Graphic Made by Tyler Hewey
By Tyler Hewey
BANGOR, Maine – The Husson Eagles have officially announced their schedule for the 2019 men’s lacrosse season. The Eagles will play 11 regular season games including four games at home on Boucher Field and North Atlantic Conference Games.
For the second straight season, the Eagles will face the Monks of Saint Joseph’s College in the season opener on Wednesday, February 27th. Last season the Eagles fell to the Monks, 10-8, at Boucher Field. The Monks have a 6-4 series advantage over the Eagles and have won the last six games versus the green and gold.
The Eagles’ home opener will take place on Sunday, March 3rd, as Husson host the University of Southern Maine. The Eagles fell to the Huskies, 22-9, last season. The green and gold have never beaten the Huskies in seven games played.
The Eagles will get a day rest before traveling to Boston to take on the Beacons of UMass-Boston on the 5th of March. It will be the second-ever meeting between the two schools as the Beacons beat the Eagles, 21-3, last season.
Husson returns from spring break on the 16th as they host Northern Vermont University at Johnson for the first NAC game of the season. The Eagles beat the Badgers, 21-3, last season in Vermont. Husson is 10-1 all-time versus NVU-Johnson including ten straight victories.
The green and gold return to non-conference for one game as the Eagles make the short trip to Waterville to take on Colby College on March 19th. Last season, the Mules beat the Eagles, 20-6. Colby has defeated the Eagles both times in the series history and scored 20 goals in each game.
The Eagles return home to take on the SUNY Delhi Broncos on March 23rd. SUNY Delhi is a NAC associate member who will be joining the conference as a full-time member, beginning next season. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Husson gets a week off before traveling to Vermont to take on Northern Vermont University at Lyndon on March 30th. The Eagles defeated the Hornets last season, 9-6, at Boucher Field. The green and gold are 11-1 all-time versus the Hornets.
The Eagles start off the month of April on the 9th as they travel to Dean College for their final non-conference game of the season. Last season, Husson fell to the Bulldogs, 10-8. It will be the third meeting between the two schools with Dean winning both of the prior meetings.
Husson will make their longest road trip of the season as they on SUNY Canton on April 13th. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools as the Kangaroos joined the conference at the beginning of the athletic season.
Husson’s final regular season home game will take place on April 20th as they host the Thomas Terriers in a rematch of the NAC Quarterfinals from last season. The Eagles beat the Terriers, 17-1, in the regular season and, 14-3, in the Quarterfinals. The green and gold have defeated the red and black 12 straight times after losing the first two games in the series history.
Husson will finish off the regular season on April 23rd as they travel to Castine to take on the Maine Maritime Mariners. The Eagles defeated their close NAC-rivals, 19-10, last season at Boucher Field. Husson is 8-4 all-time versus Maine Maritime and have won the past three meetings.
The Eagles finished last season with a 6-8 record and 5-2 NAC play while falling in the semifinals of the conference tournament to Castleton, 8-7.
Junior midfield, Blane Miller said, “With the new freshman being very skilled, and making a name for themselves already. I’m excited to see what this season brings for us! I’m focused on winning those out of conference games because those are the hardest games we play this year and if we can win those or even spilt them, then we’ll have no problem with our conference plain and simple.”
The men’s lacrosse season looks bright especially in a weaker North Atlantic Conference than last season as both Castleton and New England College both left but if the Eagles want to win the conference championship then they will most likely still have to deal with the Pilgrims.
The New England Collegiate Conference and the NAC combined in men’s lacrosse to from one big conference tournament. For the 2019 season, the top two teams in the NAC and the NECC will form a four-team, single elimination tournament. The number one NAC team will host the number two seed NECC school while the one NECC school will host the two NAC school. The highest remaining NAC school will host the final and if both NECC schools win the number one NECC school will host the final.