2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #53 Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers

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 Furman, Hobart, and Fairfield.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#53 Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers

Conference: NEC
2018 Record: 5-9 (2-4 in NEC play)
Head coach: Tom Gravante (23rd Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Chris DiPretoro (37)
Assists: Brenden McCarthy (32)
Points: Brenden McCarthy (53)
Faceoffs: Sam Stephan (190-of-341; 55.7%)
Ground balls: Sam Stephan (118)
Caused turnovers: Jack Mangan (21)
Goals against average: Luke Mutterer (11.66 GAA)
Save percentage: Luke Mutterer (45.6%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: D Kevin Verkler (16 GBs, 11 CTs), G Matt Vierheller (13.59 GAA, 43.1% SV %), SSDM Mike Pascali (16 GBs, 6 CTs, 2 As), M Bennett Zaba (2 Gs, 3 As), SSDM C.J. Ciserano (2 Gs, 1 A)
Senior scoring departing: 10 of 252 points (4%)
Senior starts lost: 18 of 140 (12.9%)

Season Summary

After a youthful 2017, many of the young Mountaineers had at least a year of experience under their belt. All 10 of their top scorers this year weren’t seniors. Bennett Zaba’s five points were 11th on the team.

Despite losing four of their first five games, the Mount’s offense scored at least 10 goals in their first four games of the season and seven of their first eight. But they cooled down in four of their final six games, scoring less than 10 goals in each of those matchups. They lost all four of those games in the process.

Mount’s offense was spearheaded at attack, led by sophomore Brendan McCarthy’s team-high 32 assists and 53 points, along with junior Chris DiPretoro’s 37 goals to lead the Mountaineers and redshirt-sophomore Stephano Mastro’s 27 goals and six assists. Sophomore midfielder Matt Haggerty had a big year with 25 points, up from nine in his freshman campaign. Freshmen Henry Berg (18) and Luke Frankeny (14), sophomore Joe Bethke (17), and junior Jack Mangan (13) also recorded more than 10 points.

But Mangan’s contribution to the team also came on defense as the team’s top short stick. He led the team with 21 caused turnovers and will help ease the pain of losing Mike Pascali and C.J. Ciserano. The close defense was a unit that included senior Kevin Verkler, freshman Bryan McIntosh, and sophomore Joshua Davies, with junior Shawn Milione, redshirt-sophomore Zach Roberts, and redshirt-freshman Chase Pirozzi also getting minutes. With Sam Stephan taking control of the faceoff X, freshmen Luke Mutterer, Dylan Furnback, and senior Matt Vierheller all got starts and playing in seven games each.

Looking Ahead

Tom Gravante’s group doesn’t lose a ton of contributors from a year ago. Half of their scoring came from Bennett Zaba, while the other five points came from their departing SSDMs. That might be the big hole to address come the fall.

Another question is figuring out the goalie situation. Vierheller departs, which leaves Mutterer and Furnback, along with sophomore Neil Roche, as the only goalies. Expect a goalie battle between Mutterer and Furnback for the starting job.

Here’s who the Mountaineers 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.