2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #59 Bellarmine Knights

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series this week with Mercer and Wagner.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#59 Bellarmine Knights

Conference: SoCon
2018 Record: 4-9 (2-5 in SoCon play)
Head coach: Kevin Burns (7th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Brian Wall (25)
Assists: Ian Miller (12)
Points: Brian Wall (34)
Faceoffs: Michael Autry (106-of-200; 53.0%)
Ground balls: Michael Autry and Jon Robbins (31)
Caused turnovers: Eric Rubak (15)
Goals against average: John Hulsman (8.69 GAA)
Save percentage: John Hulsman (58.9%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Brian Wall (25 Gs, 9 As, 18 GBs), M Will Roshkowski (12 Gs, 4 As), D Kevin Fahey (24 GBs, 12 CTs), SSDM Austin Streeter (17 GBs, 3 CTs, 1 G)
Senior scoring departing: 55 of 162 points (34%)
Senior starts lost: 39 of 130 (30%)

Season Summary

Bellarmine was a team that was projected to compete for a spot in the SoCon Tournament. They started the season at 2-8 and 0-4 in SoCon play. They only scored more than 10 goals once in a 13-9 win over Cleveland State.

Then a coaching change occurred prior to the Mercer game. Head coach Kevin Burns and offensive coordinator Bill Tully were relieved of their duties, but the university said it was due to “personal reasons.” They were officially out at the end of the season. Jay Sothoron took over as on an interim basis and saw the Knights win their next two SoCon games against Mercer and VMI, which turned the season around. Bellarmine scored double-digit goals in those wins. But a one-goal loss to Furman ended any slim hope of making it to the conference tournament.

Senior Brian Wall took charge of the offense with a team-high 25 goals and 34 points with sophomore Morgan Macko not far behind with 25 points. Juniors Ian Miller and Stephen Votto, senior Will Roshkowski, and freshmen Landon Trout and Luke Legnard also recorded more than 10 points for the year. The next highest scorer was freshman James Whiteford, who had five points.

The defense was fairly young last year with the exception of senior Kevin Fahey. Sophomore Eric Rubak, junior Josh Wehn, and freshman Jon Robbins were notable performers during the season. In goal, the team turned to freshman John Hulsman beginning with the Detroit Mercy game and recorded double digit saves in all but the VMI game.

At the faceoff X, Michael Autry went 53% on draws, along with a goal and three assists.

Looking Ahead

The Knights went and hired former Rutgers Scarlet Knights offensive coordinator Jim Mitchell as their next head coach earlier in June. Mitchell comes in with an even more difficult situation than when the season ended.

Hulsman transferred to the Marquette Golden Eagles and Autry transferred to the Robert Morris Colonials over the summer. Two big underclassmen losses to go along the seniors in Wall and Roshkowski on offense.

Who could replace them from the current roster? Sophomore Jordan Dondoyano and redshirt-freshman Ian Reilly each played in three games and started two last season. Dondoyano had better numbers with an 8.67 goals against average and a 48% save percentage. Reilly played in 60 more minutes but recorded a 12.00 goals against average and a 46.4% save percentage.

At the faceoff X, junior Turner Lockyear and freshman J.T. Simonton took draws last season, with Lockyear recording a better win percentage at 46.2%.

Here’s who the Knights will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.