Men’s lacrosse returns to action for the spring 2023 season starting tonight at Schmidt Stadium.

Head coach Curtis Jaques is entering his eighth season as head coach of the Colonels and his last season coaching the team in the Freedom side of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC).

“Entering the Landmark Conference next year, I feel that this will be our last hurrah in the MAC,” said Jaques. “We are going to play every game like a MAC Championship and stay focused on performing at our best one game at a time.”

The Colonels finished last season with a record of 5-12 and are looking to bounce back through veteran leadership and team chemistry.

“This team is very versatile and tough,” said Jaques. “We will be attacking the pipes with big bodies on offense and we will see our poles being much more involved with the transition game and scoring. We have young talent on offense that will be playing together for the next few years and it’s great seeing the chemistry develop. We also have great senior leadership and our goalies keep us honest shooters in practice.”

Last year, Eric Ormsby (graduated) led the team with 38 goals and 24 assists, leading the team in each category. Current senior Tyler Knappenberger netted 14 goals last season—the most of any returning player on this season’s roster.

The Colonels return five current seniors: Knappenberger, Hunter Riley, Bradley Anacreon, Jacob Kudysch and Dillon Kadis.

The majority of the Colonels’ roster is made up of 11 juniors: Joseph Marino, Colby Opromolla, Austin Seames, Tucker Parmer, Tommy Steffney, Blake Billingsley, Brendan Keegan, Henry O’Connor, Matthew Warns, Tyler Haasis and Bryan Schulcz.

The sophomore class adds nine to the roster: Joseph Kozlowski, Cameron Krisko, Luke Weakland, Aiden Battista, Luke Wawrzynek, Charles Gordon, Nicholas DeVitis, Jackson Casper, Justin Wawrzynek and Anthony DelDuca.

Joseph Markey, Michael Rauch, Caleb Miller, Cole Bourgeois and Tim Hartka are the five first-year students that the Colonels are welcoming to the team.

Senior face-off/midfielder Bradley Anacreon is looking to give his all every step of the way this season, along with the rest of his teammates.

“I expect this season for us to work hard in practice every single day and also to compete in every single game we play, no matter who it is against,” said Anacreon.

Anacreon, who also is a member of the Colonels’ men’s basketball team, realizes the value of being a veteran mind on a mainly younger roster.

“Lacrosse has been a sport I have played ever since I was in middle school,” said Anacreon. “Last season was my first season playing on the team at Wilkes and after playing last season I now have a good understanding of college lacrosse. Being one of the older guys, my teammates can trust me and rely on me.”

As a result of the nice weather in the area recently, the team played in their first Passing scrimmage on Feb. 5.

“We still need to get rid of some rust before our first game,” said Anacreon, who is still in basketball season. “But the guys had their first scrimmage and that was a good experience to play against another team and get the in-game feeling again.”

The Colonels are looking to make their mark in the MAC Freedom. The team is working hard every single day, on and off of the field to produce their best efforts.

“Every Monday morning lift, our seniors and captain leadership set the tone for the week,” said Coach Jaques. “We are here to work and play fast.”

Again, the Colonels will be opening up their season at Schmidt Stadium tonight against Susquehanna University. Following their first game, Wilkes will host Juniata College on Feb. 18. MAC Freedom play begins on March 29. when the Colonels face off against Arcadia University.