As the spring semester comes into fruition, the Red Fox faithful anticipate what is expected to be another thrilling lacrosse season from the 2019 defending MAAC champions. The Marist men’s lacrosse team took the MAAC by storm last time around, finishing the season with a 10-7 overall record. They tallied a dominant 6-1 record in conference play, eventually bringing home the championship trophy in a win over conference rival, Quinnipiac, for the second time that season.
The Red Foxes hope to hit the ground running this season, having only lost two players from the championship team and bringing in yet another handful of young stars in this year’s freshman class. The team returns the same skillful attack line that led them to so many victories last season, made up by leading goal scorer, Jake Weinman, and sophomores Jojo Pirreca and Jamison Embury.
“I think we have lots of vital aspects across the field,” said Senior captain, Joe Tierney. “Peyton Smith at the X and Jake Macgregor between the pipes is going to be tremendous for us. Coach Wilkinson has done an amazing job pushing our offense and our team as a whole to be the best we possibly can. Coach Scarcello is doing a great job developing some young players on defense while returning key players such as Sam Alhgrim and JT Roselle.”
Tierney is this year’s recipient of the #34 jersey in honor of the late Eddie Coombs, a member of the Marist men’s lacrosse team who passed in 2011. He speaks on behalf of his whole team when saying that they are as focused as ever to take on the 2020 season with full force.
“I feel as if the MAAC championship has to be in the past, as great as it was, because there is a fine line between confident and cocky,” said Joe. “We want to prepare even harder than we did last year and that seems to be the mindset right now which is great. The preparation hasn’t slowed down one bit just because we won the title last year.”
It has been murmured around Red Fox nation that this is perhaps the most talented team the program has seen in at least four years. The mix of veteran knowledge, both offensively and defensively, with young talent and a bench with unbelievable depth makes for an extremely dangerous force on the field.
“As I approach my last season as a player, I really believe this team can be very dominant. I think this team can be as good as any other year I’ve played here, if not better,” Tierney admitted. “But our mindset needs to stay focused on working hard every day to win another MAAC championship and push further.”
The team will have their first game on February 8th, at Tenney Stadium against Binghamton.
Edited by Dylan Kusmuk