WATERVILLE, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy was picked as the favorite to repeat as champions in the 2023 North Atlantic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Tournament. The Mariners received five out of 10 first-place votes to top the preseason coaches’ poll with 91 points.
In 2022, the Mariners were crowned NAC champions for the first time in program history after defeating SUNY Delhi and then SUNY Canton in the NAC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament.
With 83 points, SUNY Delhi earned second place with three first-place votes. Tied at 75 points apiece put SUNY Poly and SUNY Canton deadlocked for third place, with SUNY Poly receiving one first-place vote. Coming in at fifth and sixth place are Husson University (62 points) and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (45 points). SUNY Cobleskill (38 points) and Thomas College (34 points) follow MCLA at seventh and eighth place. Cazenovia College and NVU-Lyndon complete the poll in ninth and tenth place.
Early season non-conference games are underway with the first North Atlantic Conference games taking place on Saturday, March 18. The NAC slate begins in earnest the following Saturday, March 25, with NAC games on tap.
The 2023 NAC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament will take place on Friday, May 5, 2023 at the site of the overall #1 seed, with the top four teams from the regular season advancing to the semifinals. The championship game will be played on Sunday, May 7, 2023.
Complete poll results and capsule previews for the North Atlantic Conference’s 10 teams are below:
1. Maine Maritime Academy – 91 points (5 first-place votes)
Head Coach: Brandon Melville (18-17/Four seasons at Maine Maritime and overall)
2022 Record: 9-7 overall, 6-2 conference/T-3rd in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Jayden Wilson (Attack, Senior, Lewiston, ME) - 90 pts., 51 G, 39 A, .411 SH%, 4 Man Up Goals, 53 GBs, 10 CTs, First Team All-NAC, NAC Tournament MVP
Sam Nichol (Midfield, Sophomore, Concord, NH) - 45 pts., 32 G, 13 A, .317 SH%, 7 Man Up Goals, 16 GBs, 8 CTs, Second Team All-NAC, NAC All-Tournament Team
Alex Stevens (Attack, Junior, South Portland, ME) - 69 pts., 49 G, 20 A, .441 SH%, 5 Man Up Goals, 4 Man Down Goals, 37 GBs, 9 CTs, Second Team All-NAC, NAC All-Tournament Team
Zach McCarthy (Goalie, Sophomore, Malvern, PA) - 11.47 GAA, 133 SVs, .510 SV%, Second Team All-NAC, NAC All-Tournament Team
Jed Astbury (FOGO, Senior, Woodstock, VT) - 7 pts., 3 G, 4 A, .375 SH%, 219-432 FO, .507 FO%, 127 GB
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: The Mariners look to build off their strong 2022 season with a talented group of returnees and first year class that will look to make an immediate impact.
2. SUNY Delhi – 83 points (3 first-place votes)
Head Coach: Sam Miller (35-35/Seven seasons at SUNY Delhi and overall)
2022 Record: 8-7 overall, 7-1 conference/1st in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Benjamin Moscatiello (A/M, Sophomore, Miller Place, NY) - 35 G, 11 A, 2022 First Team All-NAC
Jack McClurg (Attack, Senior, Marlborough, CT) - 19 G, 11 A
Samuel Steng (Goalie, Sophomore, Warwickm NY) - 2022 NAC Co-Defender of the Year who will be a big help on the back line. Steng started 14 games last year in goal as a freshman, saving 121 shots and only allowing 106 goals. He was one of the top goalies in the conference and will be looking to take a step up in his sophomore year.
Zachary Seebach (Defense, Senior, Manorville, NY) – 31 GB
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: We return a ton of production all over the field from last year's squad, as well as added on 18 new players. We will look to continue to build our chemistry and get better day by day.
T-3. SUNY Poly – 75 points (1 first-place vote)
Head Coach: Brandon Misiaszek (41-32/Six seasons at SUNY Poly and overall)
2022 Record: 7-6 overall, 6-1 conference/2nd in theNAC
Top Returning Players
Payton Thomas (Midfield, So., Corning, N.Y.) - 18 G, 3 A, 22 GB, 9 CT, Second Team All-NAC
Andrew Maycock (Attack, Sr., Deerfield, N.Y.) – 12 G, 8 A, 5 CT, 14 GB
Steve Sullivan (Defense, Sr., Carthage, N.Y.) – 9 CT, 39 GB, 2 pts.
Joe VanZandt (Goalie, Jr., Pittsford, N.Y.) - 3-1 Record, 47 saves, .461 save pct.
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: A solid group of returners are joined by 13 new faces this year on the SUNY Poly men's lacrosse roster. The young core will look to come together and create chemistry to have success this season. 13 new players.
T-3. SUNY Canton – 75 points
Head Coach: Pat Harrington (62-73/11 seasons at SUNY Canton and overall)
2022 Record: 9-7 overall, 6-2 conference/T-3rd in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Alex Jacobs (Attack, So., Adams Center, NY) - 2022 First Team All-NAC, 47 G, 55 pts., 37 GB, 10 CT
Austin Mesler (Attack, So., Adams, NY) - 2022 First Team All-NAC, 33 G, 22 A, 55 pts., 32 GB, 13 CT
Logan McCargar (Midfield, So, Potsdam, NY) - 13 G, 5 A, 26 GB, 5 CT
Noel Abreu (Midfield/FO specialist, Sr., Manhattan, NY) – 2022 Second Team All-NAC, 191 FO wins, .590 FO %, 131 GB, 3 G, 7 A
Caeden Goodnough (Attack, So., Adams, NY) – 15 G, 18 A, 58 GB
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: The Roos 2023 roster will feature 22 players with 14 returners and eight newcomers as the Roos look to return to the NAC championship game after a strong 2022 season. The Roos lose 2022 NAC Player of the Year Hunter Olsen to graduation, who had 101 points a season ago. However, the Roos bring back seven players who scored 10 or more points last season. 2022 NAC First Team All-Conference performers Alex Jacobs and Austin Mesler lead the way offensively as the duo scored 55 points each last year with Jacobs posting 47 goals and eight assists and Mesler tallying 33 goals and 22 assists. Caeden Goodnough (15 goals, 13 assists) and Kyle Fingar (11 goals, 10 assists) both had 20 or more points. The Roos will have to rebuild defensively after losing most of their starters in the back. The team welcomes back Sam Servati in net who went 9-7 with a .491 save % in 2022. Noel Abreu, a NAC Second Team All-Conference performer last season at face off specialist, returns for the Roos after winning nearly 60% of his face offs last season. He set program records in single-game ground balls (25) and single-season face off wins (191) and ground balls (131).
5. Husson University – 62 points
Head Coach: Mike O’Neill (95-71/11 seasons at Husson and overall)
2022 Record: 6-11 overall, 3-5 conference/T-5th in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Gunner McAllister (MF, Grad., Albion, ME) - 57 G, 18 A, 62 GB, All-NAC
Danny Carter (A, Jr., Newton, MA) - 36 G, 14 A
Ben Huynh (MF, Sr., Pawcatuck, CT) - 18 G, 9 A
Gus Eisenman (D, Sr., Dover, N.H.) – 3 A, 63 GB, 26 CT, All-NAC
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: The Eagles return two all-conference players from a season ago including three of the league’s leading goal scorers and the leading goal scorer in Gunner McAllister.
Additionally, Husson welcomes back Gus Eisenman its all-conference defender and brings in a talented freshman class that compete right away.
6. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts – 45 points
Head Coach: Kevin Pezanowski (5-14/Three seasons at MCLA)
2022 Record: 4-9 overall, 3-5 conference/T-5th in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Nathan Haley (Attack, So., North Adams, MA) – 48 G, 10 A, 58 pts., 43 GB, 2022 NAC Rookie of the Year
Nate Allen (LSM, Sr., Cold Spring, NY) – 3 G, 3 A, 6 pts., 69 GB, 9 CT
Matt Ortiz (Midfield/FO, Sr., Cold Spring, NY) – 3 G, 2 A, 5 pts., 83 GB, 151-308 FO
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: The team is looking to improve their overall and league record from last season. The team has added some additional numbers that should help with performance and depth.
7. SUNY Cobleskill – 38 points
Head Coach: Greg Valachovic (3-7/One season at Cobleskill)
2022 Record: 3-7 overall, 1-5 conference/8th in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Sean D'Amaro (Midfield, Jr., Northport, N.Y.) 28 G, 6 A, 34 Pts, 24 GB
Gregory Neumann (Attack, Jr., Accord, N.Y.) 25 G, 7 A, 32 Pts, 35 GB
John Williams (Goalie, So., Smyrma, Del.) 3-5 record, 166 saves, .559 save pct., 15.35 GAA
Jarrett Helgerson (Defense, So., Southhampton, N.Y.) 29 GB, 23 CT
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: The Fighting Tigers will return a veteran squad this year with 15 returning lettermen among them the team's five top returning scorers and starting goalkeeper John Williams.
8. Thomas College – 34 points
Head Coach: Bill Scott (0-0/First season)
2022 Record: 2-10 overall, 2-6 conference/7th in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Daniel MacWhinnie (Attackman, Graduate Student, Lanesboro, MA) – 20 G, 8 A, 28 pts., 25 GB
William Heywood (Attackman, Senior, Grey, ME) – 15 G, 4 A, 19 pts., 26 GB,
Max Irons (Attackman, Senior, Limerick, ME) – 21 G, 11 A, 32 pts., 32 GB,
Dominic DeSimone (Defenseman, Senior, Millersville, MD) – 36 GB, 20 CT
Patrick Buxton (Senior, Goalie, Portland, ME) – 122 GA, 120 Saves, 16.27 GAA, .496 save pct.
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: Strengths: Enthusiasm and work ethic. Areas of Improvement: Consistency and ability to improve overall play throughout the course of the season. We have a good mix of returning players, and a solid group of freshmen players who will be expected to contribute immediately. Overall, we have a great group of upperclassmen leaders, and players who are determined to be the best versions of themselves on, and off the field.
9. Cazenovia College – 27 points (1 first-place vote)
Head Coach: Andy Nardella (First season)
2022 Record: 0-0 (Program did not compete in 2022)
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: The Wildcats are a young team that is going to go out and play hard every day in the last season of men's lacrosse at Cazenovia College.
10. NVU-Lyndon – 20 points
Head Coach: Doug Steele (1-15/2 seasons at NVU-Lyndon and overall)
2022 Record: 1-10 overall, 0-7 conference/ 9th in the NAC
Top Returning Players
Koltin Leduc (Midfield, Junior, Tunbridge, VT) 10 GP, 6 GS, 8 GB
Jack Cushman (Defense, Sophomore, St. Johnsbury, VT) - 11 GP/GS in 2022, 2 GB, 3 CT
Coaches Assessment of 2023 Team: Young team with great commitment to learn and play at a competitive level.