After a hectic offseason that saw the cancellation of the all fall events and the firing of a head coach, the Cornell Big Red lacrosse team will look towards the spring season to start anew.
An investigation regarding reports of hazing led to the Cornell Athletics Department suspending the men’s lacrosse team on September 13, 2013. Despite being unable to take part in fall ball, the Big Red’s turmoil would continue when head coach Ben DeLuca was fired in early November much to the dismay of many in the lacrosse community.
After spending one season as an assistant coach to DeLuca, Matt Kerwick takes the reins as head coach on an interim basis. The Cornell Athletics Department have stated plans to begin a head coach search following the 2014 season. Kerwick is also joined by new hire MJ Kiekebelt, an RIT graduate who spent two years as an assistant coach at his alma matter and has played professionally with the Hamilton Nationals of the MLL.
On the field, the Big Red lose a number of contributors from their Final Four squad of 2013.
The offensive unit for Cornell takes a significant hit due to graduation. This includes Tewaaraton trophy winner Rob Pannell as well as fellow attackmen Steve Mock and Connor English. The senior trio combined for over 190 points last season.
The attack also loses Cody Bremner to the Vancouver Stealth of the NLL where he has 10 points (5 G, 5 A) five games into his rookie season. Despite limited playing time and production in two years at Cornell, Bremner possesses the talent that could have allowed an easy transition into an offensive leader with the absence of Pannell and Mock.
Junior Matt Donovan will be counted on to lead the attack unit this season. The two-year starter followed up his impressive freshman campaign that earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Year and Second-Team All-Ivy honors with 35 points (27 G, 8 A) as a sophomore.
Senior attackman Dan Litner will see his time increase after notching 11 points as a junior. The Ontario native recently captured the 2013 Minto Cup with the Whitby Warriors Jr. A club, putting up 31 points in seven games and taking home MVP honours. Sophomore attacker Sean Doyle, an accomplished high school recruit who had two goals in limited time during his first season with the Big Red, also has an opportunity to step up in 2014.
Junior Connor Buczek will carry the midfield after an impressive 2013 campaign. The Cincinnati, OH product’s 53 points (35 G, 18 A) trailed only Pannell (47 G, 55 A) and Mock (60 G, 9 A) in Big Red scoring. Buczek will be joined by fellow junior midfielder John Hogan, who finished with 11 points (10 G, 1 A) as a second-line midfield during his sophomore season.
On the backend, senior Tom Freshour and junior Jordan Stevens return as starting defenders for Cornell. With 2013 First Team All-American Jason Noble highlighting several graduated seniors, junior Russell Scott, sophomore Tony Britton, and freshman Scott D’Antonio round out a Cornell defensive unit lacking depth.
Sophomore goaltender Brennan Donville is the leading candidate to take over the starting position after the graduation of AJ Fiore leaves the Big Red cage open. Donville appeared in six games backing-up Fiore as a freshman, finishing with a .385 save percentage. Junior goalie William Joyce also returns after appearing in two games last season.
The Big Red will kick off pre-season preparations with a scrimmage versus the Iroquois Nationals February 9 at Cornell’s Schoellkopf Field.
