FILE PHOTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Laxcat Tim McComb and the rest of the Arizona men's Lacrosse club team are once again one of the favorites in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League, with high hopes for the season.

Armed with a No. 6 ranking, probably the toughest schedule in the country, an up-and-coming-coach, eight returning starters out of 10 and one of the west's top defenses, the men's lacrosse team expects big things.

Coming off an eighth-place finish in the United States Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates national championship tournament, where the team fell in overtime to eventual national champion Sonoma State after tying the game with one second left, the Laxcats are looking for more this season, which starts this weekend.

In the preseason USLIA poll, the Laxcats are No. 6 and No. 3 in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League, behind only USLIA No. 1 Sonoma State and USLIA No. 4 UC Santa Barbara. The Laxcats expect to capitalize on their potential.

Mark it Season opener vs. No. 21 UCLA 1 p.m., Sat. Feb. 8

"The sky's the limit," said second-year head coach Adam Hopkins.

Defense, team morale and desire are the strengths of the team, said assistant coach Ken Broshart.

"The team just needs to do the little things, hustling, playing the whistle and coming together to play as a unit," said Broshart.

The Laxcats will have to replace departed All-American Jay Spatafora and All-American senior attackman Charlie Mink, who tore his ACL, though the team hopes to get him back in time for the playoffs.

"This year's team is deeper and a whole lot more balanced," said All-American defenseman senior Jeff Kinsella.

Additionally, senior midfielder Bryan Moore is yet another All-American.

The Laxcat schedule is highlighted with games against No. 2 Colorado State, No. 3 BYU, No. 4 UC Santa Barbara and No. 23 Washington and Cal.

Senior attackman Tom Ghaney said he is excited to play such a loaded schedule against quality teams.

"It is a great schedule, with lots of tough teams. It really gives us a chance to flex our muscles," Ghaney said.

After leading the Laxcats to a 16-4 record in his first year, in the shadow of legendary Laxcat coach Mickey Miles-Felton, Hopkins was called one of the top young coaches in the game, in the USLIA season preview.

"It looks to be a promising year," senior attackman Josh Morrison said. "If we play the lacrosse we know how to play, we should be unbeatable."

Rather than playing a couple games at Arizona Stadium like last year, the team's exclusive home this year will be Murphey Stadium ÷ or Laxcat coliseum ÷ on East 15th Street and North Plumer Avenue.

The Laxcats open their season this weekend against No. 21 UCLA and Loyola Marymount at home.