PHILADELPHIA (2/9/04) -- After a MAAC runner-up finish last spring, the Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse team is gearing up to take the next step-a MAAC Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Despite losing nearly half of the team's scoring from a year ago, head coach Paul Perdue will turn to a defense that ranks among the league's best to make a run at the MAAC title. Anchored by all-conference junior Marc Reynolds, SJU sports a strong, hard-hitting back line in front of two athletic goalkeepers. Reynolds picked up a team-best 78 groundballs in 2003 and is in his second season as a co-captain. The bruising defender will cover the opponent's top attackman in his third straight year as a starter. He joins his twin brother Matt, a transfer from Eastern Connecticut State, junior Mike Behrmann and sophomore Mike Kirlin, on defense. All three possess outstanding stick skills and smarts on the defensive end. Freshman Alejandro Rojas is an excellent athlete who will learn from his older teammates this season. St. Joe's also features the MAAC's deepest tandem between the pipes, as sophomore Travis McDonnell and junior Dan Morrissey return. McDonnell, one of the nation's top recruits of 2002, started the MAAC Championship game and turned away 21 shots in the 8-2 loss to Mt. St. Mary's. Morrissey started for most of 2003 and posted a 9.95 GAA, the second lowest in program history. "It's great to have two outstanding goalies in Travis and Dan," Perdue said. The coaching staff is also excited about the defensive middie group. Long stick sophomores B.J. Fritts and Kyle Manchin are battle tested and ready for significant playing time. Redshirt sophomore J.D. Dvornicky returns from a knee injury to vie for a starting spot, while freshman Zach Charles had an outstanding fall and will earn plenty of time on the Finnesey Field turf. Offensively, the Hawks must find a way to replace the scoring and leadership of Chris Spay and Alex Heidenberger. The duo combined for 55 of SJU's 119 goals last year and both rank in the top 10 in career tallies on Hawk Hill. On attack, Perdue will look to Brian Mullan, ,Kevin McGrann, and Mike Pagliaro to fill the void left by graduation. Mullan, a senior, led the team in scoring last spring with 36 points (11g, 25a) and has a knack for scoring the big goal. His game-winner in overtime gave SJU a 12-11 victory over Providence in the MAAC Semifinals. An Academic All-MAAC pick, Mullan's 25 assists were the fifth most in a season at Saint Joseph's. McGrann, a speedy junior attackman, scored 12 goals last spring but hopes to return to his team Rookie of the Year status of 2002 in which he was third on the team with 28 points. Another former Rookie of the Year (2001), senior Mike Pagliaro aims to return to his first season form in which he scored 26 points. Pagliaro is an impact attacker with great scoring potential. Sophomore Brian Ponne, a solid 6-4 attackman, added five points in his rookie campaign and can muscle his way to good shots. Freshman Mike O'Neill had an excellent fall season. O'Neill, a product of Bishop Shanahan, will see significant action in 2004. Sophomore Joe Doubet provides additional depth at attack. At midfield on offense, seniors Matt Mueller, Mike Elger and Ryan Madairy will need to provide toughness and leadership. All three have a tremendous work ethic and each has improved a great deal over their four years. According to Perdue, this is the breakout season for them. The head coach also expects some offense from a young group including sophomores Keegan Wilkinson, Brian Borden, Frank Abruzzini, and Alex McColough. Wilkinson set a new program record with seven assists in his first collegiate game as a freshman and finished second on the team in assists (23) and third in points (31). McColough is a promising middie that missed all of 2003 with a knee injury. A mainstay on the Hawk staff over the entire 11 years of the program, Perdue has added a new face to his staff in former West Chester skipper, Pat Cullinan. With WCU cutting its program following last season, one of the top minds and recruiters in the area was available Coach Cullinan will be a valuable asset to SJU this season. No longer is a MAAC Tournament bid good enough for Saint Joseph's, which has proven to be one of the top teams in the conference year in and year out. The Hawks will settle for nothing less than a MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament bid. If SJU can find a go-to guy on offense to match a stingy defense, that goal is certainly within reach in 2004.