Previewing UMass’ 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule

The UMass Minutemen are the 53rd team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the sixth and final team from the CAA. UMass finished 10-5 overall in 2019 and 4-1 in CAA play. The Minutemen were the top seed in the CAA Tournament and were the hosts, but lost to Drexel in the conference semifinals.

Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:

Who’s In?

• LIU Sharks (3/10)

Who’s Out?

• NJIT Highlanders (19-7 W)

Circle These Dates

• 2/8 at Army West Point: This will be the 10th consecutive season that UMass starts their season against Army. After winning the first four matchups from 2011 to 2014, the Black Knights have taken the past five, including last year in overtime after Chris Connolly’s man-up goal with a second to go in regulation. Connolly had seven points in the game, but so did Army attackman Brendan Nichtern, who scored the overtime winner and didn’t start in the game.
• 2/29 vs. Yale: UMass leads the all-time series against the Bulldogs 18-9. But that dominance has been lessened since the turn of the century. Since 2001, the Minutemen’s record against the Bulldogs is 6-7 and have lost the last two games to Yale including an overtime defeat that saw UMass yet again tie the game with a second left in regulation, this time from Jeff Trainor.
• 3/28 at Drexel: The two teams split their meetings last season. UMass overcame a 6-2 halftime deficit to edge the Dragons by a goal in the regular season thanks in part to four goals from Connolly. But it was a different story in the CAA semifinals as Drexel got out to a fast first half yet again but held off UMass’ rallies to upset the Minutemen. Both teams have plenty of returning players, especially at attack for the Dragons.
• 4/11 vs. Towson: From 2013 until the start of the 2018 season, the Tigers have defeated the Minutemen in seven straight meetings. That changed with UMass winning the last three matchups including a 14-10 victory at Towson a year ago. UMass scored 10 goals in the first half and was able to withstand a seven-goal fourth quarter from the Tigers. Sean Sconone made 17 saves in the win, but he’s since graduated. Towson also loses a bunch of key players in Brendan Sunday, Alex Woodall, and Zach Goodrich, but they should still be a player in the CAA.
• 4/24 at Delaware: One of the darkhorse candidates to win the conference is Delaware. The Blue Hens return some talented players on offense such as Charlie Kitchen and Tye Kurtz, but also bring back senior goalie Matt DeLuca. UMass scored two late goals in the fourth to take home a two-goal victory last year.