Editor’s note: A motley crew of characters will be joining me in a picks contest for the 2012 season. We will pick games every week, track the results and crown a champion at the end of the year. Games selected to be picked are chosen on the significance of the matchup and there is no set number of games that will be picked per week.

Joining me will be Ty Xanders of Inside Lacrosse, Connor Wilson, editor of Lax All Stars and a Wesleyan alum, Steve Kazimer, a former All-American attackman at Stevenson, Tom Costanza, a former All-American attackman from Geneseo and current assistant coach at Wesley Colllege, and Longstick33, of notable Laxpower and Twitter fame.

Lynchburg (1-0) v. Salisbury (1-0)

Ty: I feel as though this will be Lynchburg’s year to win the ODAC and make it to at least the quarterfinals. They have a phenomenal senior class and a preseason All-American at every spot on the field. One problem – they’ll collide with Jim Berkman’s Salisbury Sea Gulls, who return the lion’s share of a dominant national championship squad from last May. There’s no doubt that the Hornets’ coaching staff top priority is to find a way to do a nearly impossible task: stop Sam Bradman, who torched the ‘Burg for eight goals in their meeting last February. LC has the ballgame tied at the half but Salisbury goes on a third quarter run to win by three goals. Salisbury

Connor: Salisbury will beat Lynchburg.  I’d say by at least 6 goals.  The Hornets have some potential and hype, but if they want me to buy in, they need to win this game, and not just keep it close. Salisbury

Kazimer: Salisbury

Costanza: Salisbury by 8+..not betting against the Gulls, especially this early. Probably could have beaten Greensboro by 30 if they wanted. As good as Lynchburg will be this year, don’t seem them pulling a early season upset. The thing working for Lynchburg is returning scorers will be shooting on a new, untested goalie, but still don’t think it will be enough. Salisbury

Longstick33: Salisbury, 18 Lynchburg, 8. I really like Lynchburg this year but I just don’t see them having enough to knock off the defending champs. The Cannone v. Lisicky matchup should be great. Cannone went 0-1 last year against the Hornets. Salisbury

Swank: If Ty didn’t pick Lynchburg, there was no way in hell anyone else was going to. I’m certainly not bucking the trend, though it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Gulls give up more goals than some here expect. Gulls in a closer-than-expected affair. Salisbury

Haverford (0-0) v. Stevenson (0-0)

Ty: Definitely a tossup for me. I’m as curious as anybody to see what kind of talent will step up for Stevenson to fill the void of several program changing recruits, notably Jimmy Dailey, Ray Witte and Evan Douglass. At the same time, Haverford loses their top two offensive options. There’s no doubt it would be an entirely different game played a few weeks later as both teams work out their growing pains. In this matchup, it all boils down to who has the bigger game in between the pipes – Stevenson’s Ian Bolland or Haverford’s Joe Banno. I’ll take the ‘Stangs by a pair of goals in their inaugural game in Mustang Stadium. Stevenson

Connor: I’ll take Stevenson over Haverford.  I hope the Haverford Stevenson game is going to be a good one, and if Haverford can pull out a W, it will be big.  The Mustangs graduated a lot of talent, but I still think this is a reload year for them, not rebuild. Stevenson

Kazimer: Stevenson

Costanza: Stevenson in what I think will be a close one, 2 or 3 goals. Haverford has the advantage in the goalie, although i think Bolland is a strong keeper. If Haverfords young scorers can click quickly it can give Stevenson trouble, but i think Cantabene will coach out this win. Stevenson

Longstick33: Stevenson, 9 Haverford, 6. Stevenson lost a ton but I just don’t see them losing this weekend. I kind of thought Haverford was overrated all last year and certainly they have done nothing to change my mind since then. Maybe it is my respect for Coach Cantabene or maybe my lack of respect for Haverford but I like the Mustangs. Stevenson

Swank: The stoppable force of Haverford anemic offense meets the movable object that is the Stevenson defense. This almost smells like an upset special, but I can’t bring myself to pick against a team that I think is going to be very good by the end of the year. Could the Mustangs stumble here? Yes. Do I expect them to? No. Is this anything better than a guess? Not really. If this one goes the other way, I’ll just blame this pick on the influencial powers of Laxdady69. Stevenson

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