ELKINS, W. Va. - Looking to build on a 2019 campaign that showed improvement and signs of success, the Davis & Elkins College men's lacrosse team will jump right into a challenging schedule with their season opener on Saturday, playing host to seventh-ranked Seton Hill at Nuttall Field beginning at noon.
The Senators remain in the G-MAC for men's lacrosse as an associate member. Picked to finish fifth in the G-MAC Preseason Poll, the Senators have put together a challenging schedule which includes two of the top-10 programs in the USILA Coaches Poll. After their opener Saturday, D&E hosts Chowan at home on February 22, before facing two opportunities to avenge 2019 results. The Senators play their first road game of 2020 at UDC on Wednesday, February 26, and host Chestnut Hill to open spring break on February 29.
A trip to South Carolina over the break will find D&E taking on a familiar foe in Newberry on March 3, and first-year program Lander on March 6. Returning back to Elkins, D&E hosts first-year Lewis on March 12 and returns to G-MAC competition with a home date against Walsh on March 14. After travelling to rival Alderson Broaddus on March 18, the Senators will play a back-to-back in New Jersey, facing off against Felician (March 21) and Caldwell (March 22). A brief hiatus awaits before a home date with Alabama-Huntsville on March 30, ahead of a pivotal G-MAC clash at Lake Erie on April 4.
The Senators will close out their schedule at home against fourth-ranked Mercyhurst on April 7, and Frostburg State on April 18, adding four more games to their schedule from 2019 in head coach
Evan Merrill's second season at the helm of the Senators men's lacrosse program.
D&E returns two of their top goal scorers from last season in sophomores
Trevor Kennedy and
Nolan Morrison. The Senators will lean on an experienced senior class of six players to form the nucleus of this year's team. David Thorne will serve as the Senators primary netminder, having played under the tutelage of two graduated goalkeepers in 2019. Seniors
Matthew Dyck,
Jordan Waddell,
Michael Holstein,
Kyle Durec,
Aidan O'Dwyer and
Bryce McBee have all seen significant minutes over the last three years, combining with some talented underclassmen to challenge in the G-MAC during the 2020 campaign.
"There's a lot to be excited about this season for us," Merrill said. "With returners stepping into leadership roles and impact freshmen and sophomores, we're hoping to take a big step forward in 2020."
"Our schedule will challenge us early with two top-10 programs on the schedule and Seton Hill to open up, but the team is ready and motivated to achieve results right away," Merrill continued.
The Senators begin play at Nuttall Field on Saturday at 12:00 PM against Seton Hill.
