MEN'S LACROSSE NOTEBOOK
The University of Vermont men's lacrosse team kicks completes its southern swing with a trip to Macon, Georgia to face the Mercer Bears on Saturday (Feb. 3). The game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
 
RELATED LINKS
Mercer: Live Stats
2018 Schedule
2018 Roster
 
2017 SEASON RECAP
After winning three straight games to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2001, the Catamounts lost numerous close games and finished the season 5-8 overall and 1-5 in America East play.
 
With only one loss by more than three goals, UVM played tightly with Providence, Dartmouth, and Harvard in its three non-conference losses. In America East play, Vermont dropped close games to Binghamton, Hartford, Stony Brook, and UMBC.
 
As a team, the Catamounts ranked 13th nationally and first in the conference in caused turnovers per game (8.08). In the America East, Vermont ranked third in penalty-killing percentage (.776) and assists per game (6.46).
 
2018 AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
Vermont received 22 points and one first place vote and was slotted to finish third in the 2018 America East Preseason Poll. Each of the seven head coaches predicted the order of finish for the 2018 America East regular season standings, with Albany receiving 36 points and six first place votes to win the poll for the sixth consecutive year.
 
Stony Brook finished with 27 points to finish between Albany and Vermont in second. UMBC, Hartford, Binghamton, and UMass Lowell round out the poll, in that order. Albany is third in the nation per the USILA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
It is the second straight year that Vermont has been chosen to finish third and the first year that Vermont has received a first place vote.
 
SCOUTING MERCER
The Bears finished last season at 5-8 overall with a 2-5 SoCon record. It will be the season opener for the Bears against the Catamounts for the second consecutive year. Mercer was selected to finish seventh in the SoCon Preseason Poll.
 
Mercer will look for offensive production from new faces as four of their top five scorers from 2017 graduated. Senior Matt Quinn is the highest returning scorer from last season after posting 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. His younger brother, Michael, recorded 10 points last season as a freshman.
 
Sophomore goalie Bradley Hodoval returns after starting 11 of 13 games in 2017. In his freshman campaign, Hodoval posted a 5-7 overall record with a 10.59 goals against average and .498 save percentage.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and Mercer met for the first time last season in Mercer's 2017 opener. Much like the Furman game two days prior, Vermont took a 13-12 overtime victory, with Milligan assisting on the game winner, this time from Matt Gudas.
 
21 NEWCOMERS
A total of 21 freshmen have joined the Catamount program this year. Connecticut is the most represented state with five Cats, followed by Pennsyvania with four representatives.
 
Split by position, there are three attackmen, seven midfielders, three defensemen, three long stick middies, two face-off specialists, and a pair of attack/mid combo players.
 
SENIORS CAPTAIN THE CATAMOUNTS
Both James Leary and Ian MacKay return in 2018 to captain the Catamounts for the second straight year. A Seabrook, New Hampshire and Governor's Academy product, Leary has anchored the defense since arriving in 2014, playing in all 46 games and making 44 starts. He has led or nearly led the team in both ground balls and caused turnovers in each of his three seasons.
 
MACKAY LOOKS TO PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
MacKay returns for the 2018 season after sitting out all of last year due to injury. The 2016 America East Offensive Player of the Year and USILA All-American Third Team selection, MacKay hopes to pick up where he left off at the end of 2016, when the Catamounts nearly knocked off Hartford for the America East title.
 
MacKay has recorded at least one point in every game of his career and carries a 46-game point streak into the game against Furman. With a season remaining, he ranks sixth in the Catamount record book in both points (171) and goals (111), and is eighth in assists (60).
 
ALL-ROOKIE RETURNER
Ben French returns for his sophomore season after becoming the fifth Catamount since 2013 to be named to the America East All-Rookie team. He played in all 13 games last season, making 12 starts, and finished with a team-leading 25 goals and was second with 36 points.
 
NEXT UP
Vermont takes on Fairfield University in Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 10. The game against the Stags is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.