DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 10, 2023) – The Mercy College men's lacrosse team enters the 2023 season looking to defend their ECC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season. Mercy looks to make the ECC Tournament for the eighth straight season and are ranked No. 2 in the USILA Preseason Coaches Poll after advancing to the National Championship Game for the first time in program history last season.
First-year Head Coach Ryan MacSpadyen and the Mavericks return eight starters from last year's team and bring back seven All-Americans. MacSpadyen also returns five of his top seven scorers and the top four leaders in caused turnovers last season. The Mavericks will also bring back their goalie and top two face-off specialists. Mercy went 16-2 last season, winning the ECC Championship for the third straight time and ended the season ranked a program-best No. 2 nationally.
Mercy was picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll, senior Brady Kearnan was tabbed ECC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and graduate student Jack Kipnes was dubbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Mavericks also had five named to the USILA Preseason All-American Teams. Kearnan, senior Justin Gerdvil and graduate student Jack Gibbons were named to the First Team and Kipnes and graduate student Tommy Umano received Second Team recognition. MacSpadyen also returns eight All-Region honorees from a year ago in Kearnan, Gibbons, Umano, Gerdvil, Kipnes, junior Tyler Pjatak, senior PJ Argiros and junior Damiano Ferrara.
The Mavericks once again will face a challenging schedule taking on seven teams currently ranked in the USILA Preseason Top 20 Poll. Mercy opens their 2023 season on Saturday, February 11th when they play at Dominican at 11 a.m.
Defense
The Mavericks have ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Kipnes and last year's ECC Defensive Player of the Year Gerdvil returning to a defense that allowed just 153 goals in 18 games. Kipnes is named ECC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second time after being named Third Team All-American, Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC last season. The graduate student had 45 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers last season.
Gerdvil was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year after last season and was named USILA Third Team All-American, Second Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC. He ended 2022 with a team-high 24 caused turnovers to go along with 47 ground balls. Graduate student Jake Fitzgerald also returns on defense after being named First Team All-ECC last season. Fitzgerald had 24 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers a year ago.
Senior Zack Higgins also returns on defense after recording eight caused turnovers and 23 ground balls last season. Seniors James Distefano and Omar Morris and juniors Michael Morra and Gabe DeRoché also return after combining for 10 caused turnovers last season.
Looking to make an immediate impact in their first season as Mavericks are freshmen Sean Higgins, Michael Corbo, Danny Fitzgerald, Joe Sorok and Matthew Kramer and sophomore Daniel Mcloughlin.
Returning in goal is Umano who was named Third Team All-American, Second Team All-Region, ECC Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-ECC last season. He went 16-2 last season with 173 saves, a .579 save percentage and 8.53 goals-against average. Also returning in goal is graduate student Joe Tortorella who had 23 saves, a .697 save percentage and 5.70 goals-against average in 105 minutes last season. Also returning are junior Tyler Vassell and sophomore Brett Crecco who combined for 10 saves last season. Freshman Peter Murphy will look to compete for time in his first year as a Maverick.
Midfield
Leading the Mavericks in the midfield is Gibbons who was named First Team All-American, First Team All-Region and First Team All-ECC last season. The graduate student recorded 31 goals, 17 assists, 48 points and 16 ground balls last season. Also returning in the midfield is Pjatak who was named All-American Honorable Mention, Third Team All-Region and Second Team All-ECC last year. The junior had 47 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers. Junior Andrew Calabria will return after being named First Team All-ECC last season. He ended the 2022 season with 21 goals and seven assists.
Senior Robert Guglielmo also returns after playing in 17 games last season. He had four goals and eight assists a year ago. Ferrara will play a key role for the Mavericks after being named Honorable Mention All-Region last season. He ended the 2022 season with 23 ground balls and six caused turnovers. Junior Cristian Castles also returns at midfield after posting 15 ground balls and four caused turnovers last season. Junior Brody Caskenette had eight goals and six assists last season and also returns for the Mavericks. Junior Greg Gibbons and senior Matt Gaughan will also compete for time.
Freshmen Devon Duchnowski, Anthony Barone and Ryken Kutner will look to make an impact in their first season as Mavericks.
Argiros returns for the Mavericks on face-offs after being named All-American Honorable Mention and All-Region Honorable Mention. He won 58.3 percent of his face-offs last season with a team-high 79 ground balls. Junior Jason Kuehner gives MacSpadyen another option after winning 59.1 percent of his face-offs last season with 41 ground balls. Also competing for time will be senior Mustapha Daffeh and sophomore Ryan Resnick.
Attack
Kearnan headlines the returners at attack. The senior was named First Team All-American, First Team All-Region, ECC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ECC last season. He recorded 40 goals, 43 assists and 83 points. The senior led the ECC in points and assists. Senior TJ Heyder also returns after being named Second Team All-ECC last season. He was named ECC Offensive Player of the Week once and had 28 goals and 13 assists.
Junior Justin DeMonte and sophomores Ryan Smith and Ian Votta also return after combining for nine goals last season.
Graduate student Thomas Connors and freshmen Jack Agres and Connor Abrahall will compete for time in their first season at Mercy.
