:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58284653/12494824.0.jpg)
The Lafayette Leopards are the 55th team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the eighth team from the Patriot League. The Leopards went 2-12 last year, with their only conference win coming against Navy. Head coach Jim Rogalski left to take an assistant coaching job with Michigan, leaving Ed Williams as interim head coach.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Lafayette’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 2/3 | Lafayette | North Carolina | First ever meeting | |
| 2/10 | Lafayette | NJIT | 12-11 W | |
| 2/16 | Wagner | Lafayette | 9-8 L | |
| 2/20 | Manhattan | Lafayette | First meeting since 2014 (8-7 L/2OT) | |
| 2/24 | Lafayette | Loyola | Patriot League | 18-5 L |
| 3/3 | Army West Point | Lafayette | Patriot League | 14-4 L |
| 3/10 | Lafayette | Navy | Patriot League | 9-8 W |
| 3/13 | Lafayette | Cleveland State | First ever meeting | |
| 3/17 | Lehigh | Lafayette | Patriot League | 15-7 L |
| 3/24 | Boston University | Lafayette | Patriot League | 15-7 L |
| 3/31 | Binghamton | Lafayette | 14-8 L | |
| 4/3 | Lafayette | Monmouth | 9-8 L | |
| 4/7 | Lafayette | Holy Cross | Patriot League | 10-5 L |
| 4/13 | Lafayette | Bucknell | Patriot League | 11-7 L |
| 4/20 | Colgate | Lafayette | Patriot League | 11-6 L |
Michigan and Sacred Heart are out of this year’s schedule. Coming in are Cleveland State, Manhattan, and North Carolina in the season-opener.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: vs. Wagner
The North Carolina game will be a great experience for the players and coaches, but the Tar Heels should take care of business early. Wagner is a game that could be decided by a narrow margin. Last year’s game was decided by a goal.
Best Conference Game: vs. Colgate
The Leopards got their only conference win last year in an upset of Navy. The Midshipmen get Casey Rees back and look to contend as a top 20 team. The Raiders are slowly improving, but haven’t made the Patriot League Tournament since winning the league back in 2015.
Under The Radar Game: vs. Manhattan
The Jaspers are in a similar situation as the Leopards as a program. They didn’t win a MAAC game last year, and two of their three wins came in multiple overtimes. They have a good offensive player in Parker Giarratana that can give Manhattan some kind of scoring.
Possible Upset: vs. Lehigh
Most of their games would be considered an upset if Lafayette won, with the only exception probably being NJIT. But a potential upset would be against archrival Lehigh, even though the Mountain Hawks have a good crop of young players.
For other schedules and team rosters, check out our Men’s Division I matrix.