Cobleskill, N.Y.: Coming off a rocky 2021 season which saw them finish 0-6 overall and in six North Atlantic Conference (NAC) contests, the Fighting Tiger men's lacrosse team heads toward the 2022 campaign with a new head coach, a new perspective, new expectations and a new attitude. With former Fighting Tiger Greg Valachovic taking over the reigns of the program, the Orange & Black are looking for a big turnaround this season and to jumpstart the rebuilding process.

"I think we have all the pieces in place this year," said Coach Valachovic. "We have a group of 20 guys who are working hard and so far, there hasn't been a day that I feel that we haven't gotten better. Our goal is to make the conference tournament this year."

With 10 returning lettermen the Fighting Tigers will have experience at key positions which their new head coach sees as the key to a successful season along with an increase the team's overall speed and better shooting ability over teams from past seasons.

"We are experienced, we have speed and we have shooters. We are going to put a product on the field that is fast paced and blue collar," said the team's first year mentor.

Among the Cobleskill returners who will be counted on for productivity this season will be the tandem of junior midfielder Giovanni Bevacqua, Newton, N.J., Newton High School, who led the team in scoring last season with 17 points on nine goals and eight assists and sophomore midfielder Sean D'Amaro, Northport, N.Y., Northport High School, who scored nine goals and picked up 11 ground balls in only four games played. Another key returner this season will be senior attackman Kerry Blackwood, Johnstown, N.Y., Johnstown High School/Hudson Valley Community College, who scored nine goals during the season.

The team will also be looking for productivity from senior midfielder/face-off man Joe DiSalvo, Canandaigua, N.Y., Canandaigua Academy, who scored two goals, picked up 24 ground balls and won 40.8% of his face-off opportunities and junior long stick midfielder Ian Gaddy, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saratoga Springs High School, who picked up six ground balls and cause five turnovers in four games.

In the net sophomore goalie Sean McMahan, Clifton Park, N.Y., Shenendehowa High School, will return after allowing 20.81 goals allowed during the year with a save percentage of 45.7% and 17 ground balls picked up in four games. First-year goalie John Williams, Smyrna, Del., Smyra High School, will also see time in the net this season.

Among the newcomers, first-year midfielder Albert Sippio, Syracuse, N.Y., Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, has shown promise in practice and will be counted on for additional offensive punch.    

The Fighting Tigers will open the season on Sunday February 20 when they travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to face the Mavericks of Medaille College in non-league action in a game to be played at the Medaille Sports Complex at Buffalo Color Park beginning at 1:00 p.m.