HIRAM, Ohio - February 25, 2022 – With 11 returning lettermen and a host of incoming freshmen and first-years, Hiram men's lacrosse will look to make some noise in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) this year, playing their first full season since 2019.
 
The Terriers enter their 11th season under Head Coach Brian Jenkins, coming off COVID-19 shortened 2020 and 2021 campaigns. Hiram played just six games in 2021 due to COVID-19 cancellations, and 11 games over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but have a full slate set for 2022.
 
Jenkins will once again be joined on the sidelines by assistant coach Andrew Patterson, as well as volunteer assistants Alec Eldridge `19 and Matt Valentin `21.
 
"I try not to put expectations on my teams, our goal is always to be better than the day before," Jenkins said. "Practice has gone well for the most part, and we have been lucky to be out on the field on a pretty regular basis"
 
After a 4-1 COVID-shortened 2020 campaign that saw the Terriers graduate 11 seniors, Hiram went 1-5 in 2022, picking up its lone win in non-conference play against Mount St. Joseph, 7-4.
 
This season, the Terriers open the full, 14-game slate on the road at Franciscan on Saturday, Feb. 26, before their home opener on Wednesday, March 2 against Bethany (W. Va.) at 4:30 p.m. at Charles A. Henry Field at Malmisur Stadium.
 
"So for everyone, over the last two years we've had to adjust to a new normal, and now we're trying to adjust back," Jenkins said. "I don't think it's been easy on anyone, but it's nice to get back to some normalcy in our program."
 
Hiram returns 11 letter winners from its 2021 squad, including four starters: juniors Trevor Flugum, Brett Johnson and Ethan Mayer and senior Gage St. Leone, as well as 2021 Honorable Mention All-NCAC selection Markus Johnson.
 
"We are an extremely young team going into the season, and our upperclassmen are really going to have to lead this group," Jenkins said. "On the field, we will be looking to our captains: Brett Johnson, Markus Johnson and Gage St. Leone for leadership."
 
Johnson led the Terriers in the circle with 44 face-off wins in 2021, and a .488 face-off win percentage, while Johnson, St. Leone, Mayer and Flugum made up four of the Terriers' Top 5 goal-scorers from 2021, with Johnson and St. Leone leading all returners with four goals apiece.
 
In the midfield, sophomore Nico Scarlato, who tied for a team-high two assists in 2021, junior Malcolm Rogers and senior Isaiah Davilla return for the 2022 season, as well as senior Shaylan Bailey in the defensive third.
 
In goal, sophomore Jacob Hanrahan returns after leading Hiram with 37 saves in 2021 and will be joined in the net by freshman Bricen Jones.
 
The Terriers bring in a seven-man freshman class, as well as a pair of transfers in Aaron Gardner and Isaac Keeno, who last played for the Terriers in 2015. Seven of the Terriers' nine newcomers will see action on the attack or midfield, while another two will see the field on the defensive end.
 
"For our newcomers, offensively we will be looking for Ambrose Colliluori and Noah Pilgram to have breakout freshmen seasons," Jenkins said. "Freshmen Gray Perry and Michael Manos will be asked to help anchor our defense, and in goal, we are looking at both Jones and Hanrahan."
 
Following their home opener on March 2, the Terriers will play three more non-conference games, one more at home and two on the road, before opening North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play on Saturday, March 26 at home against The College of Wooster at 1 p.m.
 
Hiram hits the road for the first time during conference play on Saturday, April 9, visiting Springfield, Ohio for a matchup against the Wittenberg University Tigers at 1 p.m.
 
The Terriers will wrap up the 2022 regular season with their Senior Day matchup on Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m., hosting the Wabash College Little Giants.
 
Should the Terriers reach the postseason, the NCAC Tournament Semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, with the championships on Saturday, May 7.
 
Be sure to keep up to date with Hiram Terriers men's lacrosse online at HiramTerriers.com and by following the Terriers on Facebook at Hiram College Athletics and on Twitter and Instagram at @Hiram_Athletics.