Cardinals ready to get 2013 season started on Wednesday evening

WASHINGTON – The 2013 CUA men’s lacrosse season gets underway on Wednesday evening when the Cardinals travel to Randolph-Macon.  CUA won nine games a season ago, including the 100th in the history of the program, and qualified for its third consecutive Landmark Conference Tournament.

Two-time All-Landmark Conference selection Brendan Englert returns to lead the CUA offense, after totaling 29 goals and 41 points a season ago.  Along with Englert, the Cardinals bring back Brian Keith (11 goals, 20 points) and Sean Cummins (13 goals, 18 points) to form a strong trio.

Other returners who contributed on the offensive end a season ago include Walter Hickey (4 goals, 1 assist) and Camden Feldman (2 goals, 2 assists).

On the defensive side, Head Coach Brooks Singer has a large contingent of veterans to lean upon, including Ryan McDonough (31 ground balls, 7 caused turnovers), Jack Drexel (20 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers), Patrick Keelan (4 ground balls), Dan McCallan (14 ground balls, 4 caused turnovers), and Chris Wellock (8 ground balls, 5 caused turnovers).

In goal, CUA returns all three of its keepers from a season ago, led by Patrick Pfaff, who started 13 games and turned back 166 shots in 702 minutes.

Mark Destro (47 saves, .644 save percentage) and Kevin Cardillo also return.

Like CUA, the Yellow Jackets won nine games a season ago. They were picked fifth in the ODAC preseason poll and return one all-conference performer in Tim Rowe.

Rowe is the leading returning scorer (34 goals, 24 ground balls) and is joined by fellow midfielders Jason Andrews (19 goals) and 2011 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Justin Butler (9 goals, 13 assists).

Start time on Wednesday is set for 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Cardinals open their home schedule vs. Hood College at noon.  CUA will be the first Landmark Conference school to play a men’s lacrosse game in 2013.

CUA begins the Landmark Conference portion of its schedule on Saturday, March 16 with a trip to New York to face Merchant Marine Academy.