WATERVILLE, Me. (February 21, 2020) – The SUNY Delhi men's lacrosse team is ready to open their second season in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) after earning a number-two ranking in the 2020 NAC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the NAC coaches. Led by fourth-year head coach Sam Miller, the Broncos look to build upon their solid first year in the NAC from 2019, finishing with an 11-6 record and earning the NAC's two seed for the NAC/NECC Tournament with a 5-1 league mark. The Broncos earned 43 points with one first-place vote.
Last year's NAC regular-season champion SUNY Canton topped the poll with 48 points and six first-place votes. Maine Maritime and Husson finished tied for third with 31 points, while NVU Lyndon took fifth with 19 points. Thomas and MCLA were tied for sixth with 12 points.
Coach Miller has a notable group of returners that features five All-NAC selections, including three First Team honorees. Sophomore attacker Brandon McGrath returns after leading the team with 31 assists and ranking third with 45 points on 14 goals. The defense also returns strong, including sophomore and First-Team All-NAC goalie Travis Anderson, who garnered 169 total saves, 54.5 save percentage and 8.29 goals allowed average playing every minute in goal in 2019. Defender and second-team honoree Antonio Russo is back for his senior season, as well as fellow defenders and all-conference choices in juniors Sean Tillman and Ryan Cumisky. Sophomore faceoff man Nick Dower earned first-team league honors as a freshman, going 235-for-371 in the midfield battle and was a NAC/NECC All-Tournament Selection.
The Broncos begin their season down in Virginia for three games. It starts at Randolph on Monday, Feb. 24, then over to Randolph Macon on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and finally Virginia Wesleyan on Friday, Feb. 28. Delhi returns to New York State heading to Wells on Wednesday, Mar. 4, followed by SUNY Brockport on Saturday, Mar. 7. They open their NAC season squaring off at Maine Maritime on Saturday, Mar. 14, then head over to fellow SUNY school New Paltz in non-conference play Thursday, Mar. 19. The Broncos pick up their NAC play versus Husson on Saturday, Mar. 21, followed by another SUNY meeting at Alfred State on Wednesday, Mar. 25 and conference-foe Thomas on Saturday, Mar. 28.
Coach Miller's squad opens April at Morrisville State on Saturday, April 4, then head over to Houghton on Tuesday, April 7. The Broncos play three consecutive NAC games to round out the regular season, first versus Northern Vermont Lyndon on Saturday, April 11, then at SUNY Canton Wednesday, April 15 and hosting MCLA on Saturday, April 18.
The top two finishers in the NAC will earn spots in the four-team the NAC/NECC Tournament. The semifinals will consist of the top NAC seed hosting the second NECC seed, and the top NECC seed welcoming the second NAC seed the weekend of Saturday, April 25. The winners will compete for the hybrid conference championship the weekend of Saturday, May 2.
All of SUNY Delhi men's lacrosse's home games will take place at SUNY Oneonta.
