Men’s Lacrosse

The men’s lacrosse team begins their season this Saturday, Feb. 20 vs. St. Mary’s on the road before their season opener on Wednesday, Feb. 24 vs. Elizabethtown.  The Red Devils are primed and ready for the 2016 campaign after falling in the Centennial Conference Semifinals to Ursinus last season 8-6. It will be the 15th season for Coach Dave Webster whose teams have been perennial success stories for Dickinson athletics.

Last season they finished the season 7-9 overall and 5-3 in conference after pulling off four consecutive wins to end the regular season and make the conference tournament. They lose 2015 senior captains Brett Parker, Slay Sudah and Mike Smith, midfielder Tyler White, defenseman D.J. Henderson and several other key players.

Nonetheless the team is excited about their prospects this year. Senior longpole Nick Shepherd ‘16 said as much, explaining that the team “had an incredibly productive fall season and winter workout program” and that “the first several weeks of practice have been productive and fun. I firmly believe that this team will be a force to reckon with in the Centennial Conference.” He finished by saying that the team is eager to begin the regular season and to “watch out for the Red Devils in 2016.”

Shepherd is one of ten seniors who have accumulated 34 wins in their three plus seasons with the team. Nick Baxter ’16 anchors the defense in goal once again after starting all 16 games last season and leading scorer Chris Menard ‘16 (30 points, 20 goals in 2015) will be a force around the net.

Women’s Lacrosse

The women’s lacrosse team has a few more weeks of preseason ahead of them before beginning their 2016 campaign Sunday, March 6 at home against Mount Union followed by a home matchup with York Wednesday, March 9. They will then travel south for spring break.

The Lady Devils finished last season 8-7 overall and 4-5 in conference in Coach Lowry’s second year behind the helm. Like the men’s team, it was an up and down season as they finished sixth in the final conference standings. They lose three seniors from last year in attackman Carly O’Brien, middie Kelly Haglund and goalie JoJo Auerbach. All will be missed, but especially O’Brien who led the Red Devils offense with an outstanding 43 points and 27 goals.

That production will need to come form somewhere else this season and that starts with Maddie Siebold ’17 and Jenn Morrissey ’16 who rounded out the top three leading scorers from 2015. Tara Cuddihy ‘17 looks to be in goal now that Auerbach has moved on. Colleen Zulty ‘16 and Moira Mahoney ’16 will sure up the defense after starting frequently last year.

Coach Lowry brings in another stellar freshmen class who look to make an instant impact on the field. The extra weeks of preparation should put the team in a great position to make a major impact in the Centennial.