Previewing The 2023 America East Tournament

(Photo Courtesy of Vermont Athletics)

The 2023 America East Tournament gets underway on Thursday, May 4 with the semifinals. The title game will be on Saturday, May 6.

Vermont is the top seed for a second year in a row and will host the tournament.

The Bracket

The Teams

No. 1 Vermont (9-4, 7-0 America East)

For a second year in a row the Vermont Catamounts have run through the conference unscathed during the regular season. That included big wins over Bryant and Binghamton to help secure the top seed. The Catamounts will be looking to three-peat as league champions.

Star Player: Tomy Burke, Faceoff

Burke as remained one of the best faceoff men in college lacrosse this season. The senior has gone 188-for-292 (64%). He has also scored and assisted on a goal. Burke leads the league and is third nationally in faceoff win percentage.

X-Factor: Matt Shaffer, Goalie

Stepping into the pipes with big shoes to fill, Shafer has been very solid for Vermont. He has made 122 saves with a 55% save percentage this spring.

Player to Watch: Brock Haley, Attack

Haley has led the Catamounts offense this season with 52 points off 31 goals and 21 assists.

No. 2 Bryant (10-4, 5-2 America East)

In its first year under head coach Brad Ross and first year in the America East, Bryant has continued its tradition of success. A 13-12 loss to Vermont and a 12-9 upset versus to Merrimack to close out the season are the only two losses in league play for the Bulldogs.

Star Player: Kevin Kroeninger, Attack

The senior is second in the league in points per game as he has helped lead the Bulldogs offense with 60 points off 33 goals and 27 assists.

X-Factor: Faceoff duo

Nathan Laliberte (167-for-272, 61%) and Jacob Alexander (76-for-151, 50%) have been as strong of a duo as any this season. The pair can and have caused plenty of trouble for opponents.

Player to Watch: Drew Lucas, Defense

A sophomore, Lucas has enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 as he has caused 19 turnovers, grabbed 50 ground balls, and tallied six points (2G/4A) as a header at close.

No. 3 Binghamton (9-4, 5-2 America East)

In league play, Binghamton has beaten everybody except the aforementioned top two seeds. It has been a strong year for a squad that did lose two of its top pieces from a year ago.

Star Player: Matthew Keegan, Attack

The sophomore leads the Bearcats in both goals and points as he has scored 45 goals and dished out 12 assists for 57 points thus far.

X-Factor: Matthew DeSouza, Faceoff

Continuing his dominance at the dot this season, the senior has gone 126-for-199 (63%) to give the Bearcats a huge boost in the possession battle.

Player to Watch: Connor Winters, Goalie

Winters has done wonders as a first-year starter, making 185 saves with a 54% save percentage.

No. 4 UAlbany (5-9, 4-3 America East)

Its been an up and down year for the Danes, but a big win over UMBC helped get them into the postseason.

Star Player: Silas Richmond, Attack

The freshman phenom leads the Great Danes with 26 goals on the year. He has also dished out seven assists for 33 points.

X-Factor: Jake Piseno, Defense

Piseno has a menace on the back end as he has grabbed 70 ground balls and 42 caused turnovers. He has also assisted on seven goals.

Player to Watch: TJ Sheehan, Attack

A Denver transfer, Sheehan has been a very solid option this spring with 27 points off 16 goals and 11 assists.

Tanner’s Picks

Semifinals

Vermont vs UAlbany: Vermont

Bryant vs Binghamton: Binghamton

Championship

Vermont vs Binghamton: Vermont

Week 10 Notebook: Cornell Staves off Army, Duke Extends Regular Season Win Streak Versus Virginia

(Photo Courtesy of Cornell Athletics)

While the final nine minutes and change were only seen by those in attendance due to a power issue at Michie Stadium, the top-10 battle between Army West Point and Cornell certainly lived up to the hype.

Continue reading “Week 10 Notebook: Cornell Staves off Army, Duke Extends Regular Season Win Streak Versus Virginia”

Lacrosse Bucket Team, Players of The Week From Week One

(Photo Courtesy of Loyola Athletics)

The first full weekend of college lacrosse action is in the books.

So without further ado, here is the Lacrosse Bucket Team of The Week as well as Players of The Week following the action from week one.

Continue reading “Lacrosse Bucket Team, Players of The Week From Week One”

2023 Schedule Breakdown: Vermont Catamounts

(Photo Courtesy of Vermont Athletics)

The Vermont Catamounts are the 56th DI program to release its 2023 men’s lacrosse schedule. The Catamounts are coming off a 2022 campaign in which they went 12-7 overall and 5-0 in America East play. Vermont won the America East and saw its season come to an end with a loss to Maryland in the NCAA Tournament.

Continue reading “2023 Schedule Breakdown: Vermont Catamounts”

College Lacrosse’s Top 10 Defenses of 2022

(Photo Courtesy of Jacksonville Athletics)

In the shot clock era, offenses rules. But it is still defense that wins championships.

Continue reading “College Lacrosse’s Top 10 Defenses of 2022”

NCAA First Round: Maryland Keeps Rolling, Tops Vermont 21-5

(Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)

Anthony DeMaio moved the ball up to Jonathan Donville right in front of the “B1G” logo. Donville took a few steps, threw a little split dodge to run past the Vermont short-stick defenseman, and stung one past Ryan Cornell.

Continue reading “NCAA First Round: Maryland Keeps Rolling, Tops Vermont 21-5”

NCAA Play-In Games: Vermont, Delaware Let Offense Fly in Victories

(Photo Courtesy of Delaware Athletics)

For a second consecutive season, the Vermont Catamounts will get their shot at the top-seeded Maryland Terrapins during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Continue reading “NCAA Play-In Games: Vermont, Delaware Let Offense Fly in Victories”

What to Watch in The NCAA Play-In Games

(Photo Courtesy of Vermont Athletics)

The 2022 NCAA Men’s DI Lacrosse Tournament gets underway on Wednesday night with the two play-in games. The America East champion Vermont Catamounts will host in MAAC champion Manhattan Jaspers in the first game while the CAA champion Delaware Blue Hens will host the ASUN champion Robert Morris Colonials in the second game.

Continue reading “What to Watch in The NCAA Play-In Games”