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HOFSTRA
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
2010 Record: 8-6
Head Coach: Seth Tierney
Coming off their third consecutive NCAA Championship Tournament appearance, the Hofstra Pride return 31 players, including eight starters from last year’s 9-5 team. The Pride also return 10 of their top 11 scorers. Leading the Hofstra offense are All-American honorable mentions Jay Card (31-22-53) and Jamie Lincoln (33-20-53), as well as senior Stephen Bentz (29-12-41), juniors Brad Loizeaux (19-11-25) and Kevin Ford (15-6-21), and sophomore Adrian Sorichetti (9-6-15). On defense, senior Mike Skudin (29 GB) and sophomore Cody Solaja (11 GB) anchor a young close defense while senior, short-stick middie Stephen DeNapoli (4-3-7, 49 GB) and senior pole Adam Mojica (32 GB) are two of the best at their positions. Hofstra also returns both goalies, who split time last season, in junior Andrew Gvozden (4-2, 9.30 GAA, .522 sv. pct.) and sophomore Rob Bellairs (5-3, 8.81 GAA, .398 sv. pct.).
MASSACHUSETTS
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
2010 Record: 8-6
Head Coach: Greg Cannella
The UMass lacrosse team comes off an 8-6 season, which saw the Minutemen ranked as high as No. 9. UMass returns five of its six top scorers of a high-powered offense, which scored nearly 12 goals per game in 2009. The attack includes CAA Rookie of the Year Will Manny (27 goals, 18 assists) and All-CAA selection Anthony Biscardi (21 goals, 14 assists). The Minutemen also welcome back junior goalie Tim McCormack for his second year as a starter as well as close defenseman Tom Celentani, one of the top defenders at forcing turnovers in the nation.
RUTGERS
Conference: BIG EAST
2010 Record: 6-8
Head Coach: Jim Stagnitta
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 2010 campaign which saw them go 6-8 and finish fifth in the inaugural season of BIG EAST lacrosse. RU returns several key players, including Kory Kelly, who scored 20 goals last season. The team also returns the core of their defense in captain Brian Shemesh and Jacob Fradkin. Fradkin led the squad in caused turnovers with 23, while Shemesh was right behind with 19. Additionally, Rutgers returns goalkeeper Rudy Butler, who went 4-2 with 37 saves in his six starts last season.
SYRACUSE
Conference: BIG EAST
2010 Record: 13-2
Head Coach: John Desko
Syracuse won the inaugural BIG EAST regular-season championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 27th time in the last 28 seasons in 2010. The Orange return three first-team All-Americans and led the country in scoring defense last year. Senior John Galloway recorded 144 saves and led the nation in goals against average on his way to winning the Kelly Award as the top Division I goaltender. Senior Stephen Keogh is the team’s leading returning scorer. He had 36 points, including 31 goals, last season.
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