2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #55 Hobart Statesmen

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 yesterday with Furman.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#55 Hobart Statesmen

Conference: NEC
2018 Record: 4-10 (1-5 in NEC play)
Head coach: Greg Raymond (5th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Justin Scott (32)
Assists: Chris Aslanian (24)
Points: Chris Aslanian (47)
Faceoffs: Matthew Pedicine (189-of-287; 65.9%)
Ground balls: Matthew Pedicine (101)
Caused turnovers: Christopher Willman (16)
Goals against average: Sam Lucchesi (9.50 GAA)
Save percentage: Sam Lucchesi (48.1%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: LSM Christopher Willman (40 GBs, 16 CTs, 1 G), M Mason Burr (8 Gs, 4 As, 16 GBs), D D. Bennett Moore (6 GBs, 6 CTs), SSDM/FOGO J. Andrew Spallanzani (38.1% faceoff draws, 37 GBs, 7 CTs, 2 Gs)
Senior scoring departing: 18 of 218 points (8.3%)
Senior starts lost: 30 of 140 (21.4%)

Season Summary

The Statesmen have been a solid team in the NEC for the past three seasons. They won the NEC in 2016 and were one goal short of repeating as conference champions in 2017.

But the program took a step back in 2018 and went 4-10 overall. After losing one conference game in 2017, Hobart only won one game this season (Wagner). Many of the players that helped the Statesmen win the NEC conference championship and regular season title the past two years departed, including Frank Brown and Jackson Brown.

Hobart went 1-4 in one-goal games and 1-6 in games decided by four goals or fewer. Had more of those games been in favor of the Statesmen, Greg Raymond’s crew would’ve returned to the NEC Tournament.

Junior Chris Aslanian led the team with 24 assists and 47 points. Sophomores Eric Holden and Justin Scott recorded near 40-point seasons (39 and 38 respectively), while freshman attackman Ryan Archer put up 32 points in his first season. Freshman Tommy Mott, senior Mason Burr, and junior Bryan Hancock also had double-digit points.

Sophomore Sam Lucchesi took over for Tristan Dougherty early in the season as the starting goalie and did his best to backstop Hobart. Matthew Pedicine had a resounding 65.9% faceoff percentage as a junior.

Looking Ahead

Hobart uses a starting midfielder, defenseman, and their top LSM. Their offense returns for the most part, including their top five scorers. Many of their defensemen are young guys and will be back for another year.

The only battle could be in goal between Lucchesi and Dougherty. Lucchesi had a good sophomore year, but a fall ball battle is probable to decide who will start in goal, although it should be Lucchesi’s job to lose. The Statesmen might not be back at the level they were playing at, but they’re definitely on the road back to that type of level.

Here’s who the Statesmen 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.