2019 SCHEDULE | 2019 ROSTER
IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University men's lacrosse team aims to take the next step in the program's rise under second-year head coach Niko Amato when the Mighty Macs open the 2019 season Saturday afternoon at FDU-Florham. The upcoming season marks the first for the Macs competing in the Atlantic East Conference, and this year's new-look roster is eager to make a statement in its non-conference slate before the conference schedule takes shape in late March.

"We have a young team that is hungry to change the culture of our program for the better this season," Amato, entering his second season, remarked. "We come to work every day and carry a positive, contagious attitude both on and off the field. Our goal is to play great lacrosse and improve as the season wears on, and I believe that if this team can stay healthy and grow together as a unit, it will set our program up for success not only this season, but for years to come."

Immaculata opens the 2019 campaign with a pair of non-conference road tests, at FDU-Florham (Feb. 23) and at former conference foe Centenary (Feb. 27) before making its Draper Walsh Stadium debut on March 2 against Hood. The Macs' home-opener marks the first of a three-game homestand as Albright (March 6) and Bryn Athyn (March 9) round out the two remaining dates. IU also hosts Lebanon Valley (March 23) and King's (March 27) before the start of Atlantic East play.

The Macs open their Atlantic East slate on the road for the first three matchups - including trips to Marywood (March 30), Neumann (April 3) and Wesley (April 6) - before hosting the remaining three games on the conference schedule to round of the regular season. Immaculata welcomes in Marymount (April 10) and Gwynedd Mercy (April 13) before hosting nationally-ranked Cabrini (April 24) in the regular season finale. 

The Macs return 11 players from their 2018 roster, four of which played in all 16 games last season - Steve Long, Ethan Johnson, Bobby Bausman and Nate Nale. Long is the leading offensive returner for the Macs, totaling 18 goals and 12 assists for 30 points in his rookie campaign while Johnson will look to take on a more advanced role in the midfield in his third season after posting five goals, six assists and seven caused turnovers a season ago. Long will also work to bring along freshman Sean Evans to the attack unit in the early stages of the year. Bausman and Nale are the lone duo of returners to start all 16 games in 2018 and will be relied upon to be the leaders of the Mighty Mac defense.  Bausman led IU with 58 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers in his freshman season, while Nale added 11 caused turnovers as a rookie last year as well.

Immaculata will also rely heavily on Ryan Ridolfi, Brandon Scheidel and DJ Reimel to anchor the midfield while providing leadership to newcomers Nick Bianchini, Will Reeder, James Barretta, and Dan Bogda in 2019. An already youthful defensive unit gets another influx of talent this season as well, as John Werkheiser and Sam Bonavita return to pair with new additions Elijah Sims and Jimmy Cooper. 

Junior goalie Denton States returns to the cage after having his 2018 season cut short due to injury, as sophomore Justin Colon and freshman Cole Metzger will also see their chances to compete for time between the pipes.