This week, the men’s varsity lacrosse team will start off their season as they open against St. John Fisher.
The team was supposed to play Skidmore this past Saturday, but due to weather conditions the game will be postponed for March 22nd. The team will start the season at home as they try to make a home stand statement.
The team finished 13-7 last season, beating every team in their conference with a 7-0 record. The team had an impressive home record of 8-2 at home, but struggled on the road with a record of 5-3.
The team would make it to the second round of the playoffs where they would lose a close game to St. Lawrence 14-15. Dante Yacavone, senior attack and junior midfielder Tyler Starrett would each have 3 goals, unfortunately not being enough to advance.
The team will be looking for redemption this season, as they have a lot to prove as to why they should be named one of the best Lacrosse programs in the division.
The coaching staff stays the same as it was last season, as head coach Steve Beville and assistant Matt Cuita will remain with the team.
Graduate Student Dante Yacavone will remain with the team for another season, as the team hopes Yacavone will contribute as much as he did last season.
Yacavone was first team ALL-SUNYAC, as well as USILA All-American honors. He would also receive SUNYAC Men’s Lacrosse Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Yacavone would play 17 games last season and would start all but one. He led the team with 51 total points, scoring 28 goals and 23 assists, both team highs. His season high last season would come against Nazareth, putting up 8 total points, scoring 4 and assisting 4 goals.
The matchup against St. Johns Fisher won’t be a breeze for Cortland though, as their lacrosse program has been very impressive. The team finished 16-3 last season but lost in the playoffs to number 4 ranked Tufts University.
Cortland would lose the last time the two teams played each other 20-8. The team will be ready to play, as this is their first game of the season and want to have a strong start.