ALFRED, NY – Following their third straight appearance in the Empire 8 postseason, the Alfred University men's lacrosse team is eager to return to action. The Saxons will welcome a variety of veteran and first-year talent this spring.
Alfred University will be led by Head Coach
Jason Lockner, who is entering his 19th season with the program.
"Our success comes down to the players we have on the field and the time they put in," Lockner said. "Our staff has made it a priority to recruit the right players to Alfred University. We had a great group last year and we're excited for what's ahead of us."
The Saxons finished last season with a 11-5 overall record, including a 6-1 record in conference competition. AU won each of their final three games of the regular season to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Empire 8 standings.
"We're striving to get better each day," Lockner said. "We are taking note of what we did well last season and what we need to improve upon."
Kevin Matson (Chenango Bridge, NY/Chenango Forks) is among the seniors up front for Alfred University. Last season, Matson led the conference with 58 goals, which marked third in program history for a single season. He added 13 assists for the Saxons for a team-high of 70 points.
"It's nice to return an All-American talent like Kevin," Lockner said. "The expectations are high for him coming into this spring and we're excited to see what he brings."
Entering the spring season,
Justin Mosher (Hilton, NY/Hilton) has been named as one of four team captains. Last spring, Mosher recorded 19 goals and 17 assists for a total of 36 points. In each of the last three seasons, Mosher has earned All-Conference accolades.
Both Mosher and
Dawson Felenchak (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) will be entering their graduate seasons with Alfred University. Felenchak appeared in 14 games for the Saxons last season, totaling 15 goals and 13 assists while picking up 32 ground balls.
"We're fortunate to have both Justin and Dawson coming back to Alfred University for their graduate seasons," Lockner said. "They both bring experience and high IQ to our roster and will be two of the hardest-working players we have."
In the midfield,
Josh Hauman (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) is among the returners and will be a team captain for the Saxons. In each of the last two seasons, Hauman has recorded 30 or more total points for AU. In 2023, he was listed as a member of the All-Empire 8 Third Team.
"Josh has been an experienced veteran since joining us as a first-year student-athlete," Lockner said. "He makes us better and more experienced. We're looking forward to another successful season with him on our roster."
Faceoff specialist
Hunter Cupp (Bath, NY/Haverling) is coming off a historic first-year season with AU, winning 248-of-386 attempts. Cupp additionally picked up 157 ground balls for the Saxons, which ranks second in program history for a single season.
On the defensive end, both
Benjamin Cunningham (Dover, MD/The Gunston School) and
Ashton Howlett (Brockport, NY/Brockport) have been named as team captains. As a first-year, Cunningham was named to the All-Empire 8 First Team. Howlett is a four-year member of the men's lacrosse program, recording 40 career games played.
"Having Benjamin and Ashton on our defense makes us well-balanced on both sides of the field," Lockner said. "Ben has proven himself as an All-Conference selection and a proven leader. They both bring attributes that make us better."
The Saxons will additionally feature four goalies on their roster.
"Our four goalies have been battling hard," Lockner said. "Quinn and Andy in particular have been competing right away. Scott was phenomenal and there are big shoes to fill, but we're confident in the core we have."
Alfred University will begin their 2024 season on the road against SUNY Morrisville on Friday, February 23. Empire 8 competition will begin versus Russell Sage College on March 30. The Empire 8 Championship Tournament will run from May 1-4.
"Our goals including winning the Conference Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament," Lockner said. "We mention our goals to our players often so they're focused on what's ahead of us."
