Raider Review: The 2019 Men's Lacrosse Team

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director

NASHUA, N.H. – The Raider Review is a series of stories highlighting achievements and moments in Rivier University Athletics history. Each week we will bounce back in time and review some of the best moments our student-athletes and teams have captured throughout the 25-year history in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

This week we are highlighting the 2019 Men’s Lacrosse team that captured the program’s first-ever GNAC Tournament victory and finished in the conference semifinals.
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2019 Men’s Lacrosse | Final Record: 12-4 | GNAC Semifinal Appearance

Guided by a senior class of ten student-athletes, the 2019 Men’s Lacrosse team were destined to set team records and poised to make a run at the GNAC Championship. The bitter taste left in wake of the 2018 triple-overtime quarterfinal defeat at Saint Joseph’s College (Me.), 11-10, fueled the seniors to push their team further in their final hurrah.

The Raiders jumped out to a fast start to being the season. They revenged a 2018 loss at Nichols by defeating the Bison in the 2019 season opener, 8-7, and then went on a four game run in which they scored at least 14 goals in each win – all at home. They took care of business with a 20-6 win over Mitchell and a 14-3 victory against Salem State University over the Spring Break week. The team continued the good times with a pair of wins over Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (17-7) and Dean College (24-10) for the program’s first 5-0 start since the 2015 season.

With a majority of the non-conference schedule behind them, the Raiders turned their attention to the GNAC and their first conference contest was against the last team to beat them, Saint Joseph’s College (Maine). The result did not end in the Raiders favor (a 13-7 loss) but the poise and resiliency the team showed in that loss and in the team’s next loss at Lasell (18-7) was promising in regards to how the rest of the season would play out.

Entering the final month of the season with an overall record of 5-2 and 0-2 in league play, the Raiders knew that in order to secure a home tournament game, they would need to record a .500 record or better in the conference. The team began the month with a pair of GNAC wins over Anna Maria and Johnson & Wales as they evened their conference record heading into a tough road battle at Norwich. The Raiders were upended by the Cadets (11-6) setting the stage, as the team would need to win their final three GNAC contests in order to host that pivotal quarterfinal matchup.

The team exploded for 26 goals in a win over Albertus Magnus and carried that momentum into a thrilling 12-11 win over Emmanuel three days later. Sitting at 4-3 in the conference, the Raiders had the opportunity in front of them – defeat Regis and secure a GNAC Quarterfinal home game. The team responded by using a 5-2 opening quarter run to beat Regis 15-10 and in the process made program history by securing home field advantage.

Tournament Time!

The Raiders, winners of their four and six of seven, earned the tournament’s #4 seed and hosted fifth-seeded Anna Maria College, under the lights at Raider Field. With the construction of Linda Robinson Pavilion in the background, the Raiders built an impressive opening quarter with six goals and entered halftime with a 6-3 advantage. Over the final 30 minutes of action, the Raiders outscored the AMCATS 9-2 in earned the program’s first GNAC Tournament victory and a trip to the GNAC Semifinals.

Awaiting the Raiders was the tournament’s top seed in undefeated Lasell. The historic season would eventually come to an end in Newton, Massachusetts as the Lasers topped the Raiders, 17-10.

Season Awards

The 2019 GNAC All-Conference unveiled three members of the Rivier Men’s Lacrosse brotherhood were placed on the All-Conference teams. Senior Colby Larsen (Windham, N.H.) earned his third All-Conference Second Team designation after finishing his final season with 65 points on 46 goals and 19 assists. Classmate Eric Guinasso (Pelham, N.H.) was also selected to the All-Conference Second Team, his second consecutive selection, after leading the Raider midfield unit with 37 goals, 14 assists and 51 points. Sophomore Dylan McSparren (Warwick, R.I.) was awarded with his first All-Conference honor, chosen to the All-Conference Third Team. The second-year attackman was outstanding for the team all season long as he scored 47 goals and dished out 26 assists for 73 total points.

Senior Chris Pennie (Wilmington, Mass.) was chosen as the Raiders representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship team and at the conclusion of the GNAC Tournament – both McSparren and senior Ken Whitter (Amherst, N.H.) were named to the 2019 GNAC All-Tournament team.

Six members of the program also earned New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association honors as they were selected to the NEILA All-Academic team. The six selections were the most amongst GNAC school. Senior Sean Brady (Tewksbury, Mass.), Matt Cloutman (Peabody, Mass.), Rob Fullerton (Wilmington, Mass.), Guinasso, Larsen and Whitter were the six Raiders recognized.

As a team, the Raiders also captured a NCAA statistical championship as they held the highest success rate across all three NCAA divisions with a clearing success rate of 92.5%. Other team accomplishments from the season include program highs: highest pre-season conference ranking, 228 goals scored, 147 assists, 64.4% assisted goals, all members on the attack unit with 50+ goals, all members on the defensive unit with double-digit caused turnovers and all members on the midfield unit to score 30+ goals.