2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #24 Quinnipiac Bobcats

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. These are not end of season rankings, as some people might think.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series this week with Ohio State and Detroit Mercy.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#24 Quinnipiac Bobcats

Conference: MAAC
2018 Record: 9-6 (6-0 in MAAC play)
Postseason: Lost to Canisius in MAAC semifinals
Head coach: Eric Fekete (17th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Foster Cuomo (33)
Assists: Jake Tomsik (17)
Points: Foster Cuomo (49)
Faceoffs: Will Vitelli (190-of-314; 60.5%)
Ground balls: Will Vitelli (80)
Caused turnovers: Mike Ruane (22)
Goals against average: Joe Zukauskas (9.18 GAA)
Save percentage: Joe Zukauskas (51.4%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: M Brian Feldman (28 Gs, 2 As, 10 GBs), LSM Adam Bellamy (77 GBs, 19 CTs, 6 Gs, 2 As), FOGO Will Vitelli (60.5% faceoff draws, 80 GBs, 4 Gs), M Ryan Corcoran (15 Gs, 5 As, 16 GBs), D Riley Palmer (37 GBs, 15 CTs, 1 G, 1 A), SSDM David Glynn (17 GBs, 15 CTs, 1 G, 1 A), SSDM Alex DiSalvo (33 GBs, 4 CTs, 1 G), M Ryan Lawson (4 Gs, 5 As), M Anthony Carchietta (3 Gs, 8 As), G Carson Cocco (13.43 GAA, 46.3% SV %), SSDM Joe Murphy (3 GBs, 2 CTs, 1 A)
Senior scoring departing: 89 of 265 points (33.6%)
Senior starts lost: 44 of 150 (29.3%)

Season Summary

In a conference where there was no one good team, Quinnipiac was the squad that finished regular season conference play undefeated. However, they couldn’t go the distance in the MAAC semifinals.

The first six games of the season alternated between a loss and a win, including their first two games going into overtime against UMass Lowell and Brown. They opened up MAAC conference play with a one-goal win over Siena. Down one entering the quarter, Matt Frost scored the game-winner with 4:27 left in regulation. However, the Bobcats lost their next two games to Hartford and Holy Cross.

Once they got back into MAAC play, all of their games were decided by five goals or less. They never really dominated anybody other than Canisius, which was a five goal victory that was closer than it really was. Their biggest win was against Monmouth in double overtime to secure their spot as the top seed in the conference tournament. But that was short-lived, as a rematch with Canisius marked and end to their season. Carter Stefaniak tied things up with 12 seconds left in regulation and Ryan McKee won things in overtime to upset the top-ranked Bobcats.

The entire starting attack of Foster Cuomo, Jake Tomsik, and Mike Fletcher each had at least 40 points on the season. They were the top three scorers on the team and started in the majority of the team’s games. They were also the only three players who recorded double-digits in assists. Sophomore Tyler DeVito also appeared in seven games. At midfield, senior Brian Feldman led the group with 28 goals and was also joined by freshmen Matt Frost and Sam Witt, and seniors Ryan Corcoran, Ryan Lawson and Anthony Carchietta.

At defense, senior Riley Palmer and junior Bryce Nalls started in all 15 games this past season with senior Mike Ruane starting 13 of them. Freshman Matt Di Lella and junior Ryan Trzcinski also started in one game each. Another senior, Adam Bellamy, was Quinnipiac’s top LSM with Di Lella also getting some reps there. The shorties were also a very senior heavy unit led by David Glynn and Alex DiSalvo. Junior Grant Skophammer was another SSDM that played a big part on the team’s rope unit. Will Vitelli finished with a career-best 60.5% at the faceoff X, while sophomore Joe Zukauskas manned the net after Carson Cocco began the season as the starter.

Looking Ahead

All three starting attackmen return, which is great for the offense. But after that, the losses begin to pile up. Four Bobcat midfielders graduate, which hurts leadership in that area of the field.

The biggest losses come on the defensive side of the ball. Riley Palmer graduates, but Ruane and Nalls will be back for one more year. Bellamy also goes as well as both senior short stick middies and Vitelli at the faceoff X. Sophomore Kevin Blank or freshman Ryan Kaye will compete for many of Vitelli’s reps. Zukauskas did a good job in net to put him as the lead dog for the starting goalie spot but has to show that one year isn’t a fluke. Quinnipiac will need plenty of youth to come in and play valuable minutes next season, but they should still be able to compete for a MAAC crown.

Here’s who the Bobcats 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.