WATERVILLE, Maine -- The Colby College men's lacrosse team opens the 2017 season Sunday with a new coaching staff, 15 newcomers, and nine of their top 11 scorers returning.
Guy Van Arsdale, the Jack Sandler Memorial Men's Lacrosse Head Coach, and the Mules will play at Hamilton College on Sunday at noon. The game was scheduled for Saturday, but was pushed back a day because of a cold weather forecast.
While it is just the season opener, the contest will be big for both teams. After the death of head coach Sandler in November 2015, Colby struggled to a 3-12 season and did not win a NESCAC game. Hamilton is coming off a 4-11 season and had its lone conference win in an 11-10 come-from-behind win over the Mules. Colby led 5-0 after the opening 11:04 of the contest.
The Mules were hurt in the Hamilton game when attacker Austin Sayre (Summit, N.J.) was injured in the opening quarter and missed the next seven games. Sayre (pictured), a co-captain this year, still managed to finish tied for fifth on the team in scoring with 12 goals and four assists. He was All-NESCAC Second Team as a sophomore and the NESCAC Rookie of the Year.
Kevin Seiler (Darien, Conn.) is a proven scorer after tallying 60 times over the past two seasons. He led the Mules last year in scoring with 34 goals and four assists for 38 points. Meanwhile, Colton Michel (Redondo Beach, Calif.) had a big first season with 28 goals (team-best four man-up) and nine assists for 37 points. Seiler had a solid 37.4 shooting percentage and Michel was at 34.6.
Junior attackers Kevin Beil (Manhasset, N.Y., 7 goals, 2 assists) and Harrison Alpaugh (Wellesley Hills, Mass., 3 goals, 1 assist) return along with sophomores Max Cushman (Marblehead, Mass., 5 goals, 3 assists), Scott Miller (New Castle, N.H., 4 goals, 4 assists), and Andrew Ward (Wellesley, Mass., 2 goals). First-years Mason Brady (Menlo Park, Calif.), Teddy Fenton (Cumberland, R.I.), and Lane Kadish (Los Angeles, Calif.) will look for minutes on attack.
Cillian Connor (Glen Ridge, N.J.) is the top returning scorer in the midfield with eight goals and eight assists last year. He was second on the Mules in man-up goals with three. Yuta Murata (Newport Beach, Calif., 5 goals, 4 assists), Tucker Dietrick (Wellesley, Mass., 3 goals, 4 assists), William Erwin (New York, N.Y., 4 goals, 1 assist), Myles Smith (Springfield, Mass., 5 goals), Don Vivian (Slingerlands, N.Y.), Carlos Beason (Bronx, N.Y.), Jared Snyder (Baltimore, Md.), and Mike Logan (McLean, Va.) all return in the midfield. Vivian had nine caused turnovers and 19 ground balls last year.
Junior Matt Sindler (Annapolis, Md.) also plays a key role in the midfield and on face-offs. He won nearly 44 percent of his face-offs a year ago and will be the main Mule on the draw this year.
Sophomore Gerry Nvule (Woburn, Mass.), who plays on the football team, is a newcomer for the Mules. First-year midfielders Sean Dillmeier (Garden City, N.Y.), Peter DiFrancesco (Byfield, Mass.), CJ Hassan (Miami, Fla.), Rocky Tonkel (Washington, D.C.), and Brendan Seiler (Darien, Conn.) also will play in the midfield.
C.J. Layton (Wakefield, Mass.) is the only returning goaltender, but he played just 67 minutes last year as a first-year. First-years Payton Fales (San Clemente, Calif.) and Christian Carlino (Garden City, N.Y.) will battle Layton for the starting job.
With inexperience in goal, the Mules will need to be strong on defense. Graham Lian (Alexandria, Va.) had 32 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers, while fellow junior Brad McCarthy (Darien, Conn.) had 30 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers. Senior co-captain Sean Dougherty (14 ground balls, 6 caused turnovers) is a veteran presence.
Joe Anile IV (Bayville, N.Y.), Riley Burke (Corte Madera, Calif.), Taylor Haberstock (Skaneateles, N.Y.), Michael McHale (Summit, N.J.), John Pappas (Boston, Mass.), and Josh Reed (Woolwich, Maine) all saw time on defense last year. First-years Chris Battaglia (Manhasset, N.Y.), Jesse Higgins (Rockport, Mass.), Justin Huber (Las Vegas, Nev.), Jack Marschke (Chappaqua, N.Y.), and Jamie Meade (Rye Beach, N.H.) will look for time on defense.
Van Arsdale, with success on the Division I and III levels, is joined by assistants Ryan O'Hagan and Casey Dowd. O'Hagan played at Canisius College and Dowd competed for Siena College. O'Hagan will work with the team's defense, while Dowd ranks among NCAA leaders all-time in face-off wins and attempts.
