Janney provides instant experience

Freshman Pete Janney is third on the Quakers with 33 points. In the middle of their most successful season in the last five years, the Penn men's lacrosse program has definitely taken a turn in the right direction. One of the key ingredients that has allowed the Quakers to emerge again is a player that the team hopes to build on in years to come -- freshman attackman Peter Janney. With the loss of Penn's all-time points and goals leader Andy Crofton to graduation, the Quakers had a huge hole to fill this year. Coming immediately onto the scene for Penn was Janney. A standout offensive player for Severn High School in Severna Park, Md., Janney came with a solid lacrosse background, including First Team All-County accolades his junior and senior years. "Pete developed into the type of player any coach would like to have in high school," Janney's high school coach Charlie Toomey said. "He became a leader on the field. Certainly a threat for opposing teams to worry about. He hit the weight room and became a physically bigger as well as a more talented stick-wise player." Awarded the Mulnix Award as a sophomore and senior for being the top attackman at his high school, Janney led his team with 41 goals and 26 assists in 15 games. Playing on a 6-9 team, Janney was familiar with having to fight hard for each win. "Severn has been in a rebuilding stage for the last few years," Toomey said. "Pete has always been one of those kids to always draw the top defensemen. That is a large part of why he has developed into the type of player he is." Also in his first year, Penn coach Marc Van Arsdale had a fresh perspective on everything -- not only the freshmen. Despite coming to Penn with a natural ability to play lacrosse, it was Janney's hustle on the field and his dedication in the weight room that first impressed Van Arsdale. Watching Janney's progression before the season and his stellar play in the preseason matches, the decision to start the freshman was not that difficult for Van Arsdale. "You are a little concerned sometimes when you put a freshman up in a big role like that," Van Arsdale said. "We did not have a whole lot of veterans to turn to. The thing that he has done is played with a little confidence and poise. I think that is sort of the unknown with freshmen." Coming into a struggling program with a new coach did not deter Janney's hopes of playing on a competitive team. With a successful team this year, the Red and Blue have enjoyed defeating Cornell and Dartmouth, giving the Quakers a 5-4 overall record with a 2-2 Ivy League. "I was excited about playing for Coach Van Arsdale," Janney said. "I heard good things about him coming from Virginia. With a program like that (national runner-up in 1996), I expected our program to turn around during the time I am going to be here. We have had a good season this year and can hopefully pick up these last three games." With his first start against St. Joseph's March 1, Janney assumed the role as a starting attackman and has not since backed down. His impressive offensive display against the Hawks in his debut even caught the eye of his teammate, attackman and junior captain John Ward. "Obviously, there were a lot of nerves involved in wanting to play your best in your first college game, but for him to come out and score five goals and two assists? " Ward said. "Seven points in your first college game, what more could you ask for?" For Janney, it has taken adjustments from high school to compete at this level. Even going up against some of the nation's best so far including Virginia, Navy and Harvard, Janney has scored 26 goals and dished off for seven assists. His effectiveness is due, in part, to Ward and senior captain Jon Cusson. Ward and Cusson, also standouts since their freshman years, have found a common chord playing with Janney as the three starting attackmen. Only playing together for a few months, Janney and Cusson have built a strong rapport with each other. Janney has been the target of most of Cusson's team-leading 26 assists. "Pete Janney is very explosive and has the potential to score a lot of goals," Cusson said. "He plays well of the ball. For a freshman, it is hard to come in and carry the ball, but he carries the ball really well? He is probably one of the major targets of all of my passes this year. He has a knack for finding a seam and getting in there. He makes a hard catch and finishes the ball really well. His biggest attribute is his ability to score in a tight situation? Peter stepped right in and filled a position that really needed to be filled and did a great job." With their similar styles, Ward, who leads the team with 29 goals, and Janney have shared most of the scoring. Playing on the field beside Ward and Cusson, Janney usually attracts the opposing defense's third guy. This match-up usually leaves Janney with an advantage. Janney's consistent on-field play has earned him the respect of his fellow teammates. "He stepped right in," Ward said. "If me or Jon messes up, he is not afraid to let us know. We need that. We are an attack-oriented team. That is three guys on the field, not just a senior and a junior. If he has a good matchup he'll let us know. We have confidence that he can take the ball and put it in the back of the net." Even for Janney, his ability to blend right into the picture has surprised even himself. Fitting in with the team and playing alongside his fellow freshman players have eased the transition into college ball. "The college game is definitely a lot faster of a pace," Janney said. "The guys are bigger and the ball moves a lot quicker, which I like. It's a lot more fun to play? Billy Reidy has also stepped in at midfield. Jared Tuller and Billy Fowler have also stepped it up at defense. We are always together and try to hang out. We are all real tight and that is important in a team." In the coming years, with the loss of Cusson, Janney will be looked on not only as more of a team leader, but also to get the rest of the team active in the game. Being used as mostly a goal scorer this year, Janney knows how his role will change, and tries to make those improvement to get them there each day. "John Ward and I will have to pick up the feeding game a little bit and distribute the ball a little more," Janney said. "We are going to have to concentrate less on scoring and more on getting the ball to our other guys." With a great work ethic and the desire to win, it has taken little time for Janney to have a large impact on the Penn men's lacrosse team. Although the Quakers have enjoyed recent success, it will be up to these younger players to continue the rebuilding of the program.

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