RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The 2023 season for Manhattan men's lacrosse saw the Jaspers use their defense to win a share of the MAAC Regular Season Crown and generate more attention for the program that has its sights set higher.
The Jaspers shared the 2023 MAAC Regular Season Title with Mount St. Mary's. Manhattan was the top seed in the MAAC Championship after winning the tiebreaker against The Mount. After leading the Jaspers to the share of the regular season title and equaling a program record of 10 regular season wins,
John Odierna was named MAAC Coach of the Year.
The defense was the Jaspers calling card this past season. Manhattan led Division I and tied the shot-clock era record (since 2019) of the fewest goals allowed per game at 8.00. Air Force allowed eight goals per game back in 2019. This season, Manhattan surrendered 10-plus goals six times and had six games allowing six goals or less.
Backstopping the defense was
Joseph Persico in goal. The graduate student waited his turn for three seasons before winning the starting job this season. Persico led Division I in goals against average (8.00) and finished fourth in save percentage (.573)—both marks led the MAAC. The Briarcliff, N.Y. native earned Honorable Mention All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine and First Team All-MAAC honors.
The Jaspers had another member of the defense earn all-league honors.
Christian Clifford picked First Team All-MAAC honors after helping anchor the Jaspers' defense. It was the second straight season that Clifford earned All-MAAC honors.
Kyle Gucwa led the Jaspers in points for a third straight season, finishing 2023 with 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists). The Pottstown, Pa. native was a First Team All-MAAC selection for the second straight season. Gucwa had a streak of 43 games with at least a point snapped at Wagner. The senior has been held scoreless in only two games as a collegiate.
Tadhg O'Riordan was named Second Team All-MAAC at short-stick defensive midfield, and
Liam Peabody earned All-Rookie Team honors.
The year started perfectly for Odierna and the Jaspers. Manhattan topped St. John's in the season opener before winning at Navy, who received votes in the national polls, 6-5 in the second game. The two wins were the first for Odierna in charge of the Jaspers. A battle at then-No. 4/3 Princeton followed. A game that the Jaspers scored first and led the half. The Tigers pulled away in the third to win 14-9.
MAAC play started perfectly for the Jaspers in the win column, winning the first four. No team in those four games scored 10 goals against the Jaspers.
Marist handed the Jaspers their first loss in league play, 10-9. The Jaspers then won back-to-back games against VMI and LIU to move to 6-1 in MAAC play. A loss to Siena preceded a 6-2 win at Wagner in the regular season finale. The win at Wagner and The Mount's loss to Siena meant the Jaspers shared the regular season title and earned the top seed in the MAAC Championship.
Manhattan's season ended in the semifinals of the MAAC Championship with a loss to Siena, 11-8.
James McCoy had a pair of goals in the semifinal.
Liam McDonough went 16-22 on faceoffs. McDonough and
Tadhg O'Riordan were named to the All-Championship Team.
Gucwa and
Liam Walshe passed 100 career points this season. It is the first time since 2000 that two Jaspers reached the milestone in the same season. Gucwa's 25 assists were two off the single-season program record. Both played moved up the top 10 career goals list and are in the top eight all-time.
The Jaspers also got contributions from first-time starters and underclassmen.
Quinn Bowler,
Kelly DuPree, and
Scott O'Connor finished third, fourth, and fifth on the team in points this season in their first taste of extended playing time. O'Connor was third on the team with 17 goals. DuPree was right behind with 16 and Bowler had 12 goals and 11 assists. On defense,
Hunter Newman stepped into a starting roll after being a reserve and teammed with true freshman
Michael Schafer and Clifford to form best defense in the MAAC. Newman tallied 22 gorundballs and Schafer added 20 groundballs and 15 caused turnovers.
As the Jaspers move toward 2024, they will look to improve their win total for the fourth straight season.
For the latest on the Manhattan College men's lacrosse program, follow the Jaspers on Twitter @ManhattanMLAX and Instagram @Manhattan_Lacrosse.
