Acorn

If you happen to pass freshman Mike Celentano on the path, chances are you wouldn?t guess he has arguably the biggest role on the Drew University men?s lacrosse team. Unassuming and soft-spoken, Celentano could be mistaken for the team water boy? he looks scrappy dressed in jeans and a high school lacrosse sweatshirt and with spiky sandy hair framing a boyish face, Celentano passes for an athlete, but you might not assume that he?s the backbone of his team.

Yet, Celentano earned that role as soon as he stepped onto the turf last fall when he won the starting goalie position. The Rangers had been left with big shoes to fill this year. Two-year starting goalie Jason Woodford left Drew at the end of his sophomore campaign. During the fall season, Celentano beat out sophomore Paul Kenyon for the starting position and, after Kenyon quit the team late last semester, Celentano remained as the only goalie on the team. The Rangers have since recruited Mike D?Urso, a freshman with no lacrosse background but extensive goaltending experience in hockey. However, for the foreseeable future Celentano remains the starting force between the pipes.

Not that he?s taking the position for granted. Celentano?s teammates and coaches praise his unyielding work ethic. Senior captain Phil Rosenau even nicknamed Celentano ?freak? because of his determination.

?We call him ?freak? for a variety of reasons, but I will simply tell you what?s suitable for The Acorn,? Rosenau said. ?In most cases, [goalies] aren?t big into running because they don?t have to,? he said. ?But he loves to run, work out and do a variety of other extra-curricular activities that get his heart rate up and sweat pouring down his [small] frame? you can use your imagination, ladies.?

Like Rosenau, Head Coach Tom Leanos admires Celentano?s drive. ?He has a solid work ethic,? Leanos said. ?The entire fall and over [the] January term, he came in here all the time,? he continued.

Celentano, who hails from Bedminster, actually paid tuition to attend high school 20 minutes away in Mendham so that he could play lacrosse. During junior high, he played in a recreation league with a bunch of Mendham boys, and decided to follow his teammates and best friend to Mendham High School. There he played three seasons of varsity ball, earning all conference and all division recognition during his senior campaign, in which he also served as captain.

Celentano chose Drew because he knew he wanted to go to school nearby, and he was impressed with the psychology department, where he plans to focus his studies. And the lacrosse program didn?t hurt his considerations. ?Obviously lacrosse was a huge factor in my decision,? Celentano said. ?I liked the coach a lot.?

Celentano joins 10 other rookie freshmen on a 29-man squad which has been called the most gifted group to come through the men?s lacrosse program in recent years. According to Rosenau, ?This season looks the most promising of all my seasons here at Drew? We finally have a lot of depth in most our positions, especially in the defense and mid-field.?

?I feel like we?re going to have a good season,? Celentano said. ?Everyone is working hard as a team ?you can?t single one person out as working the hardest.?

The team practices outside on the turf, no matter the weather. ?It?s impossible to practice inside,? Celentano said, citing the lack of Forum space. To compete with the cold February weather, the Rangers wear sweat suits under their equipment until spring break. ?Even if it?s 65 degrees,? Celentano explained, ?Coach makes us wear them. Some guys say it?s because he?s old school ? who knows, maybe it?s just to get us to lose weight,? he said laughing.

Celentano doesn?t have much to lose. At 5?7?, 135 pounds, he?s one of the smallest players on the team. But Leanos isn?t concerned. ?He has a lot of bite for his size,? Leanos said. ?He?s small, but he?s very fit.?

Being in great shape should help Celentano make the transition from high school to college ball. Celentano believes that college is a faster game, with fewer dropped passes and a lot more hustle.

?No one is lazy or dogging it,? he said. ?A lot of guys are giving it all they?ve got. Whereas in high school, you could sometimes get away with being lazy every now and then, here you can?t,? Celentano said.

Rosenau thinks that Celentano has made a fine transition. ?I am extremely excited for the possibilities of the ?freak? in goal,? Rosenau said. ?He is always working hard, gives great outlet passes and has great reflexes.? Not to say that he?s in for a cakewalk. ?The young buck still has a lot of work in front of him. It?s still about a month before our games get underway,? Rosenau continued.

The Rangers open their season during spring break in the suburbs of San Diego, Calif. They?ll face Connecticut College and Colorado College at Westview High School. The ever humble Celentano doesn?t seem nervous about the role he?ll have to play.

?I feel pressure, but only because I don?t want to let the guys down,? he said. ?I don?t want to be 6-9 this year,? he continued, citing the 2005 Ranger record. ?I want to win a lot of games, but I feel more excited than pressure.?

Celentano went on to describe his frame of mind when he?s between the pipes. ?When I?m in the goal, it?s like I?m in a different world,? he said. ?Adrenaline takes over, and I?m just so focused that it?s like everything else is slowing down. It?s really surreal for me.?

Celentano is grateful for the opportunity. He begins each practice with goal drills. During drills, assistant Coach Dave DeRiso, a former Drew All-American (CLA 00) and the program?s all-time leading scorer, shoots on both Celentano and D?Urso for 20 minutes. ?I absolutely love him,? Celentano says of DeRiso. ?He?s the man.?

Celentano is also quick to praise his new teammates. ?The guys on the team are my best friends,? he said. ?I couldn?t ask for better guys. When we?re not together on the field, I?m with them off the field. We?re really like a family.?

Hopefully, this family will achieve a winning season this year. Leanos is confident that Celentano will be a major impetus toward that goal. ?He?s a great kid. He?s really working hard,? Leanos said. ?I?m very impressed with his leadership, and I think he?ll be a solid contributor to this team.?

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