2019 Men’s College Lacrosse Year In Review: #73 Hampton Pirates

With the 2019 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 73 teams did during the season, and an early look at each squad for 2020.

Note: These are not end of season rankings.

We started our series yesterday by recapping LIU and Merrimack’s seasons and what to expect from them in 2020 as they become the two new teams entering Division I.

So let’s begin digging into the 73 teams that played at the Division I level in 2019!

#73 Hampton Pirates

Conference: Independent
2019 Record: 6-5 (0-3 vs. Division I teams)
Head coach: Lloyd Carter (4th Season)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Lonnie Jones (23)
Assists: Derian Williams-Sturdivant (18)
Points: Lonnie Jones (39)
Faceoffs: Ian Groom (194-of-275; 70.5%)
Ground balls: Iam Groom (103)
Caused turnovers: Darren Almodiel (19)
Goals against average: Kevin Mondy Jr. (14.23 GAA)
Save percentage: Kevin Mondy Jr. (45.3%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Kendall Sapp (13 Gs, 2 As, 13 GBs, 7 CTs), D Baron Edmondson (5 CTs, 11 GBs, 3 Gs)
Senior scoring departing: 18 of 218 points (8.3%)
Senior starts lost: 14 of 110 (12.7%)

Season Summary

Despite playing in two fewer games than in 2018, Hampton was able to win six games in 2019, a record for the program. It was also the first time the Pirates finished with an above .500 record. You can argue that it was another year of improvement.

But maybe it also wasn’t. Hampton played only three Division I teams, down from four a year ago, and gave up over 20 goals in all three losses. Their combined margin of defeat was 51 goals with an average of 17. In 2018, their combined margin of defeat was 45 goals and an average of 11.75. Could this have been a product of the introduction of the shot clock? Perhaps. That could be a reason why the team’s clearing percentage went down from 82.9% to 75.3% as well.

As a whole, the Pirates went 5-1 against Division II and III opponents that they also faced in 2018. Hampton flipped results against Greensboro College and Chowan University, but lost to St. Thomas Aquinas College, a team they defeated last season, in their regular season finale.

For the fourth straight season, a freshman led the Pirates in scoring. This time, it was Lonnie Jones, who had 39 points on the year. He also led the team with 23 goals. Sophomore Pierce Johnson was the other Hampton player with 20 goals. Sophomore Derian Williams-Sturdivant led Hampton with 18 assists and joined Jones and Johnson with at least 30 points with 32 on the year. Seven other Pirates scored at least 10 points in 2019.

Junior Darren Almodiel led Hampton once again in caused turnovers with 19, down from his 27 in 2018. He was the only Pirate to register in double figures, as Malcolm Flynn and Juwan Woodson each had nine.

At the faceoff X, freshman Ian Groom did wonders for the Pirates, finishing with a 70.5% faceoff percentage and 103 ground balls. His numbers against Division I teams was solid, going 55-of-92 (59.8%) with 30 ground balls and a goal.

Goaltending was shaky at times throughout the year. Junior Kevin Mondy Jr. started nine of the 11 games but recorded a 45.3% save percentage and a 14.23 goals against average. He had some competition from sophomore Paxtin Powell, who started in two games and played in about 150 fewer minutes than Mondy. But he recorded a 45.4% save percentage and a 13.07 goals against average.

Looking Ahead

Hampton returns nearly everybody from a year ago. The Pirates lose four players from the 2019 team, highlighted by attackman Kendall Sapp and defenseman Baron Edmondson. Players such as Jones, Groom, and Almodiel will look to push Hampton to be even better in 2020.

But they won’t do it without head coach Lloyd Carter. The co-founder of the lacrosse program, first as a club team before taking them to Division I, announced he would retire at the end of June.

The big question surrounding the program is who could take over? Assistant coach Jim Old has some experience, but not at the NCAA Division I level. He was the head coach for Old Dominion’s club lacrosse program in the NCLL. Hampton needs to take their coaching search very seriously. The school can be difference makers in the appearance and outlook of the entire sport. Could guys such as Rick Sowell, Nat St. Laurent, Errol Wilson, Dwayne Hicks, or even Chazz Woodson be interested?

It’s a chance to continue to “grow the game.” And not grow it geographically. But more importantly demographically and to help change and diversify the game today.