IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University men's lacrosse team enters the 2018 campaign with a new look, hoping to wash away what was left of a four-win season in 2017. A major piece in revitalizing the program came last July, as Immaculata tabbed former Maryland standout Niko Amato as head coach, who is certain that the Macs will be ready to compete at a high level by the time Saturday's season-opener at Muhlenberg arrives.

"The schedule we face this season is demanding and challenging, giving our players the opportunity to showcase their abilities in as many opportunities as possible," said the first-year head coach Amato. "We as a coaching staff firmly believe in competition - which is certainly reflected in our schedule with 16 games within a four-month span - allowing our student-athletes to develop a routine and grow as a team throughout the season. While we are taking our schedule one game at a time and focusing on every opponent equally, we believe that preparation begins from within our program, no matter who we match up against on any given day."

Amato will carry a balanced roster heading into his first campaign at the helm with ten returners and ten newcomers, but the four senior captains - Mike Reardon, Brian Shultis, Tyler Black and Kyle Roche - will be relied upon to lead the Macs to new heights in 2018.

We are hopeful that Reardon, Shultis, Black and Roche can set the pace for our team both on and off the field as they have in practice early on," Amato noted. "Their blend of skill-sets that each of them bring to the table will be instrumental in our success this season."

Reardon, a two-time All-CSAC honoree, set the program's single-season (41) and career (101) goals records a year ago to lead the offensive attack, while Shultis led the squad with 20 assists and was second on the team in points with 40. Black, another two-time All-CSAC selection, has played in all 44 games during his career with IU and ranked second on team in goals (26) and ground balls (63) a season ago. Despite missing last season, Roche is primed to return and share faceoff duties with Black as the duo is set to anchor the Macs' midfield.

The Macs will also rely heavily on sophomore goalie Denton States, who put together a solid freshman campaign in 2017. States started all 14 games in his rookie year, making 178 saves to go along with a .493 save percentage.

"After starting every game in his freshman season, we are looking for States to build off that performance and rely on him to anchor a stout defensive attack," Amato remarked. "Denton's confident demeanor coupled with his competitive spirit gives us as a staff great faith in a young and evolving defense."

Alongside the proven leaders of the program, the Macs will look to a crop of freshmen to learn and adapt to the collegiate level quickly. Midfielders Adam Snyder, Bobby Bausman, Steven Long and Tyler Rossi are primed to get a bulk of minutes early on, while Chris Lomax, Sam Bonavita and Nate Nale will round out a youthful defense. Goalie Justin Colon will provide depth behind States to begin the 2018 season.

Earlier this week, the Macs were selected sixth in the CSAC preseason coaches' poll, but Amato and his team are not deterred.

"We have many key newcomers and, I think from top to bottom, the freshman class has the largest heartbeat on the team. I am optimistic that the guidance of our upperclassmen paired with the willingness, determination and skills of the freshmen we, can put together one of the best campaigns our program has seen," said Amato. "We are going to need every single player on our roster in order to do so.  The focus of practice always remains the same; whatever we are doing, we do it to the best of our ability."

IU is scheduled for eight non-conference games to begin the season before the eight-game CSAC slate begins March 24 against Marywood at Draper Walsh Stadium. After two road contests to start the year at Muhlenberg and McDaniel, the Macs welcome in Wesley on Feb. 28 for the home opener set for 7 p.m.