LINKS: NAC MEN'S LACROSSE 2021 SEASON PREVIEW
WATERVILLE, Me. (March 16, 2021) – Just days after celebrating their first game in over a year, the SUNY Delhi men's lacrosse team received word they were selected third in Tuesday's NAC West Preseason Poll, earning 10 points with one first-place vote. SUNY Poly earned the top spot with 15 points and three first-place votes, while SUNY Canton slotted second with 11 points and SUNY Cobleskill fourth with four points. The Broncos open their NAC season this weekend versus SUNY Cobleskill.
Head Coach Sam Miller is back for his fifth season leading the Broncos. He holds a 24-24 career record, including 13-9 since the Broncos joined the NAC in 2019 and 5-1 in league competition, with one conference playoff appearance. This year's teams captains are Ryan Cumisky (East Quogue, NY / Westhampton Beach), Brian Conti (Cortlandt Manor, NY / Putnam Valley), Nick Dower (Oneonta, NY / Oneonta), and Brandon McGrath (Campbell Hall, NY / Goshen Central).
Coach Miller's team began its 2021 season on Sunday against Morrisville State in a tough-fought contest that resulted in a 9-4 decision for the Mustangs. Sophomore attackman Aidan Costello led the Broncos with two goals, while junior King White and freshman Greg Junge had one goal apiece. Junior Logan Bauer tallied one assist. Goalies Dante Restaino and newcomer James Sullivan split halves in goal, each totaling four saves. Junior midfielder and faceoff man Nick Dower won five faceoffs, while sophomore middie Nick Scarpa won three.
The NAC East Poll had Husson and Thomas tied for first, with each earning 13 points and two first-place votes. MCLA and Northern Vermont Lyndon tied for third with seven points. Due to safety protocols put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, member schools will compete within their division, playing each opponent twice in a home/away format.
The Broncos played five games in 2020, chalking up a 2-3 record before its untimely cancellation. Costello led the NAC with 16 goals and ranked third with 18 points. Delhi's two wins came against Randolph, 20-5, in the season opener, then at Wells, 21-5, in early March. The Broncos also squared off against Randolph Macon, Virginia Wesleyan, and SUNY Brockport.
Delhi hopes to keep building off its impressive first season in the NAC from 2019, tallying 11 wins, finishing second in the conference standings, and making the league tournament. Two of the Broncos' 2019 All-NAC selections are back this season in Dower and defenseman Ryan Cumisky. Through 23 games in his career, Dower, who led the NAC in faceoffs as a freshman, has won 282-of-473 faceoffs, while earning ten points on seven goals and three assists. Cumisky was part of a defense in 2019 that ranked first in the NAC with just 141 goals allowed, while causing 179 turnovers.
Junior attackman McGrath looks to reclaim his status as another scoring threat for the Broncos. He led the NAC as a freshman with 31 assists in 2019, while ranking in the top ten with 45 points. His career totals stand at 57 points on 18 goals and 39 assists. Senior attack/midfielder Conti totaled 22 points in 2019 with nine goals and 13 assists. His career totals are 30 points on 16 goals and 14 assists.
