The Marist Red Foxes are ready to set sail for the 2026 season with high expectations. After a heartbreaking loss in last year’s MAAC semifinals, the team is hungry to bring home the conference trophy for the first time since 2023. With veteran leadership in place and promising young players ready to emerge, the sky is the limit for the Red Foxes this spring.
Who will be Marist’s MVP?
Last season in the MAAC, only one player ranked in the top three in goals, assists and shots: Collin Patrick. The 5-foot-7 junior from North Carolina is a dynamic, do-it-all playmaking attacker every coach dreams about. The attackman serves as the quarterback of the Marist offense and brings a unique skill set. As a sophomore, he led Marist with 37 goals and 24 assists, earning MAAC Preseason Player of the Year honors. Patrick is the smallest player on the Red Foxes roster, and he uses that to his advantage. His low center of gravity helps him stay balanced as he contorts his body to create scoring opportunities. He keeps defenders guessing and attacks the smallest openings. The star attackman will look to lead Marist back to the top as the team aims for its first MAAC Championship in three seasons.
–Tommy Jacobellis, Men’s Lacrosse Beat Writer
Midfielder Sean Mullan is coming off a stellar sophomore season for Marist, showcasing his aggressive shotmaking ability. The junior from Park Ridge, Illinois, played in all 16 games, tallying 27 goals and 10 assists. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he has the ideal frame to take another step forward in production. He kept Marist alive on several occasions, recording three game-winning goals during the 2025 season, helping the team finish 8-8. In Marist’s heartbreaking loss to Siena in the MAAC semifinals, Mullan stood out with three goals and two assists. In that game alone, he took nine shots and recorded seven shots on goal, highlighting his aggressive style of play. He ended the season on a strong note, and that momentum is expected to carry into his junior year. The standout midfielder should continue to improve as he takes on a larger role this season.
-Max Moughan, Staff Writer
Not to sound repetitive, but Patrick is the clear pick for Marist’s MVP. He was named the 2026 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and led the team in points last season as a sophomore. The attackman totaled 61 points on 37 goals and 24 assists, creating constant problems for opposing defenses. His junior year is expected to bring even more production, as he will likely continue to draw double teams and either finish scoring chances or set up teammates. Patrick is the clear number one option on this team, and when he is on his game, the Red Foxes are hard to slow down.
–Luca Di Rienzo, Staff Writer
The obvious choice would be MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, but focusing only on the junior risks overlooking the depth of talent on this roster, which is reflected in the team’s five Preseason All-MAAC selections. One player who cannot be overlooked is captain Drew Anderson. Anderson finished last season with an impressive 27 goals on 76 shots from the midfield. His .355 shooting percentage was the best among players with more than 10 attempts. There is a reason Anderson inherited the No. 34 jersey from Josh Balcarcel after his departure to the PLL. He is a tough player, a strong outside shooter and a natural leader who is expected to be an X-factor from the wing.
–David Troeger, Staff Writer
Who will be Marist’s breakout player of the year?
Last season, graduate student Josh Balcarcel moved on to the Professional Lacrosse League (PPL), leaving a big hole on the offensive side of the ball. With Marist needing new contributors for scoring and playmaking, Brady Dolan will have an opportunity to step up. The sophomore attackman from North Carolina started only two games last season but played more as the year progressed. Dolan appeared in 13 total games, finishing in the top 10 in goals for the Red Foxes, netting six. Dolan has an extremely quick release when he shoots, making it tough for goalies. With more playing time in his sophomore season, the numbers should only go up. Expect him to be a true game‑changer for Marist this spring.
-Tommy
Junior attackman Steven Cain is in a strong position for a breakout 2026 season. Last year, Josh Balcarcel ranked second on the team with 14 assists, with Cain right behind him at 11. Balcarcel’s departure creates a clear opportunity for Cain to take on a larger playmaking role. He has long shown strong passing ability, recording 38 assists during his senior year of high school, when he had more assists than goals (32). Cain has also been a consistent scorer, scoring in all but two games last season. He started 15 of 16 games, and all signs point to an increased role in the offense this year.
-Max
With defenses heavily focused on Patrick, that creates a clear path for Mullan to shine. In the season opener against Mercer, he recorded a hat trick and, despite the loss, was a clear bright spot. If defenses continue to pay extra attention to Patrick, Mullan could emerge as a high-impact scorer. Marist already has a ton of faith in Mullan, as when the game is on the line, the ball is in his stick. He had three game-winning goals last season, possessing a clutch factor that you can’t teach.
-Luca
After losing Dylan Bedell, a faceoff specialist with a nearly 60% win rate, Marist will need someone to step up in his place. Currently, the only other specialist with collegiate experience is Josh Smith, who posted a .477 faceoff percentage, going 42-for-88 while seeing action in all 16 games. This is not only a potential breakout opportunity, but a necessity. With Adam Wacholder as the team’s only returning goaltender, Marist will want to gain possession as often as possible. Smith is a strong fielder and a promising distributor with an impressive ability to cause turnovers. If he can develop his shooting, he may find himself near the top of the stat sheet by season’s end.
-David
What does Marist have to improve on to make it further than last season?
Suffering a heartbreaking end to their season last May, the Red Foxes have several areas to improve if they hope to avoid falling short again. Last season, Marist won six of seven games when it allowed 10 goals or fewer. 10 could be the key number again this year, as the defense looks to keep opponents below that mark. When opponents scored more than 10 goals, Marist lost seven of those games. The more consistently the Red Foxes hold teams under that total, the more wins they are likely to add to the column. They must also perform better away from Tenney Stadium. On the road last season, Marist struggled, going 2-6. Becoming more comfortable in road environments would better position them for a stronger run in the MAAC Tournament.
-Tommy
Despite an overall successful season, Marist still has areas to improve. The biggest difference-maker would be stronger play in goal. The Red Foxes’ offense was stellar and disciplined last year, committing the second-fewest penalties per game in the MAAC and ranking in the top three in nearly every major offensive category. Despite that production, the team still lost eight games, likely due in part to the number of goals allowed throughout the season. Marist finished with the lowest save percentage and fewest saves in the MAAC. The 24 goals allowed to Siena on April 23 were the most scored by any MAAC team in a single game last season. The 23 goals allowed to Air Force on March 2 would have ranked second if it had come against a conference opponent. The addition of Richie Metzger from Carey High School signals that Marist has identified the issue and is working to improve in goal.
-Max
Marist has developed into a high-octane, high-scoring offense, but its defense has struggled at times. In the MAAC Semifinals last season, Siena ended the Red Foxes’ run in heartbreaking fashion with a 15-14 loss. Late in games, Marist often had difficulty stopping opponents, an area that needs to improve. The Red Foxes also showed a clear home-and-road split. They went an impressive 6-1 at home but struggled away from Tenney Stadium, posting a 2-6 record. Becoming more comfortable in road environments would help position them for greater success.
-Luca
The team had a great deal of inexperience on the defensive side last season, and while it still found success despite carrying a negative goal differential, the growth of that unit is a key focus for head coach Dave Scarcello and his staff. There is strong hope that Preseason All-MAAC defenseman, junior Michael Cassano, can help lead the group’s development and bring more consistency to the defense. If that happens, the potential of this squad could rise significantly, easing the impact of the blowout losses that affected the team at times last season. Beyond that, Marist often struggled on the road. With eight of 13 games scheduled away from home, the Red Foxes will need to perform better on the road. When at home, they must continue to take advantage of strong opportunities, including rematches with Sacred Heart and Siena.
-David
Who is the biggest threat to Marist?
Last season, Marist’s tournament run came to a crushing end at the hands of Siena. Once again, the Saints appear to be the favorite to stand in the Red Foxes’ way this year. Marist leads the preseason All-MAAC team with five selections, with Siena close behind at four. The Saints also bring valuable experience as the defending MAAC Champions. Their most recent title marked the program’s fourth, the most in conference history, and they lead the MAAC all-time with eight championship appearances. The Battle of I-87 continues to be one of the conference’s top rivalries, and both teams appear poised to be among the last standing this season.
-Tommy
Despite Siena being ranked No. 1 and sweeping Marist last season, including a semifinal loss that ended the Red Foxes’ season, Sacred Heart may present the bigger threat. While Siena has had the upper hand and appears to be the top team in the MAAC, Marist showed improvement in the semifinal matchup, narrowly losing a heartbreaking game. Sacred Heart, however, has consistently given Marist trouble in recent years and won last season’s meeting in an overtime thriller. There may be added motivation in a rematch with Siena, but Sacred Heart should not be overlooked as a serious contender.
-Max
I mentioned them earlier, and they remain the biggest threat in the MAAC: the Siena Saints. Yes, they are the defending champions, and yes, they were picked No. 1 in the preseason poll, but that is not the only motivation for Marist to dethrone them. Just one point separated the teams in last year’s playoff matchup, when Marist fell 15-14. The Red Foxes will be looking for redemption. Until they can prove they can beat the Saints in a high-stakes game, Siena remains the biggest obstacle standing between Marist and a championship.
-Luca
After being swept by Siena last season, Marist enters the year highly motivated. Siena remains the strongest team in the conference and will naturally be the Red Foxes’ primary focus. That mindset can be risky, however, as Marist must avoid developing tunnel vision against another top contender, Sacred Heart. The Pioneers have also had success against the Red Foxes in recent years, winning the last four meetings, including an overtime victory last season. Even with Siena as the focal point, last year’s top seeds should not be underestimated.
-David
Final Record Predictions and end-of-season result?
Coming off an intense postseason run, Marist will get its revenge on Siena. They will finish with an 8-5 regular-season record and position themselves for another strong playoff push, but this time defeating the Saints in the MAAC Championship.
-Tommy
Max Moughan: I am riding high on Marist this year, predicting they will greatly improve on the defensive side of the ball and finish near the top of the MAAC conference. The new additions should make a big difference, and the current players are continuing to improve and grow more comfortable with each other. Last season was Scarcello’s first, and there is reason to believe he will adapt quickly for an even better second year. I predict a 9-4 record, with Marist defeating Siena in the MAAC championship.
-Max
Five players were selected to the preseason All-MAAC team, already an indication that this group is built for big things. At the very least, there should be noticeable improvement from last year. After a sizable loss to Mercer, this team should still land around eight wins overall and about six in conference play. That would likely put Marist in a position to finish as a top-two seed in the MAAC and set up a chance at revenge against Siena.
-Luca
Scarcello’s first season at the helm was a clear success, and the team will be looking to build on its strong results from last year. This is a Marist squad with plenty of star power, and one that should continue to improve throughout the spring. With chemistry will come results, and a strong mix of returning scorers and developing defensemen should put the Red Foxes in a good position by the time the tournament arrives, even after a tough opening schedule. I see this team going the distance but falling just short against the top-ranked Saints in the final, finishing the regular season with an 8-5 record.
-David
Edited by Tommy Jacobellis and Ben Leeds
Graphic by Xavier Angel
Photos by Marist Athletics
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