2024 Tufts University Men's Lacrosse Season Preview - Tufts University (2024)

MEDFORD, MA (March 1, 2024) -- The Tufts University men's lacrosse team is coming off one of the best seasons in Division III history in 2023, as the squad advanced to the NCAA Tournament Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field before falling in a tight battle to Salisbury University to end a previously undefeated season.

The squad in 2023 was talented and deep at all spots, played with passion and freedom and was always one play away from a highlight. But when talking to head coach Casey D'Annolfo, he mentioned just the type of group it was to be around.

"That was such a great group. I think really what I'll remember more than anything else is just the guys, the relationships, the time that we spent with them," said D'Annolfo. "And honestly, just like the season, like there was never talk about being undefeated or records or player awards or anything like that. Like we literally never talked about that the whole year. It was really just staying focused on us and trying to accomplish our goals."

The goals that were set before the season in 2023 contain many of the goals that are still on the board heading into the 2024 season, though some of the personnel has changed. Much of that is because of the culture set by the 2023 senior group and the groups before them. Excellence at the highest level and work ethic is something that has come to be a staple in the Tufts program.

"I think about that senior group and the captains that we had with Sam Sturrum and Joe Murtha and Jack Boyden and Kurt Bruun, like those guys were just absolutely tireless workers. And then you throw Mason Kohn and Kyle Adelmann and a few of those other guys in there and it's just, I mean, skill aside, those guys all season up until the last week when we were lifting, they're still going hard in the weight room."

"I think the younger guysrealized, man, at no point during the year are we coasting," said D'Annolfo. "We're not really focused on anybody, we're focused on us. And when we're at practice, we're gonna get after each other."

That work ethic has already translated to this year's group, and D'Annolfo is very excited about what he's seen in this year's group. Despite having to fill some roles, he's been happy with how the preseason and the fall workouts have gone.

"Still getting used to sort of the month preseason," said D'Annolfo. "I think it's a little long for lacrosse, but just trying to keep things new and try and learn more about our guys. And then add that, you know, 10 practices in the fall. I feel like I know this group about as well as I've known any group that I've coached."

The experience from last year's season has also given the younger Jumbos a perspective about how you get to the final weekend of the year. The team will play as challenging of non-conference schedule of anyone in the country, and that's intentional as the team prepares for harder games later in the season.

"I think we play all five of the teams that were playing out-of-conference are ranked in the Top 20," said D'Annolfo. "And then there's three more ranked opponents in our league. That reduces complacency from our guys and they always know there's a tough team coming in. It also breeds competition for spots, which will help us get better each day."

In the end though, the Tufts' lacrosse expectations are to be playing their best lacrosse of the season at the end of the year. The goals are to prepare and develop and be tough to beat. It might not be the same as years prior, but that's the coaches know that's okay as programs figure out how to win with different groups every season.

"We've done a good job developing, recruiting and I feel confident," said D'Annolfo. "It we're the best version of ourselves we're going to be a pretty tough out and be tough to beat. Our goal is to become the best version of ourselves, game in and game out. That'll be different this year than it was last year, and the year before. Just different, not better or worse or easier or more challenging. It's just constant self-improvement and constant reflection."

A position breakdown is below:

The Jumbos had one of the most potent offense in the history of Division III lacrosse last year, as the trio of Jack Boyden, Kurt Bruun and Tommy Swank combined for 203 goals and 359 total points. It was a historic trio that led the way, but that doesn't mean that there aren't players back that are capable of filling those roles.

In looking back, Boyden played just 14 games as a first-year and sophomore before exploding as a junior and senior. Bruun played 13 total games prior to his junior season, and Swank just eight total games. Tufts develops offensive talent as well as any team in the nation, and it's now time for the next wave of Jumbo stars to step forward.

Junior Charlie Tagliaferri had a great season as a sophomore, as he posted 42 goals to go with 14 assists for 56 points. He also added 21 ground balls and two game-winners. Look for those numbers to shoot up with more opportunities in 2024.

Though some middies from last year may move up to attack, another top returning attackfrom last season is junior Max Ettinghausen. The shifty lefty posted 18 goals along with nine goals in 23 games of action. He posted six man-up goals on the year and will bring some continuity to the group. Callum Wood played man-up for the Jumbos, scoring 10 goals in 18 games of action.

Sophomore Jack Regnery had one of the best first-year campaigns of any Jumbo in 2023, as the speedy dodger scored 29 goals to go with 10 helpers for 39 points. Look for Regnery to continued to be featured in the offense this season in whatever role he is used in offensively.

In the midfield, senior Kevin Christmas returns as one of the downhill shooters the Jumbos have as the big man tallied 22 goals to go with seven assists in 2023. Junior Sam Frisoli scored 16 goals as well on the second midfield line, adding eight assists, and Louis Timmons also recorded nine goals and six assists.

Another few names to look out for this season are Joey Kraft, who has had a strong preseason and tallied 12 points in 11 games last year as a sophomore. First-years Chase Beyer and Will Emsing were also mentioned as newcomers that could have an impact going into the 2024 season, while the coaching staff was sure that many others will push their way into the conversation for reps.

The Tufts defensive unit had a great season in 2023, led by now departed All-American Kyle Adelmann. The good news for the Jumbos is that they return a stable of strong defenders at every level, including All-American poles Joey Waldbaum and Michael Ayers.

The Jumbos bring back three of their four poles on defense, as Waldbaum finished with 43 caused turnovers, 80 ground balls and five points in 21 games of action. Ayers tallied 29 caused turnovers and 55 ground balls at the LSM spot, scoring nine goals and assisting on three others as one of the most dynamic playmakers are the long-stick midfield position.

Junior George Panagopoulos started all 23 games as a close defender in 2023, and is back after causing 22 turnovers and scooping up 38 loose balls as well. Another LSM that had a strong season last year was Ben Frisoli, and the now sophomore has looked great in preseason and will look to add to his nine caused turnovers, 12 goals and 29 ground balls from a year ago.

Sophomore Brooks Byrnes only saw action in 15 games as a newcomer in 2023, but has played well in the fall and spring thus far. Greg Walls played alot on the man-down unit, getting into 21 games while adding eight caused turnovers and picking up 13 ground balls. First-year long pole Logan Lee is also a big defender out of Colorado who has looked good so far this spring.

At the short-stick midfield spot, Tufts might have one of the deepest groups in the nation. Junior Cam Delcristo had a great season for the Jumbos last year in that spot, as he finished with 19 goals and five assists, causing 12 turnovers and picking up 32 ground balls as well.

Sophomore Ethan O'Neill is very dynamic in the short stick spot, scoring eight goals and assisting on six others, adding 20 loose ball pickups as well. His speed and shot create a very tough player to stop in transition. Kristian Rosario played in all 22 games for the Jumbos, as his physicality and athleticism is huge in that position.

In goal, the unquestioned leader is now senior Connor Garzone. Sometimes flying under the radar due to the offensive numbers by Tufts, Garzone is one of the top keepers in the nation and is coming off a season where he stopped 55.3 percent of shots while going 21-1 between the pipes. Garzone stopped 236 shots last season, and allowed just 10.3 goals per game.

Ben Friedman is also back after playing just 15 minutes in two games, but he was strong in his minutes allowing just one goal while stopping six shots for an .857 save percentage. First-year Will Anderson joins the fray this year as the third goalkeeper looking to earn some minutes in the crease for the Jumbos.

The Jumbos are coming off a season that saw them win 62.4 percent of their draws in a season where they took nearly 800 on the year, most of any school in NCAA lacrosse. Though Division III Face-off Specialist of the Year Mason Kohn has moved on to Syracuse this season, Tufts still has a deep, talented and experienced group at the "X."

Sophomore Victor Salcedo came in as a first-year in 2023 and had an immediate impact, as the tough, gritty draw man tallied 110 face-off wins en route to winning 52.1 percent of the draws. Junior Parker Merril has struggled with some injuries during his time, but his talent is unquestioned as he won 62.2 percent last year with some of the fastest hands around.

Erik Helgeson was strong in limited opportunities, winning 58 percent of face-offs he took, and Chris Tsetsekos also has good experience and has a great pedigree at the position. First-year Lucas De La Paz is another name to watch for a group that will look to lean on all five players to win big face-offs this season.

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The Jumbos will get their season underway Saturday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. on Bello Field, hosting Connecticut College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) action in Medford, MA.