MADISON, N.J. (Feb. 24, 2017) – The Drew University men's lacrosse team welcomes 12 newcomers in 2017, bolstering a 16-man returning roster for veteran head coach Thomas Leanos. "Game-changing" is how Leanos describes his newest crop of recruits, whom will be tasked with complementing an experienced base and bringing the team to the next level this spring.
 
On the Slate
Leanos lined up a challenging non-conference schedule to prepare for the always-competitive Landmark Conference slate. The Rangers will host Vassar (Feb. 25), Maritime (March 1) and FDU-Florham (March 29) in non-conference action, while traveling to Pfeiffer (March 6) and Greensboro (March 9) on spring break in North Carolina, and to Wesley (March 15), Swarthmore (March 18) and Virginia Wesleyan (April 1).
 
Landmark play opens up at home against two-time defending champion Catholic on March 25, with addition dates at Ranger Stadium against Moravian (April 15) and Susquehanna (April 29). Drew will visit Elizabethtown (April 8), Scranton (April 19) and Goucher (April 22) to round out the conference schedule.
 
Returning Rangers
A pair of All-Conference selections in Michael Lloyd and Ryan D'Alessandro highlight the returning core. Lloyd, a senior defender, made the All-Landmark Second Team last season after coming up with a team-high 31 caused turnovers along with 53 ground balls, five goals and two assists. D'Alessandro produced an All-Landmark Second Team rookie season last spring with 17 goals and nine assists as an attacker.
 
Senior Tom Cotroneo (14g, 7a) and sophomore Thomas Ensmenger (8g, 5a) also return to the offense. Seniors Frank Kingston and Ryan Clay will be looked to shore up the defense in front of senior goalkeeper Teddy Sweeney.
 
Junior midfielder Joe Palmieri will take over faceoff duties. He went 28-for-62 at the X last season for a .452 percentage.
 
Fresh Faces
Freshman midfielder Kevin Goettlich joins Drew after graduating from Hanover Park High School as the program's all-time leading scorer with 258 points on 187 goals and 71 assists. He was awarded his conference's Player of the Year honor along with a First Team All-Conference nod. Long-stick midfielder Michael Malone and attacker Nicholas Polacek each enter their rookie seasons after All-Conference selections in high school.
 
Look for Kyle MacDonnell to make a quick impact in the midfield one year after a Second Team All-State season for East Lyme High School in Connecticut. Nate Sanders is a goalkeeper out of St. Mary's High School in Maryland, and will get plenty of looks in 2017 as the future of Drew goalkeeping.