(Photo Courtesy of UMass 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, 3rd. 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 A10 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

Richmond Spiders

It seems that all Richmond does is win. Entering the program’s 10th season, Richmond has five conference titles to its name. That includes being crowned the A10 champions last year in the league’s inaugural season. Dalton Young, Lance Madonna, and Luke Grayum combined for 164 points to lead the Spiders’ offense a season ago. That trio returns, as well as faceoff man Jared Chenoy (50%) and goalie Zach Vigue (172 saves, 51%), among others. As usual, look for the Spiders to be in the hunt near the top of the league.

Saint Joseph’s Hawks

Saint Joseph’s went undefeated in A10 play during the regular season last spring. The Hawks, however, would fall victim to High Point in the conference semifinals. In 2024, Saint Joseph’s will have to get used to life without Zach Cole at the faceoff dot. The Hawks still return a dangerous attack line that headlines this squad. Carter Page, Levi Anderson, and Matt Bohmer combined for 149 points last spring. The Hawks will be amongst the best in the A10 once more and will be looking to avenge their postseason shortfalls from a season ago.

UMass Minutemen

Matt Knote (188 saves, 59.3%) led the nation in save percentage last spring and Caleb Hammett (56%) was a top 20 guy in faceoff win percentage. Thus, the Minutemen had two of the better specialists in the A10 and college lacrosse as a whole. Both Knote and Hammett are back in 2024, as well as four of the Minutemen’s top fiver scorers in Mike Tobin, Carter Castillo, Shane O’Leary, and Mason Bregman. UMass fell to only Richmond and Saint Joseph’s in A10 play last season. They lost to Richmond in the conference semifinals. Can they flip the script in 2024?

Top Players

Offensive Player of The Year: Carter Page, A, Saint Joseph’s

Defensive Player of The Year: Matt Knote, G, UMass

Specialist of The Year: Caleb Hammett, FO, UMass

Projected Final Standings

1. Richmond Spiders

2. Saint Joseph’s Hawks

3. High Point Panthers

4. UMass Minutemen

5. Hobart Statesmen

6. St. Bonaventure