Before the start of the season, the men’s lacrosse team was sorting out the vacancies left from last year’s team, which had reached the NCAA Final Four in 2008. Many key seniors graduated, and there were questions as to what the 2009 Blue and Gold would provide.

But after seven games, the Bombers are the No. 4 ranked team in the country with an undefeated record.

However, Head Coach Jeff Long, who has led the South Hill squad for 22 years, said he is not satisfied — he’s expecting more success.

“It’s still a work in progress,” Long said. “We’ve shown brilliance and lack of brilliance. Now the keys are continued improvement along with sustained focus and effort.”

This type of attitude has rubbed off on his players — the guys who are strapping on the pads, lacing up the cleats and putting on the uniforms.

“We can improve every week just as long as we come to practice ready to get better and work as hard as we can on things that didn’t go as well in the game or could’ve gone a little better,” senior tri-captain defender Neth Wiedemann said.

One of the question marks heading into this season was the team’s identity, after the loss of some tremendous scorers.

But instead of this year’s team featuring one player who scores multiple times a game, it will be a group of players contributing the goals, senior tri-captain and midfielder Matt Cutter said.

“For an opposing team to play us when we have a lot of weapons is a lot harder to defend,” Cutter said. “It’s easier to defend one guy than it is all six guys on the field. So when every person on the field is a threat, offensively or defensively, it’s pretty hard to cover.”

One player who is causing problems for opposing defenses is senior attackman Alec Siefert. Last season, in 20 games with 12 starts, Siefert scored 28 goals and dished out nine assists, collecting a total of 37 points.

This year, Siefert has continued his consistent offensive production, scoring 22 goals and collecting seven assists for 29 points.

“It basically just comes down to just more experience,” Siefert said. “I played a lot on the field last year so that helped out, but I was kind of the third and fourth attackman, so I kind of rotated in and out. But, this year I’m on the field all of the time, so I’m getting more reps and stuff like that.”

Long said Siefert’s strong play so far has been a result of his determination and grit.

“Siefert is by far one of the toughest young men I have ever coached,” Long said. “He is afraid of nothing. No challenge gets the best of him. It is simply his time which he has earned.”

Another positive for the Blue and Gold this season has been the emergence of sophomore goalkeeper David Gal. The young goalie only made 11 appearances last season but in 2009 has already made seven.

He has recorded 88 saves and has chalked up only 44 goals against. So far all of the Bombers’ opponents have been held under double-digits in the goal column, providing the offense a minimal obstacle to overcome.

The undefeated team is proving its dominance. Its 11–8 victory over then-No. 2 SUNY–Cortland on Saturday at the Red Dragon’s field was Ithaca’s first major test.

Cortland was the team that eliminated the Bombers in the Final Four last season. While Wiedemann said there is still a long way to go, revenge is sweet on South Hill right now.

“It was nice,” Wiedemann said. “It’s always great to beat those guys because it’s a fierce rivalry. It was definitely nice to beat them on their field too because we have that bitter taste in our mouths from last year’s loss in the playoffs to them.”