MLAX 2022 Season Preview: Defense

2/3/2022 11:53:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse

Veteran unit looks to provide backbone for team success

By: Dan Avington (COMM '22)

MILWAUKEE - The hallmark of Marquette men's lacrosse has always been defense.

Since the program's first year of competition in 2013, MU has been defined by its hard-nosed defensive effort and ability to frustrate opponents. This season, it's no different.

"The defense is, and has always been, the foundation of Marquette lacrosse, and it will continue to be," head coach Andrew Stimmel said. "We always want to build back-to-front, you need to play great defense to win games."

And in 2022, they have the talent and experience in the back end to set some lofty goals.

"Our expectation is to win the BIG EAST tournament, make it to the NCAAs and win there," defenseman Mason Woodward said. "My biggest goal is to have the best defense in the BIG EAST, if not the country. We've worked really hard in the fall and especially this winter. We've set the expectations high."

CLOSE DEFENSE

The Golden Eagles defense all starts with two all-conference returnees at close defense in Mason Woodward and Zach Granger.

Woodward, a redshirt sophomore, is coming off a season where he earned USILA All-American and unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team honors. The Towson, Maryland, native led all players with 18 caused turnovers and put forth the most ground balls (54) among non-face-off specialists in the BIG EAST.

Granger is also coming off an excellent year, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team honors. The redshirt junior caused 16 turnovers and scooped up 25 ground balls, while scoring two goals and contributing two assists.

"I really just want to focus on our unit goals and how we want to play, continuing that legacy of what a Marquette defense is," Granger said. "We all want what's best for our unit as a whole. I would put our guys up against anybody in the country."

Projected to fill the third starting spot is David Lamarca, a sophomore who appeared in five games in his freshman season at LSM. Providing depth behind the three starters will be redshirt freshmen Ryan Kilcoyne, Billy Rojack and Jack Kinney.

"We have an embarrassment of riches on our defense," Granger said. "You can insert any guy into that spot, even my spot. Anybody can play because we're such a tight knit group, and defense is really about playing together. It isn't necessarily about talent, it's just working as a collective unit."

Redshirt sophomore James Amorosana will likely be the team's man-down specialist after playing in nine games a season ago.

LSM

The other long pole group for the Golden Eagles features a number of experienced players that will rotate in at long-stick midfield.

Redshirt sophomore Noah Verlinde appeared in 12 games a season ago, scooping up 16 ground balls and causing five turnovers.

Logan Kreinz, a product of Delafield, Wisconsin, has played in 23 games over three seasons, totaling three goals, 18 ground balls and eight caused turnovers.

After missing most of last season with a hip injury, redshirt senior Moey Lardy returns with 27 games under his belt. Freshman Brenden Boyle, a product of The Hill Academy in Ontario, will also factor into the rotation.

SSDM

One of the deepest units for Marquette is at the short stick defensive midfielder position.

"Guys that have proven themselves year-in and year-out are Anthony Courcelle and Jacob Hallam," graduate student and team captain Jordan Schmid said. "Those two have been guys that we can count on no matter what, whether it be end of the clock, one-goal game, whatever it is, we can count on those two as cover guys to make plays."

Adding to the group will be returnees Aaron Joseph and Max Kruszeski, as well as transfer Mitch Salanty and freshman Tommy Casey.

"We've got depth at the 'd-mid' position so we're really excited to play fast, play a full-field game and get a lot of guys out there," Schmid said. "We're confident in a lot of guys to be out there and play for us on Saturdays."

FACE-OFF

MU's face-off group will likely employ a rotation, with multiple players capable of stepping into a starting role.

"We need to be way better there than we've been in the past," Stimmel said. "These guys know that and that's a big part of our team taking the next step is winning more face-offs. We've been really impressed with that group overall."

Redshirt sophomore Luke Williams, redshirt junior Thomas Washington and Colorado Mesa transfer Cole Emmanuel, who went 73.8% in two seasons at Division II, each bring a different approach and will all see time at the face-off dot.

GOAL

The men between the pipes will look different than years past.

None of Marquette's three rostered goaltenders have seen action yet in the Blue & Gold, but each bring a unique skillset to the position.

Max Christides, a transfer from UMass Lowell, boasts the most experience of the group, having started seven games last year for the River Hawks.

"Max is really excited for the opportunity to compete," Stimmel said. "He is a guy that has experience in college, has made some big saves at the Division I level, and has a number of games where he made 20-plus saves."

Outside of Christides, redshirt freshmen Jamie Grant and Michael Allieri both had phenomenal high school careers and provide strong options in the cage.

"I'm excited with the three goalies that we have, any one can step in at any different time and help us win," Woodward said. "That's going to be one of the strong points of our team this year, all three of them are going to do so well for us."

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