STANDISH, ME - The 2013 SJC lacrosse team looked to build upon a 2012 season in which saw them finish 8-10, including 6-3 in conference play. Headed by coach Mike Edgar since the squad's creation in 2008, the Monks stumbled out of the gate in 2013, winning only one of their first five games and averaging only five goals per game.
Within this stretch the Monks were able to pinpoint their main playmakers on the field, starting with attackman Andrew Sullivan (Rochester, N.H.), who, at season's end, would lead the team in a plethora of offensive categories: first in points (34) and goals (30) while finishing third in total shots taken (67). Sullivan put his skills on display in a victory over Emmanuel College on March 21st, where he scored four goals and all five of Saint Joseph's points, en route to a 5-4 Monks victory.
After the rough start, the Monks played 4-2 ball over the next two weeks, bringing their record to a more respectable 5-6. Contributions were made across the board; junior Andrew Hamill provided a spark out of the midfielder position, leading the team in assists (15), finishing second in points (26), and fifth on the team in goals scored (11) at the season's end. Co-captain and senior goalkeeper Christopher Driscoll (Saco, Maine) was extremely effective at his position, finishing his NCAA career with 150 goals against, 206 saves, and an exceptional 57.9% save success rate. Junior co-captain Jake Ricciardi (Sharon, Mass.) remained a steady offensive force throughout the season as well, finishing second on the team in both goals (18) and shots taken (68).
SJC went on to go 2-3 in their next five games, bringing their overall record to 7-9 heading into the GNAC Quarterfinal matchup against Emmanuel. A tightly contested matchup left the #4 seeded Monks in a 9-4 hole to begin the 4th quarter against the #5 Saints. With 4:05 remaining in the final quarter, Sullivan received a pass from midfielder Dalton Eldridge (South Gardiner, Maine) and fired into the net to make the score 9-5. With just 2:21 left to play, attackman Max Meserve (Kennebunk, Maine) received a pass from junior Dominic Cesarini (Bow, N.H.) to draw SJC closer, 9-6. Exactly one minute later, attackman Austin Watts connected for his 14th goal of the year, an unassisted shot to make the score 9-7. It was the Monks' third goal in just over two minutes.
The Monks still were not done, as Eldridge netted a goal of his own with just three seconds left in regulation. Saint Joe's wasn't able to score their fifth goal in the final four minutes, and dropped the match by a final score of 9-8.
SJC finished with a 7-10 overall record, but went 6-3 in GNAC contests. The conclusion of the season also brought the conclusion of Edgar's reign as SJC's lacrosse coach. He finished his career with a 41-58 (.414) overall record and coached his teams to a 23-20 (.535) record in GNAC contests.
Driscoll, Hamill, and senior defender co-captain Bert Comins (Newbury, Mass.) were awarded all-conference honors in 2013.
Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 350-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
