STANDISH, Maine – The 2017 Saint Joseph's College men's lacrosse schedule has been released and the Monks, led by first-year Head Coach Bill Cosentino, will play a 17-game slate, which includes nine home contests and eight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tilts.

Saint Joseph's kicks off the 2017 campaign with a non-conference contest at University of New England on Wednesday, March 1st at 4:00 PM. The Monks' home-opener takes place against Massachusetts-Maritime on Tuesday, March 7th at 4:00 PM. All of the Monks' home contests will be played at Deering Memorial Stadium in Portland.

Two of the team's annual rivalry match-ups take place in the following two weeks, as St. Joe's plays at University of Southern Maine on Wednesday, March 15th (3:30 PM) and hosts Husson University on Wednesday, March 22nd (4:00 PM).

The GNAC docket begins on April 1st, when the Monks travel to Connecticut for a league game at Albertus Magnus College. Saint Joseph's faces off against three-time GNAC Champion Emmanuel College three days later and hosts Norwich University on Saturday, April 8th (3:30 PM).

After traveling to Rivier University for a conference contest on April 12th, the Monks host four-consecutive games as Anna Maria College (4/15), Lasell College (4/18), Johnson & Wales University (4/22), and Thomas College (4/26) trek to Portland.

Saint Joseph's closes out the regular season with a road game versus GNAC-rival Mount Ida College on Saturday, April 29th.

The GNAC Tournament begins with a quarterfinal round on May 2nd, continues with the semifinals on May 4th, and concludes with the championship on May 6th. The GNAC Champion earns an automatic berth into the NCAA DIII Tournament, which starts on May 10th.

Saint Joseph's loses just three seniors from a team that went 5-11 overall 2-6 in GNAC play last spring, although one of the graduates – Jake O'Brien – tallied 26 goals with team-highs in assists (28) and points (54). Senior Mark LaPierre (Wayland, Mass.), juniors Brendan Barrett (East Sandwich, Mass.), Cam Boucher (Lewiston, Maine) and Matt Donnell (Watertown, Mass.), and sophomore Michael Finn (Quincy, Mass.) will help replace the lost offense.

Junior Liam Skinner (Irving, Texas) and sophomore Raymond Emery (Abington, Mass.) look to anchor the SJC defense while juniors Connor Trainor (Franklin, Mass.) and Wyatt Porter (Pittsfield, Mass.) will hold down the fort in goal for the Royal Blue.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE