After winning the MAAC conference in 2023, the Marist men’s lacrosse team looks to become back-to-back champions for the first time in school history.
Toward the end of the season last year, the Red Foxes caught lightning in a bottle, as they won eight of their last 10 games (including playoffs), which led to the team’s first MAAC Championship since 2019. With nearly a dozen starters graduating, younger players will be forced to step up.
Three-time MAAC Coach of the Year Keegan Wilkinson will attempt to lead his team to his fifth MAAC Championship (2013, 2015, 2019, 2023). Wilkinsons’ message to his team this offseason was simple: step up.
“The biggest message to our team in the offseason coming off a championship is we’re fortunate because a lot of these guys on our current roster are stepping into new roles. The excitement and the motivation and the level of intensity that they brought has been fantastic,” said Wilkinson.
The team is graduating a very talented class from last season, which included three of their top four goal scorers. The last remaining member of the four is junior attackman Jake Deacy, who tallied 31 goals last season.
“For us, after graduating three of our top four scorers, you have to continually develop the guys that are on your roster and thankfully, [Associate Head Coach Dave Scarcello] has been doing an amazing job with the offense. You have guys like [senior attack Joshua Balcarcel] who is going to step into his more natural role as an attackman after playing midfield,” said Wilkinson.
The Red Foxes are going to need players to step into a bigger goal-scoring role this season; candidates include Balcarcel, Deacy, graduate student midfielder Stephen Bickel, sophomore attackmen Vinny Butrico and sophomore midfielder Peter Murray, just to name a few. Wilkinson believes that the midfielding group has shown the most improvement this offseason.
The Marist defense is returning two key close defenders this season in captain graduate student defender Kurt Wessner and standout sophomore defender Aidan McCaffrey. Wessner has seen a lot of defensive groups in his five years at Marist, and he has faith in the current group.
“This one was very special because it’s so changed up. Out of all the years I’ve been here, this is the biggest change in the room when it comes from goalies, defenders and all poles,” said Wessner.
The group that will have the biggest shake-up is the Red Foxes’ short-stick defensive midfield group led by senior Eddie Capone and graduate student Keenan DeRaeve. This group dominanted last season, as they ranked second in the MAAC in ground balls per game with 36.
“Last year it was more of the older group and now we’re mixing in all different guys, freshmen to fifth year. Tyler Ammirato did a great job of setting that foundation for us last season, now it’s guys like Eddie and Ryan Jones who are going to play big minutes for us,” said DeRaeve.
For players like Capone and Jones, both saw an uptick in playing time, especially Capone, who experienced his first action last season. The short-stick defensive midfield came into his own over the latter part of the season.
“Continue learning from the people around me, not just the leaders on this team, but everybody,” said Capone. “It’s a blessing to be a part of this defense and go in every day, with the right approach, whether that’s on the field or off the field. Just trying to be the best person and player I can be.”
Between the pipes for the Red Foxes, expect junior goalie Noble Smith to be starting. Smith started in 10 games last season but was relieved of his duties by eventual All-MAAC Tournament team member senior Daniel O’Meara. Smith hopes for a big jump this season, as he had a .48% save percentage in 12 games for the Red Foxes a year ago.
Overall, the Red Foxes look newer this season than they have in the past. This team is talented, as they were ranked second in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll behind Siena. Expect sophomore midfield Drew Anderson and Murray to jump into bigger roles this season; Anderson was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team in 2023.
The team will have their much-anticipated first game of the season at Tenney Stadium on February 10th; they will square up against Bucknell at 12 p.m.
Edited by Marley Pope and Luke Sassa
Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo; Photos from Marist Athletics via Stockton Photo
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