Men's Lacrosse Ready to Open 2012 Season

Entering their second year in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, the Lasell College men's lacrosse program is looking to make a second consecutive appearance in the conference championship game. In Lasell's inaugural season as GNAC members, head coach Tim Dunton led his team to a 6-1 record in the league and a berth in the GNAC championship game against Mount Ida. The 2011 edition of the Lasers lacrosse program ranked 23^rd in the nation in scoring defense and scoring margin, while finishing the year ranked 22^nd in the country in assists.

While discussing the prospects for the 2012 season Coach Dunton says, "If we are able to stay healthy, we should compete for our league championship. Our league has a tremendous opportunity with an AQ into the NCAA tournament, and we'd love to be the first men's lacrosse team to accomplish that feat for the GNAC". 

Coach Dunton will look to senior Adam Foss and juniors Dan Clark, Chris Livelli, Matthew Keiler, Dylan Gray, and Jake LaMorte to play key roles in achieving another successful season. Foss finished the 2011 season ranked 35^th nationally in face-off percentage, winning nearly 60% of his face-offs. Gray, who led the Lasell attack with 46 points in 2011, tallied 19 goals and 27 assists and LaMorte, who added 6 goals and 7 assists in 2011, will anchor the Lasers' attacking core. Clark and Livelli who combined for 12 goals and 15 assists during the 2011 campaign will be called upon to provide stability to the Lasell midfield along with Foss. Keiler started 14 games a year ago and will lead a talented group of Lasers defensemen that will look to duplicate last season's effort that saw Lasell finish 2^nd in the GNAC in goals against average at 7.2 per game.

The 2012 recruiting class includes nine freshmen and one transfer, many of whom will play an important part in the team's season.  Coach Dunton is expecting junior transfer Don Berube to contribute right away in net, while freshmen Eric Marcantonio, Vincent Ricca, and Gordon Roberts should bolster the Lasers' stout defense. 

According to Coach Dunton, "If our players are unselfish and play together, we should be able to be successful this year.  I am very pleased with the chemistry on this team, it's better now than in any year that I can remember, so I hope that translates onto the field."

The men's lacrosse team starts off the season with a non-conference matchup against Nichols College on March 3^rd.  The Lasers will play six non-conference games, including traveling to Baltimore, MD to play Goucher College and Union, NJ where they will take on Kean University.  The men open their nine game GNAC schedule against Norwich University on March 24^th.

2012 Men's Lacrosse Media Guide

Scouting Nichols College: Nichols College ended their 2011 men's lacrosse season with an overall record of 4-9 and a Commonwealth Coast Conference record of 2-8.  The Bison hope to improve their record under the direction of new head coach, Eric Gobiel.  With the loss five of their top scorers Nichols will look to junior Macaulay Gillis to connect with the net after scoring eight goals last season. They will also rely on key defenders Christopher Barchard and Christopher Chipello as well as goalkeeper, Scott Gray, who is ranked 3^rd in saves per game and 7^th in save percentage in the NCAA.  The Bison also added nine newcomers to offset the loss of nine seniors from 2011. This marks the first matchup between these two institutions in men's lacrosse play.