SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's lacrosse team will open its 2023 regular season on President's Day – Monday, Feb. 20 – on the road at Kean University.
 
"The team is incredibly excited to kick off the 2023 season on Monday against Kean," said Skidmore's fifth-year head coach Joe Martin. "Our coaching staff has seen great progress from our returners, and we are looking forward to seeing what a year older and more experienced looks like on game day."
 
The youthful Thoroughbred squad won four out of its first five games in 2022 and received votes in a pair of United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches Polls. Skidmore finished the season 5-9. All four of the Liberty League tournament teams (RIT, RPI, St. Lawrence, Union) received NCAA Tournament bids. RIT won its second consecutive national title, while Union was the runner up.
 
The Liberty League playoffs will expand to five teams this year. Skidmore relishes the opportunity to make some noise in the ultra-competitive circuit. "We are fortunate to play in the best League in the country," Martin added. "We know it is a gauntlet and we are looking forward to attacking that challenge head on."
 
Senior captain Paul Heffernan was Skidmore's representative on the All-Liberty League list in 2022 as an Honorable Mention recipient. He led the team with 20 caused turnovers and finished in the top-five in the league with 1.43 caused turnovers per game.
 
The Thoroughbreds return their top two point-getters in Charlie McFadden (33g, 16a-49pts) and Jon Bouvier (26g-15a-41pts). In all, Skidmore returns all but one of its players who recorded 10 or more points last year.
 
Also back for his sophomore campaign is goalie Collin Kuester, who started each of the Thoroughbreds' 14 games in 2022. He posted a .511 save percentage and made 165 saves. Junior Avery Stamps appeared in five games between the pipes and turned aside 10 shots.
 
"This is a fun group to coach!" Coach Martin remarked. "They have great energy, work hard and are committed to improving each day."
 
After road games at Kean, Cortland (Feb. 25), and Oneonta (March 1), Skidmore will open at home at Wachenheim Field on Saturday, March 4 against Alfred University. The league slate begins March 25 at RPI.