The Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse team represents Villanova University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's lacrosse. The Wildcats were elevated to the varsity level in 1981 after competing as a club sport since 1961.BIG EAST Announces the Formation of Men's Lacrosse League for 2010 Season, Villanova University, June 11, 2008.
History Villanova currently competes as a member of the Big East Conference and plays their home games at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Villanova competed as an independent until joining the Colonial Athletic Association in 2002; winning the CAA tournament for their first title in 2009.Villanova claims first CAA title with 10-9 win over Towson , Inside Lacrosse, May 2, 2009. The fourth-seeded Wildcats were the lowest-seeded champions in conference tournament history but had qualified for conference tournament for the fifth year in a row. Villanova also made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2009 but lost in the first round to the top-seeded Virginia, 18–6.
A pivotal point for the program occurred in 2009 under head coach Mike Corrado. The Wildcats secured their first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning an at-large bid, marking a milestone in the program's history. That season also featured Villanova's first win over a top-10 opponent, solidifying their place on the national stage.
Notable players Several standout players have made significant contributions to the Villanova Wildcats Men's Lacrosse program:
Brian Karalunas: A defensive midfielder known for his unmatched work ethic and on-field intelligence. He earned USILA First-Team All-American honors in 2011 and was awarded the Senior CLASS Award for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. Kevin Cunningham: A versatile attackman and team leader, Cunningham was instrumental in the Wildcats' success during the 2011 season, earning All-Big East honors. Jack Rice: One of the program's all-time leading scorers, Rice was known for his clutch performances and finishing ability, particularly during the Wildcats' NCAA Tournament runs. Chris Ficke: A reliable defenseman, Ficke played a crucial role in anchoring the Wildcats' defensive unit during their successful 2009 and 2011 campaigns. T.J. O'Donnell: A midfielder whose consistent performances and leadership helped guide the team through some of its most successful seasons.
2011 Roster The 2011 Villanova Wildcats Men's Lacrosse roster was as follows:
No. Name Position Year Height Hometown High School 1 Joe Payne Midfield Junior – Birmingham, Mich. Brother Rice 2 Jack Rice Attack Sophomore 5'11" Baltimore, Md. Boys' Latin 3 Paul Mita Attack Sophomore 6'5" Berwyn, Pa. Conestoga 4 Billy Hurley Goalkeeper Sophomore 6'2" Morristown, N.J. Delbarton 5 Nolan Vihlen Midfield Junior 5'10" Germantown, Tenn. Christian Brother 6 Chris Aitken Midfield Redshirt Junior 6'1" Haverford, Pa. Haverford School 7 Will Casertano Attack Sophomore 5'9" Millbrook, N.Y. Salisbury School 8 Max Hart Midfield Sophomore 5'10" Bethesda, Md. Georgetown Prep 9 Peter Metcalf Goalkeeper Sophomore 6'4" Sea Girt, N.J. The Governor's Academy 10 Hunter Broome Defense Sophomore 6'2" Richmond, Va. Collegiate School 11 Dan Gutierrez Goalkeeper Junior 6'1" Chevy Chase, Md. Georgetown Prep 12 Matt Bell Attack Junior 5'10" Severna Park, Md. St. Mary's 13 Mike Brennan Midfield Senior 5'11" Manhasset, N.Y. Chaminade 14 T.J. O'Donnell Midfield Senior – Randolph, N.J. Delbarton 15 Chris Ficke Defense Senior 6'1" Madison, N.J. Delbarton 16 Kevin O'Neil Attack Freshman 6'2" Cockeysville, Md. Boys' Latin 17 Andrew Henrich Midfield Senior 6'3" Wyndmoor, Pa. La Salle 18 Troy Higgins Defense Senior 6'3" Wayne, N.J. Seton Hall Prep 19 Chris Creighton Defense Junior 6'1" West Chester, Pa. Malvern Prep 20 Harte Thompson Midfield Sophomore 6'3" Chester Springs, Pa. Malvern Prep 21 John LoCascio Defense Freshman 5'11" Fairfield, N.J. West Essex Regional 22 Nick LoBiondo Midfield Sophomore 5'9" Mountain Lakes, N.J. Mountain Lakes 23 Jimmy Wyatt Midfield Freshman 5'9" Whitehouse Station, N.J. Hunterdon Central Regional 24 Remington Pope Defense Freshman 6'1" Boston, Mass. The Governor's Academy 25 Brian Karalunas Defense Senior 5'11" Dewitt, N.Y. Jamesville-Dewitt 26 Chris Piccirilli Defense Freshman 6'5" Davidsonville, Md. Archbishop Spalding 27 Christopher Conroy Defense Freshman 6'1" Chatham, N.J. Chatham 28 CJ Burke Midfield Junior 5'9" Pittsburgh, Pa. Central Catholic 29 Kevin Cunningham Attack Junior 5'11" Garden City, N.Y. Kellenberg 30 C.J. Small Midfield Junior 5'11" San Diego, Calif. La Costa Canyon 32 Alex Garrison Midfield Freshman 6'2" New Canaan, Conn. The Taft School 33 Nick Doherty Attack Sophomore 5'10" Bernardsville, N.J. Delbarton 36 Mark Jackson Midfield Freshman 5'10" West Chester, Pa. Malvern Prep 37 Alex Westcott Attack Senior 5'10" Millerton, N.Y. The Hotchkiss School 40 Michael Vigilante Midfield Junior 6'2" Massapequa, N.Y. Massapequa 41 Tyler Brennan Defense Sophomore 6'2" East Setauket, N.Y. Ward Melville 42 Ryan McDonagh Defense Junior 6'1" Huntington, N.Y. St. Anthony's 45 Thomas Croonquist Midfield Freshman 5'11" North Caldwell, N.J. Seton Hall
, The Baltimore Sun, May 11, 2009.
Season results The following is a list of Villanova's results by season as an NCAA Division I program:
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†NCAA canceled 2020 collegiate activities due to the COVID-19 virus.
See also Lacrosse in Pennsylvania
References
External links