Men's Lacrosse | 2/14/2024 9:57:42 AM
The Cardinals of St. John Fisher University will attempt to win their fifth straight Empire 8 crown, as seven teams will battle for the 2024 E8 Championship. The upcoming season gets underway with non-conference games on Feb. 14 and Feb. 17, while league play formally begins on March 23. The top four teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place on Wednesday, May 1 and Saturday, May 4. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2024 Empire 8 Men's Lacrosse Players to Watch
Ethan Brown, Utica, Sr., D, Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks – A two-time E8 Player to Watch, Brown earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades in 2023 after tallying 55 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers. He earned All-E8 third team honors in 2022.
Nick Cacciola, Hartwick, Sr., D, Wading River, NY/Shoreham-Wading River – Cacciola earned All-Empire 8 first team honors last season after causing 10 turnovers. He was an All-E8 second team pick in 2022.
Devon Gerhardt, Keuka, Jr., A, Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy – Gerhardt led Keuka in scoring last season with 60 points on 24 goals and 36 assists. His 36 assists were third most in a season in program history.
Matthew Kemmis, St. John Fisher, Sr., A, Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt – Kemmis earned All-Empire 8 second team honors last season after tallying 35 goals and 48 points. He has 80 goals and 108 points in three seasons.
Nate Kettle, Russell Sage, So., A, Killbuck, NY/Salamanca – Kettle earned All-Empire 8 second team honors during his rookie season in 2023, tallying 45 points on 32 goals and 13 assists to go along with 31 ground balls.
Kevin Matson, Alfred, Sr., A, Chenango Forks, NY/Chenango Forks – Matson earned USILA Honorable Mention All-American accolades and All-E8 first team honors in 2023 after scoring a league high 57 goals. He has 88 goals and 108 points in two seasons with Alfred.
Quinn McKercher, Nazareth, Sr., A, Lake Mary, FL/Lake Mary – McKercher was the 2023 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year and earned USILA Honorable Mention All-American honors. A 2024 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American, McKercher led the league in scoring with 76 points on 44 goals and 32 assists last season. The 2021 E8 Rookie of the Year, McKercher has 114 goals and 176 points through three seasons.
Team Capsules (Sorted by 2023 Standings)
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher is looking for its fifth straight Empire 8 Championship in 2024 and are coming off a 2023 season in which they advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals return 40 players and seven starters from last season, including 2024 Preseason All-Americans Timmy Salit, Connor Mesh and Ben Hammond. The Cardinals, who are receiving votes in the 2024 preseason United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll, return their top three scorers from last season in Salit, Brady Mason and Matthew Kemmis. Salit, who enters the year as a USILA Third Team Preseason All-American, tallied 72 points on 31 goals and 41 assists last season, while Mason scored a team-high 45 goals and Kemmis had 35 goals and 48 points last season. Hammond returns in goal after earning All-Empire 8 second team accolades in each of the last two seasons and was named the 2022 Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player. On defense, junior short-stick defender Connor Mesh and long-stick defender Jack Cornell return as 2024 Preseason Honorable Mention All-Americans. Face-off specialist Logan Grom won 55 percent of his face-offs taken overall and 74 percent in league play, en route to earning All-E8 first team accolades.
Alfred
Alfred returns 30 players and seven starters from last season’s team that ason advanced to the Empire 8 semifinals for the third straight season. The Saxons went 6-1 in league play last year, which was their best regular-season finish in the Empire 8. While the Saxons will look to replace two-time E8 Goalkeeper of the Year and two-time USILA Honorable Mention All-American Scott Kimiecik, there is plenty of firepower returning. Senior attack Kevin Matson, a USILA Honorable Mention selection and All-E8 first team pick is back after the leading the league with 57 goals in 2023. Graduate student Justin Mosher was an All-E8 first team selection in 2023 and has 113 points over the last three seasons. Sophomore Ben Cunningham, an All-E8 first team pick and junior Max Freeman IV, who also stars with the Alfred football program returns after earning All-E8 second team honors last season and will help lead the defensive unit. A host of talented newcomers will also look to see playing time, including transfers Owen Zimmerman and Josh Funk in addition to first-years Ian Marsh and Tyler Muskopf.
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers advanced to the Empire 8 Championship game for the third straight season in 2023. Senior attack Quinn McKercher, the 2023 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year and USILA Honorable Mention All-American, will be expected to be one of the top offensive threats in the league in 2024. A 2024 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American, McKercher led the league in scoring with 76 points on 44 goals and 32 assists last season. The 2021 E8 Rookie of the Year, McKercher has 114 goals and 176 points through three seasons. Nazareth returns 30 players from 2023. Senior midfielder Quinn Conroy and goalkeeper Ben Chaddock in addition to sophomore attack Matthew Farrington, the 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, will look to lift Nazareth to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017. The Golden Flyers won Division III National Championships in 1992, 1996 and 1997. Newcomers Luke Bobby, Zack Isaac and Anthony Menickelli will also look to make an immediate impact.
Hartwick
The Hawks advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals in 2023 and will look to take the next step forward this season, as 34 players, including six starters return. Junior midfielder Garrett Frost is back after tallying 21 goals and 32 points last season. Junior midfielder Matt Locasto, along sophomore attack Colby Simonetti will help lead the Hartwick offense this season. Simonetti tallied 15 goals. Senior defender Nick Cacciola is back after earning All-Empire 8 first team accolades. Newcomers Spencer Hogaboom, Steven Grossman, Tommy Cortelli will be expected to step right in and contribute for the Hawks in 2024.
Utica
The Pioneers will have a new look in 2024 under head coach Sean Behan, who played four seasons with the Pioneers before serving as head coach, most recently at Medaille University. Utica returns 26 players from last season’s team, including senior defender Ethan Brown, who earned All-Empire 8 second team accolades. Senior attack Sam Serrano is Utica’s returning leading scoring after tallying 37 points on 23 goals and 14 assists, while junior midfielder Connor Costanza tallied 16 goals and 29 points and John Spoto scored 21 goals. Chase Rorick, Andrew Sacco and Gianpaul Cooper will also be counted on to provide leadership and strong play, while newcomers Ryan Considine, Aaron Bergquist, Mike Reid and Colin Musso will vie for starting roles in 2024.
Russell Sage
Russell Sage will look to challenge for a postseason berth after returning 24 players and seven starters from last season’s squad that won six games. Graduate student Bailey Martin returns after leading the team in scoring with 53 points on 33 goals and 20 assists. Classmate Shea Obado is a solid midfielder who can be counted on to produce on both ends of the field, having tallied 22 goals, 52 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers a season ago. Sophomore Nate Kettle earned All-Empire 8 second team honors during his rookie season in 2023, tallying 45 points on 32 goals and 13 assists to go along with 31 ground balls. In addition, sophomore attack Mame Dima will also be counted on to play a larger role for the Gators, while newcomers Brady Dubay and Hunter Riley will look to vie for starting roles.
Keuka
Keuka will look to get back to the postseason after advancing to the Empire 8 semifinals in its first season as a league member in 2021. Head coach Ty Trombley begins his first full season as Keuka head coach in 2024 after serving as interim head coach last year. The Wolves return 14 players from 2023, including junior attack Devon Gerhardt, who tallied a team-high 60 points on 24 goals and 36 assists. Seniors Auburn Dylan Hoad, a goalkeeper and senior long stick midfielder Robert Hill will be key components for the Keuka defensive unit in 2024. Hoad made at least 12 saves in a game eight times last season, while Hill earned All-E8 third team honors. Fellow returners Nick Pipher and Enrique Collins , along with newcomers Harrison Root and Anthony Druker will look to step into key roles this season.
Final 2023 Empire 8 Men’s Lacrosse Standings
St. John Fisher (10-10 7-0 Empire 8) – League Champions
Alfred (11-5, 6-1 E8)
Nazareth (10-9, 5-2 E8)
Hartwick (6-6, 4-3 E8)
Utica (6-10, 3-4 E8)
Russell Sage (6-11, 2-5 E8)
Keuka (6-7, 1-6 E8)
Medaille (2-12, 0-7 E8)
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