Previewing Hobart’s 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule

The Hobart Statesmen are the 27th team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the fourth team from the NEC. Hobart finished 11-5 overall in 2019 and 4-2 in NEC play. Despite a hot start to their season, which saw the Statesmen crack the top 20, Hobart lost to Robert Morris in the NEC Championship game.

Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:

Who’s In?

• LIU Sharks (4/4)
• Merrimack Warriors (4/18)

Who’s Out?

• Vermont Catamounts (17-11 W)
• St. Bonaventure Bonnies (18-8 W)
• Saint Joseph’s Hawks (12-11 L/OT)

Circle These Dates

• 2/15 vs. Siena: Hobart might have been the hottest team to start 2019 with two big wins against Canisius and Siena. In both of those games, the Statesmen recorded at least 20 goals, but the latter of the two wins was more dominating. FOGO Matthew Pedicine won an NCAA Division I record 32 faceoffs and also broke Hobart’s school record of 20 ground balls. He won’t be back, but Jason Knox will. He had nine goals in the win.
• 2/29 at Syracuse: The annual Kraus-Simmons Trophy is much earlier than it’s usual late March or early April date. This will be the last game inside the Carrier Dome before major renovations take place, hence the late February date. Hobart hasn’t defeated Syracuse since 2013, which was inside the Carrier Dome. They also lost last year after the Orange scored the final 12 goals of the game, beginning at the 5:54 mark of the second quarter.
• 3/14 at Robert Morris: NEC play opens up against the defending back-to-back conference champions in Moon Township. Hobart has lost the last three meetings to the Colonials by a goal, including last year’s NEC title game, and they’ve played in one-goal games the last four times. Robert Morris loses some key contributors on both sides of the ball, but will still be a threat in the conference.
• 3/28 vs. Sacred Heart: Speaking of close contests, the Statesmen and Pioneers have had some very good contests dating back to when Hobart joined the NEC in 2014. And last year was no exception, as the Statesmen ended up on the better end of one-goal decisions in the regular season and postseason, holding off Sacred Heart in both of those contests.
• 4/4 vs. LIU: Hobart will take on both new Division I programs this season, LIU and Merrimack. Unlike the Warriors, the Sharks have some history with the Statesmen dating back to 1960. The teams have met 10 times when LIU was known as C.W. Post, with Hobart winning seven of those games. However, LIU/C.W. Post won the last two meetings in 1984 and 1988 in close contests.