2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #39 Harvard Crimson

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 Monmouth and Sacred Heart.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#39 Harvard Crimson

Conference: Ivy League
2018 Record: 7-6 (2-4 in Ivy League play)
Head coach: Chris Wojcik (8th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Kyle Anderson (34)
Assists: Morgan Cheek (34)
Points: Morgan Cheek (59)
Faceoffs: Steven Cuccurullo (125-of-245; 51%)
Ground balls: Steven Cuccurullo (61)
Caused turnovers: Jonathan Butler (15)
Goals against average: Robert Shaw (11.71 GAA)
Save percentage: Robert Shaw (52.2%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Morgan Cheek (25 Gs, 34 As, 16 GBs), G Robert Shaw (11.71 GAA, 52.2% SV %, 24 GBs), A Joe Lang (15 Gs, 16 As, 13 GBs), D Joe Kearney (17 GBs, 8 CTs), LSM Robert Mencke (19 GBs, 2 CTs, 5 Gs), M Carney Mahon (16 Gs, 6 As, 13 GBs), M Tim Edmonds (8 Gs, 3 As), SSDM Sean Coleman (2 Gs, 2 As, 18 GBs), SSDM John O’Leary (3 GBs, 2 CTs)
Senior scoring departing: 138 of 233 points (59.2%)
Senior starts lost: 64 of 130 (49.2%)

Season Summary

The 2017 Crimson started their season 4-0 before losing seven of their final nine games to finish below .500. 2018 was a similar story.

Harvard began the year with a one-goal win over UMass Lowell before losing a surprising game to Holy Cross in overtime three days later. But the Crimson rebounded very well, winning their next six games to go to 7-1 overall with notable wins over UMass and a 19-18 come-from-behind overtime victory over Boston University, where Harvard trailed 18-12 with 7:06 left in the game. But the Crimson faltered at the end of the season, losing their final five games, four against Ivy League opponents, and missed out on the Ivy League Tournament for the second straight season.

Morgan Cheek and Joe Lang have been the face of the Crimson offense for the past few years, while Robert Shaw has done a tremendous job as the top netminder in Cambridge. That continued in their final seasons of collegiate lacrosse. Sophomore Kyle Anderson was the team’s top finisher with 34 goals. The team’s seven double-digit scorers were either seniors or sophomores. Freshman Kyle Salvatore was Harvard’s top rookie scorer with eight points in 11 games, while no juniors recorded a point in 2018.

Senior Joe Kearney and junior Jonathan Butler started all 13 games on defense and were joined by sophomore David Strupp for the most part. Freshman Frankie Tangredi also got some time at close, as well as sophomore Beau Botkiss. LSM Robert Mencke was the team’s primary long pole, but Tangredi and Botkiss also spent some time there. Shaw played his third year as the team’s starting goalie, but despite being very consistent, he did post his worst numbers in goal.

Looking Ahead

Harvard is one of the teams that loses a large amount of their senior scoring from a year ago. Add to that the departure of offensive coordinator Justin Turri to Michigan.Kearney and Shaw are the biggest losses on defense.

Anderson will need to step up in his junior year. He’s shown he could score, but he has to show he can be more than just a one-dimensional player. Ryan Graff is another starter attack after he tore his meniscus midway through the season. Salvatore and Watson Cheek at midfield will see some more playing time. New offensive coordinator Al Lattell has some work to do in that area.

As for the defense, Butler, Strupp, Tangredi, and Botkiss will be the main core of poles. The shorties lose Sean Coleman and John O’Leary, but freshmen Charlie Olmert and Jack Frisoli return. The goalie battle might revolve between Kyle Mullin and James Swartz, with Mullin only playing in one game for 1:09 last season. FOGO Steven Cuccurullo hopes to improve off his 51% win percentage from his rookie season.

Here’s who the Crimson 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.