US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 2. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February.
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No. 17 Albany
2018 Record: 16-3 (5-1 America East)
Coach: Scott Marr (19th year)
All-Time Record: 367-296
NCAA Appearances: 10
Final Fours: 1
Championships: 0
The 2018 season was a historic one for Albany men’s lacrosse — a high-powered Great Danes team led by Tewaaraton finalist Connor Fields burst onto the scene, hit No. 1 in the nation and advanced to the final four for the first time in school history.
But shortly after the clock hit zero in the NCAA semifinal loss to Yale at Gillette Stadium, the focus shifted to the 2019 season. As successful as last season was, coach Scott Marr knew the next campaign would be a completely different challenge.
Gone from the final four team were Fields, fellow captain JD Colarusso, brothers Troy and Justin Reh and Kyle McClancy. In total, four All-Americans left the Albany program through graduation.
Then, weeks after the season ended, news broke that TD Ierlan would transfer to NCAA champion Yale. There went another All-American, not to mention someone who’s being called the greatest faceoff specialist of all-time after last year’s record-setting season.
A young core will now attempt to keep the Dane Train rolling.
“It’s always tough to see great players leave your program,” Marr said. “It’s hard for me to turn the page. But when you recruit the younger guys — it’s their time. This is their opportunity, and it’s fun to coach them. You’re just working with a whole new group, forming chemistry and relationships with those guys on the field and off it.”
Leading that group of young guns is honorable-mention All-American Tehoka Nanticoke, who scored 50 goals and added 32 assists in his phenomenal freshman season. He projects to lead the offense as a righty ball carrier, but he skipped the fall season for personal reasons.
The lack of time to develop chemistry between Nanticoke and the rest of the offensive unit, which includes lefty Jakob Patterson and a midfield line of names like Sean Eccles and Alex Burgmaster, could be a factor early on in 2019.
Although Marr would have loved to have his star on campus in the fall, it may have helped his underclassmen garner more responsibility within the offense.
“I tried not to put too much emphasis on [Nanticoke] not being there in the fall,” Marr said. “In fact, it could have been good for us and our guys to take on a different role for themselves.”
If Nanticoke returns to form this season, Marr’s excited to see him work with Patterson to form a strong duo. It may not be Fields-Nanticoke or Thompson-Thompson or Thompson-Fields, but Nanticoke-Patterson could be a very productive tandem.
On the back end, the Great Danes will hope to replace all three poles, Stone Sims at close defense and stalwart Colarusso in the cage. Look out for freshman Tanner Hay to get playing time right away on defense.
Will it be a repeat of last season’s success? That remains to be seen, but significant contributions from 2018 role players will need to be made for another trip to the NCAA tournament.