WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A six-year building process for head coach Chris Scanlon culminated in the 2019 season when the Lycoming College men's lacrosse team made its first appearance in the MAC Commonwealth final for the first time in 13 years. Now with a solid nucleus of returning players, which includes six starters and two faceoff specialists, the team is poised to continue building on the strong foundation laid already by the growing program.
 
The Warriors, with 10 juniors and seniors leading 21 underclassmen, will open the season against Susquehanna on Saturday, Feb. 15. Scanlon said this group is as competitive as any team he's coached.
 
"Several players have solidified their spots to date, but they all to have to earn their time day in and day out," Scanlon said. "It has been a good preseason. The guys have worked hard in the weight room, with their conditioning, and in our training. The culture is strong and it is a focused group. Every player is in contention to get time and we want that competition to overflow on game day. There is a great deal of potential with this group, and we have to have compete and be greedy about growth to actualize that potential."
 
Attack
With four of the team's top five point-scorers back from the 2019 squad, the Warriors will have one of the most experienced offensive groups in Scanlon's tenure.
 
Junior Dominick Massaro (Centereach, N.Y./Sachem North) returns as the group's leading scorer on the roster with 31 points and 14 assists for 45 points a season ago. He is joined senior Drew Collins (Victor, N.Y./Victor), who has 95 points in the last two seasons, and sophomore Owen Zimmerman (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico), who scored 19 goals and added nine assists while stepping into the starting lineup midway through the year as a freshman, potentially making up one of the most dangerous first-line attacks in the conference, and one that has both proven passers and scorers.
 
With sophomore Michael Scarponi (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) and freshman Alec Rodden (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) splitting time at attack and midfield, and the addition of freshman Zach Anderson (Fogelsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and Rory Hines (Cortland, N.Y./Cortland), the Warriors will have solid depth in its offensive end.
 
Coach's Take: "We have a solid core of attack returning in Zimmerman, Collins, Massaro, and Scarponi. Zimmerman had a freshmen experience where he had to earn time, and as the season progressed he took advantage of his opportunities when they came. He is an explosive player that every team will need to match with athleticism. If he continues to be a student of the game and develops the nuances of the position, he will be a force. Collins has had a good pre-season and has shown focus and poise with the unit. He is progressing as a leader of the unit and his consistency will generate offense for everyone. Massaro has shown comfort on the inside and we want him to take a step on the perimeter. Scarponi is playing some attack and midfield and is showing production while balancing both roles. Freshmen Rory Hines and Zach Anderson are consistently progressing each week and are in the mix at attack. Alec Rodden is an athletic player that can make an impact as he develops in the system."

Who Returns: Owen Zimmerman, So., 5-9, 170, Stevens, Pa./Cocalico; Drew Collins, Sr., 5-8, 195, Victor, N.Y./Victor; Dominick Massaro, Jr., 6-2, 225, Centereach, N.Y./Sachem North; Michael Scarponi, So., 5-4, 150; Easton, Pa./Easton Area.
Newcomer: Zach Anderson, Fr., 5-7, 150, Fogelsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh; Alec Rodden, Fr., 5-9, 165, Medford, N.J./Shawnee.
 
Midfielders
Headlined by senior Shain Quigley (Lincoln University, Pa./Oxford Area), who was fourth on the team with 19 goals last season, Scanlon is excited with the depth in the midfield, as 10 players will compete for time. The offensive midfield features Quigley, sophomores Blake Premo (Massena, N.Y./Massena) and Max Hanson (Prattville, Ala./Bishop Machebeuf (Colo.) and junior Brandon Waden (West Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), who all worked into the rotation as underclassmen a season ago and will be relied on to continued their growth to provide depth at midfield.  All four players scored at least five goals in 2019, with Hanson providing 12 goals and five assists, Premo offering five goals and seven assists and Waden five goals and an assist.
 
The defensive midfield includes top returning upperclassmen in sophomore Markus Sidwell (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) and senior Nick Russello (Guilford, Conn./Guilford). Sidwell and Russello both caused five turnovers in 2019 and picked up more than 10 groundballs.
 
Junior Jason Chappell (Ellicott City, Md./Boys' Latin), sophomores Michael Scarponi (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) and Jon Marble (Canandaigua, N.Y./Honeoye) and newcomers Joe Corozzo (Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore) and Alec Rodden (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) give the team some added depth both offensively and defensively.
 
Coach's Take: "We are excited about the return of a lot of experience from our midfielders. Quigley, Premo, Hanson, and Waden have shown promise together and have enough experience that they should be markedly better. Chappell, Scarponi, Hines, Marble, and Anderson will be getting runs consistently as well as we continue to explore lines. Our expectations are also very high for Sidwell, Russello, and Corozzo, as they are heading our defensive midfield unit. They are three of our best athletes who can match-up well, but should be catalysts for early offense out of the defensive end."
 
Who Returns: Max Hanson, So, 5-9, 165, Prattville, Ala./Bishop Machebeuf (Colo.); Brandon Waden, Jr., 5-8, 165, West Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta; Markus Sidwell, So., 6-1, 180, Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie; Shain Quigley, Sr., 5-9, 170, Lincoln University, Pa./Oxford Area; Nick Russello, Sr., 6-2, 180, Guilford, Conn./Guilford; Blake Premo, So., 6-0, 153, Massena, N.Y./Massena; Jason Chappell, Jr., 5-10, 170, Ellicott City, Md./Boys' Latin; Jon Marble, So., 5-11, 170, Canandaigua, N.Y./Honeoye.
 
Newcomer: Joe Corozzo, Fr., 5-8, 150, Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore; Rory Hines, Fr., 6-3, 200, Cortland, N.Y./Cortland.

Faceoff Specialists
Sophomore Justin Joseph (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) and senior Max Crumlich (New Cumberland, Pa./Red Land) will continue to be quite a 1-2 punch at the faceoff position, as the Warriors won more than half their faceoffs in 2019 for the first time in six years.
 
Joseph, who earned honorable mention all-conference honors, was sixth in the conference, winning 60 percent at the 'x' and Crumlich ranked 12^th in the league, as he won 51 percent. Joseph offers a quick stick and has the ability to win the faceoff and take it to the goal, but can also grind out faceoff wins and get solid help from wing play. Crumlich, who has gained muscle throughout his career, offers great technique and quick hands, giving a solid complement in style to Joseph.
 
Coach's Take: "Max Crumlich has come in playing his best lacrosse. While we leaned on Joseph last year, we believe the two are complementing each other well this preseason. It is more evenly matched than the end of the season last year. Joseph earned an all-conference nod with his play down the stretch. He showed a tenacity that we expect to be elevated this year.  We are expecting big things from both of them this season."
 
Who Returns: Justin Joseph, So., 5-7, 206, Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area); Max Crumlich, Sr., 5-7, 170, New Cumberland, Pa./Red Land
 
Long-Stick Midfielders
The Warriors return two players at longstick midfielder in senior Grant Huff (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) and junior Jake Davis (Honeoye, N.Y./Honeoye). With two skilled upperclassmen at the position, the coaching staff has relied on their experience to get the defense set and help develop newcomers in freshman Chris Brown (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) and sophomore Josh Hall (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic).
 
Huff played in 30 games in his first two years, grabbing 33 groundballs and causing 17 turnovers while developing into a solid complement to all-conference LSM Austin Arroyo '19, but an injury kept him out in 2019. Back from the injury, Scanlon is looking for Huff to make up for lost time this year. Davis, playing alongside Arroyo in 2019, posted 17 groundballs and caused 12 turnovers.
 
Coach's Take: "Huff is playing his best lacrosse right now. He is playing great position defense, communicating with his unit effectively, and doing well with match-ups. It is great to see that resilience out of a senior who had some tough injury issues. Davis was playing his best lacrosse at the end of the season last year. He is coming along with his cover ability and off-ball play this pre-season. If he competes to the best of his ability, and takes a leap, he will make a huge impact. Hall will see some time as relief at LSM and be competing down low as well. Brown is developing nicely and working to expand his role."
 
Who Returns: Grant Huff, Sr., 5-7, 165, Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post; Jake Davis, Jr., 6-2, 181, Honeoye, N.Y./Honeoye.
 
Newcomer: Chris Brown, Fr., 5-7, 180, Sewell, N.J./ Washington Township; Josh Hall, So., 6-0, 160, Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic
 
Defense
Senior Sam Pollock (Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) and sophomore Ian Chapman (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) will look to solidify the defensive end of the field, which was hit hardest by a graduating class of 12 in 2019.
 
Pollock, who has started 36 games in his first three years, gives the team its most experienced leader in the backfield, as he has caused 19 turnovers and scooped up 52 groundballs in his career. Chapman had a promising rookie year, starting 11 games and helping anchor one of the best defensive lines in the conference.
 
A large group of underclassman will jostle for the final starting spot, as four players could work their way into the rotation defensively.
 
Coach's Take: "Pollock and Chapman have the most experience in starting and relieving at close. They know and understand the position requires great consistency in practice to maintain and break into a starting spot. We expect them to be consistent performers and leaders on the defensive end this year. The third and fourth spot on the depth chart are being challenged day in and day out. While we want a unit to be solidified, we love that the competition will be present for the entire season. It will make us better down there. Washlick, Dede, Balasa, and Hall are all in the mix for the one through four spots."
 
Who Returns: Ian Chapman, So., 5-9, 180, Hampstead, N.Y./Manchester Valley; Mike Washlick, So., 5-11, 182, West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin; Sam Pollock, Sr., 5-10, 200, Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York
 
Newcomer: Andrew Dede, Fr., 5-10, 170, Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts; Brody Balasa, Fr., 6-3, 200, Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin; Josh Hall, So., 6-0, 160, Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic
 
Goalkeepers
After 2019 MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year Michael Tenant graduated Lycoming with all of Lycoming's saves records, Coach Scanlon has opened the goalkeeper position for the first time in three years and four players will have the chance to win the position. Sophomore Michael Turck (Homer, N.Y./Homer) is the only player with collegiate experience, as he recorded 15 saves in 58 minutes a season ago. Three freshmen, Cameron Kuzinar (Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta), Dan Cantafio (West Seneca, N.Y/West Seneca West) and Sean Sonnie (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson), each offer different strengths. Kuzniar comes to Lycoming after setting the New York state high school hockey record for saves in a career, totaling more than 2,300, and also leading Section V in saves as a junior in lacrosse.

Coach's Take: "It is never easy to replace the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, especially at goalie. Tenant was special, but we have great promise at the position. Turck has a year of experience behind Tenant and that should help him. Kuzniar and Turck are neck and neck right now and we want them to keep an iron sharpens iron mindset. Cantafio and Sonnie have worked very hard and are improving every single day. Their attitudes have been a great asset to the entire unit. As the season progresses, it will continue to be a battle. Consistency in play, attitude, and team chemistry will play a big role."
 
Who Returns: Michael Turck, So., 5-10 160, Homer, N.Y./Homer
 
Newcomer: Dan Cantafio, Fr. 5-6, 230, West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca West; Cameron Kuzniar, Fr., 5-10, 170, Rochester, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta; Sean Sonnie, Fr., 6-1, 185, Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson