either position. Austin Zugelter has had a decent career already but as he prepares for his junior season he looks poised for a “break out” type of year.  He has a very different looking release on his shot and that makes it difficult for opposing goalies.  Twice on Sunday we watched him hit the alley and shoot just off the goalies hip.  Both shots appears to catch the goalies off guard and they made awkward attempts at the ball but both shots found the net.  But the Panthers need him to do a lot more of that this season.  Zugelter only took 62 shots last season and scored 9 goals. (by comparison, Terry took 140 shots.) The Panthers have a new strength and conditioning program this year that Coach McAleavey says Zugetler has embraced.  He hopes the added speed and strength (at 6’3″ and 190 Zugelter was always a big strong kid) will give him more confidence and success on his dodge.  This should get him better angles down the alley and improve his shot opportunities.  If he gets better angles for his shots, combined with his release, he could do some serious damage this year.  Look for him to really be the go to guy down the stretch. If Jason Terry ends up on the midfield line he will most likely draw the LSM and that could spell big numbers for Zugelter. Look for Brian Baceralla to move back to attack after a season at midfield.  He and lefty attackman Dan Errett played club ball together growing up in Connecticut and make a great team on the attack unit.  Charlie Morrisett is another player who might have  an even better year than he did last season.  He started last year on the midfield and did well but injuries forced his move down to the attack unit.  He likes to dodge from up top and he could find himself back up there this year. Not too many coaches are willing to name a starter in the goal this early and Coach McAleavey is no different.  But the edge has to go to Christian Koch. He will get some completion from two youngsters, sophomore Matt Young and freshman Justin Ruiz. The Panthers are going to be more prepared come playoff time in 2016 with a much more difficult regular season schedule this year.  Florida Tech travels to National Champion Limestone and Seaton Hill and they host Mars Hill.  Limestone is going to be a true test as the defending national champions return seven All-Americans. Coach McAleavey is looking forward to working with a program called “For the Love of Lax.”  A student from Westshore High School has launched this program which pairs children with special needs with players for some one on one time.  Currently, Florida Tech players are set to do six sessions of one on one lacrosse instruction with these great kids.