WATERVILLE, Maine -- With 30 of the 44 players on the roster at sophomore standing or younger, the Colby College men's lacrosse team starts the 2019 season with one of the youngest teams in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.
The Mules, 6-7 overall last year, get a tough test in the season opener. Colby plays host to fourth-ranked Amherst College at 1 p.m. Saturday at Harold Alfond Stadium.
"They are working hard and have prepared well to start the season. We believe that the talent and competitive level of the team has increased and have noticed a higher level of athleticism all over the field," Colby head coach Guy Van Arsdale said. "I would be surprised if we didn't notice a tremendous amount of growth as a team over the season. We like where we are headed and how well this group works together."
Junior midfielder CJ Hassan (Miami, Fla.) had a breakout season last year with 25 goals and 10 assists to finish second on the team in scoring with 35 points. Sophomore attacker Charlie Lynch (pictured, Bethesda, Md.) had a fine first season with 17 goals, seven assists, and a 54.8 shot percentage.
Midfielder Don Vivian (Slingerlands, N.Y., 9 goals, 9 assists), sophomore attacker Riley Bergstrom (Duxbury, Mass., 7 goals, 4 assists), and sophomore midfielder Bill Jacobs (Yarmouth, Maine, 3 goals, 7 assists) are other leading returning scorers.
The Mules will have both of their face-off men back, with Joe Paolatto (Sherborn, Mass.) leading the way with 128 wins last season as a first-year. Jung Shin (Springfield, Va.) added 35 draws.
Colby is hoping for offensive help from junior transfer Lane Kadish (Salt Lake City, Utah), who played with the Mules as a first-year. He transferred to Westminster College and had more than 70 points for the Griffins last year. Kadish had 10 goals and five assists in 11 games as a first-year.
Senior Max Cushman (Marblehead, Mass.) also returns on attack. The Mules will look for scoring from first-years Beck French (Powell, Ohio), Michael Minard (South Salem, N.Y.), and Jack Rickards (Andover, Mass.).
The Mules have plenty of depth in the midfield behind Hassan, Vivian, and Jacobs. Senior Colton Michel (Redondo Beach, Calif.) had 18 goals and 14 assists in just 12 games two years ago, but did not play last year.
Rock Tonkel (Washington, D.C.), Aidan McCleary (Olney, Md.), Derek Muse (Kennebunkport, Maine), Carter Vickers (Brunswick, Maine), Michael Cliff (Kathonah, N.Y.), Gerald Nvule (Woburn, Mass.), Jake Kirby (Darien, Conn.), and Carlos Beason (Chagonas, Trinidad & Tobago) are returners in the midfield.
Midfield newcomers include George Eisenhauer (Beverly Shores, Ind.), Noah Froio (Cohasset, Mass.), Conrad Hampson (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), Bret Miller (Andover, Mass.), and Jack Sine (South Dartmouth, Mass.).
Tom Ginolfi (Ipswich, Mass.), Justin Huber (Las Vegas, Nev.), and Nick Percarpio (Darien, Conn.) all return as long-stick midfielders. First-years Will Dodge (Pelham, N.Y.) and Owen Hobbs (Belvedere Tiburon, Calif.) also will play the position.
Two-time All-NESCAC goaltender C.J. Layton (Wakefield, Mass.) returns for his senior season. Sophomore Billy Chizmar (Abingdon, Md.) and first-year Cooper Giblin (Westboro, Mass.) are the other keepers.
While the Mules had some tough graduation losses on defense, seniors Michael McHale (Summit, N.J.) and Taylor Haberstock (Skaneateles, N.Y.) are back along with Jack Marschke (Chappaqua, N.Y.), Christian Jibilian (Madison, Conn.), and Finn McNamara (Ridgefield, Conn.).
First-year defenders Jason Baisley (Weston, Conn.), Cole Englert (Jamaica Plain, Mass.), Connor Klingenberg (Waxhaw, N.C.), Henry Nelson (Carlisle, Mass.), and Ian Reddy (Chappaqua, N.Y.) look to make an immediate impact.
Recap, photo courtesy of Colby
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