(Photo Courtesy of Bryant Athletics)

The new year has come and that means that the 2024 college lacrosse season is just about a month away with the first games scheduled to be played on February, 2nd. Over the next few weeks Lacrosse Bucket will be taking a look at each conference heading into the upcoming season.

Here is a look at the America East heading into the 2024 season which includes some of the top teams to watch, Player of The Year predictions, and projected final standings.

Three Teams to Watch

Bryant Bulldogs

Last spring was Bryant’s first season with Brad Ross at the helm and the program’s first in the America East. Still, the Bulldogs did what they have always done best: win. Bryant went 12-5 overall, 5-2 in conference play, and won the America East with a 12-11 double OT defeat of UAlbany in the championship game. The Bulldogs now have seven conference titles in 15 years as a DI program. The Bulldogs will be in the hunt for the America East crown this spring and are the likely favorite. That is especially so with the veteran-laden squad they return, which includes nine graduate students and 10 seniors. Bryant returns all five of its top scorers. That includes a pair of 60-plus point-getters in Kevin Groeninger (38G/30A) and Aidan Goltz (45G/15A). Goalie Teagan Alexander (194 saves, 48.6%) and defenseman Tanner Alexander (46GB/24CT) are amongst the headlining defensive returnees. The dynamic duo of Nathan Laliberte (59%) and Jacob Alexander (52%) at the faceoff dot is also back.

UAlbany Great Danes

The Danes went 6-10 overall and 4-3 in America East play last spring. Scott Marr’s squad found some momentum in the postseason with an upset of top-seeded Vermont in the first round of the conference tournament. The Danes would fall to Bryant 12-11 in double overtime in the league title game. They lost their final two regular season contests (14-11 vs Penn and 15-14 @ Binghamton) by an average of two goals. Silas Richmond (34G/7A) proved to be a consistent presence on offense while Jake Piseno (78GB/50CT) wreaked havoc as the team’s top pole. Those two headline a solid returning core that could lead this program back to the top of the conference.

Vermont Catamounts

Having been upset by UAlbany in the America East semifinals last spring, the Catamounts were denied a chance to capture a third consecutive conference title. Vermont enters 2024 having to replace mainstays on defense as LSM Nick Alviti and defensman Jackson Canfield no longer reside in Burlington. The same is true of Danny Manning and goalie Matt Shaffer, as well as attackman David Closterman. Faceoff man Tommy Burke is arguably Vermont’s biggest loss. He went 64% at the dot over his four-year career as the primary option at the dot. Attackman Brock Haley (31G/21A) headlines the returners on the offensive end while Tim Manning (19GB/5CT) does the same on the other end. How the Catamounts replace their many losses is one of the major storylines to watch in the America East in 2024.

Top Players

Offensive Player of The Year: Aidan Goltz, A, Bryant

Defensive Player of The Year: Jake Piseno, D, UAlbany

Specialist of The Year: Connor Winters, G, Binghamton

Projected Final Standings

1. Bryant Bulldogs

2. Vermont Catamounts

3. UAlbany Great Danes

4. Binghamton Bearcats

5. UMBC Retrievers

6. Merrimack Warriors

7. NJIT Highlanders

8. UMass Lowell Riverhawks