Laxcats looking to topple Sonoma State again

Brian Foster Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior Josh Sfara assists junior Dan Price during the lacrosse club team's season opener Saturday against Colorado School of Mines at Wildcat Field. The Laxcats, currently ranked third in the nation, defeated Colorado 19-2. They face Sonoma State this weekend, here in Tucson.

What else could be on the mind of Sonoma State (1-1) as they invade Tucson tomorrow for a 1 p.m. face-off against the Laxcats (1-0) at Wildcat Field.

Arizona beat the Cossacks, who finished the season 10-4, twice last season - once in a 12-11 overtime regular season win at Sonoma State and the other a 19-17 win in the playoffs.

"We've had Sonoma's number the last two games," Laxcat senior defenseman and captain Dave Ames said. "As of right now, they are coming in to knock us off."

The Laxcats, who dominated the Colorado School of the Mines last weekend with a 19-2 victory, receive their first real challenge of the season tomorrow.

The Cossacks, who are ranked seventh in the nation, four behind Arizona, fell to Cal last week.

"This is going to be a good test for us," Laxcat sophomore goalie Cameron Gingras said. "I'm psyched up for this one and I expect to see a lot more action than the seven shots I saw last weekend."

The Laxcats received a gigantic blow this week when they found out All-Star Josh Sfara, the team's senior captain on attack, will most likely not play the rest of the season because of financial problems.

"We keep getting knocked around but the spirits are high and the attitudes are good," Laxcat head coach Mickey-Miles Felton said.

Dave Cross, a freshman from Connecticut, and freshman Andy Barson will replace the All-Star.

The Laxcat offense should not be overlooked despite the loss of Sfara. They still have a balanced attack which consists of junior Dan Price, who recorded three goals and four assists last weekend, and freshman Justin Taglianetti along with Cross and Barson.

Sonoma is coached by John Hughes, who has an impressive career record of 43-13 and, in 1996, was named the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League Division I coach of the year.

"They are a good solid team with good coaching, but then again so are we," Ames said.

The Laxcats also play host to Ft. Lewis College Sunday at 1 p.m. at Wildcat Field.

"You don't want to underestimate anybody but to tell the truth, Ft. Lewis has not even entered my mind," Gingras said. "All I can think about is Sonoma."