2019 Conference Preview: Boy's NAC

By Damian Hall 02/24/2019

The NAC begins its second year of competition in 2019. A tightly contested conference full of up-and-coming programs, this year looks like it could be even better than last. Team Previews

Wakefield

Wakefield steps into 2019 as defending NAC champions, with eyes on more than a conference title. The Wolverines lost a key piece in face-off specialist Jarret Novak (82GB, 62%) and will look to a trio of players including senior Jake Whitehead, to fill that role. Offensively, Wakefield reloads returning five players from 2018 who scored 20+ points including senior Kevin Ritter (52g, 39a), senior Connor Pirrung (57g, 13a), and junior Connor Santos (49g, 27a). The defensive end looks to step up in 2019 with the return of goalie Griffin Broad (106 svs, 58%) and defenders Ryan Santos (72GB, 45CT) and Lucas Crenshaw (26GB, 14CT).

Wake Forest

The Cougars will look to build upon a 6-10 2018 season on the shoulders of junior Ian Howard (34g, 22a). Howard will receive extra focus with the loss of Brooks Long (26g, 11a) and Blake Bennett (21g, 7a). He will look to senior Lance Bradley (19g, 7a) and classmate Colin Speer (17g, 15a) to bolster the offense. Defensively, Wake Forest returns a veteran group lead by Jack Graber (85GB, 3CT) and John Colebank (11GB). The Cougars will be looking to replace goalie Sam Barbarawi (101 svs, 58%).

Heritage

The Huskies will be a very senior-laden team (17) in 2019. Despite the loss of Dominic Manzo and Keelan Seneca (moved to NY) Heritage should still have the firepower to compete. Ryan Cornell, Noah Delucia, Bryson Mitchell, and Gregor Horne will lead the offense. Defensively Heritage will look to keeper Iain Moede who will be fronted by defenders Garret Nelson, David Weeks, and LSM Michael Manaro. The Huskies also look to take advantage of having faceoff specialist Nick Fields returning.

Rolesville

Rolesville finished the 2018 season with a 1-14 record. The program continues to build in its fourth season of varsity play. Jake Smith takes over as the head coach for the Rams in 2019. Smith has been the assistant coach at Garner for the past three years and played collegiately for 2009 DIII Champion SUNY Cortland.

Corinth Holders

Corinith Holders had an impressive first season as a varsity program going 5-6 in 2018. Like many new programs the Pirates benefit by having been predominately comprised of underclassmen. The Pirates return all three of their top scorers in Grant Cartledge (23g, 5a), Colin Cregan (20g, 6a) and Sean Fields (14g, 10a). Grayson Gall returns in cage for Corinth Holders. Camryn Snow will lead the defense along side Gall.

Conference Prediction

  1. Wakefield
  2. Heritage
  3. Wake Foest
  4. Corinth Holders
  5. Rolesville

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