2024 REGIS COLLEGE MEN'S LACROSSE SCHEDULE
WESTON, Mass. - The Regis College men's lacrosse program has announced its captains and schedule for the 2024 competition season, which will feature divisional play within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
Seniors Connor Deveau (Harwich, Mass.), Owen Harney (Natick, Mass.), and Zach Sweeney (Torrington, Conn.) have been selected as team captains for the 2024 season. Sweeney will be serving as captain for the second consecutive year, while Deveau and Harney take on their leadership positions for the first time.
Deveau started six of the 14 matches he appeared in last season, finishing with eight goals and three assists for 11 total points. He earned one goal and one assist twice last year: at Mitchell March 8 and against Norwich April 1. He also scored a goal during Regis' season-opening victory over MCLA March 5.
"Connor has been steadfast in his contribution to the program throughout his career at Regis," Matthew Sweeney, head men's lacrosse coach at Regis, said. "His consistency on and off the field has led to his teammates being able to count on him in any situation. Connor's commitment and dedication have earned the respect of the players and coaches, and his role as a leader is another way in which he will add value to the program."
After missing all but one match in the 2022 season due to injury, Harney worked his way back into the playing rotation in 2023 and appeared in 13 matches. He collected two groundballs in the team's 14-3 victory at Mitchell March 8. Harney also collected two groundballs and caused two turnovers at Albertus Magnus April 22.
"Owen has been an emotional spark since joining the program. His ability to unify and motivate his teammates is unmatched. His toughness has been on full display as he has battled back from an injury, all the while maintaining his positive attitude. This attitude is contagious, and the impact on the team is hard to measure," continued Coach Sweeney.
Zach Sweeney (no relation to Head Coach Matthew Sweeney) has started every match for the Pride since the start of the 2022 season, serving as one of the squad's defensive mainstays. In 2023, he collected 28 groundballs and 21 caused turnovers, leading the team in that category. He earned four groundballs and four caused turnovers in the season-opening victory over MCLA, plus he finished with a season-high six groundballs at Anna Maria March 28.
"Zach being named as captain for a second year is a surprise to no one. His presence is one that constantly sets the tone for the rest of the team to follow. The players often look to Zach as an example in all facets of being a college student-athlete. As a coaching staff, we know that it is like having another coach on and off the field," said Coach Sweeney.
With the addition of Mitchell and New England College to the GNAC, the now 14-team conference will be split into two seven-team divisions, with Regis residing in the North Division. In conference play, the Pride will face the other six teams in the North Division as well as four of the seven South Division squads for an 10-match league schedule.
"We're really excited about the 2024 season. With the new structure of the GNAC schedule, and the competitive non-conference opponents that we have scheduled, we feel like this year's team is poised to have a breakout year," added Coach Sweeney. "Our returning players have put in a serious amount of work this off-season, and our new players have already shown the impact that they will make. The commitment to getting better every day is easy to see, and we will need to continue that trajectory as we focus on preparing for March 4."
Regis opens the 2024 schedule with three straight road matches, beginning at Wells March 4 for the first-ever meeting between the Pride and the Express. Regis then travels for a non-conference match at Elms March 6 before facing Salem State March 9.
The home opener takes place March 13 against University of Saint Joseph before a non-conference match against MCLA March 16. The Pride travel to face New England College March 23 before returning home to take on Anna Maria March 27.
Another three-match road swing takes Regis to Thomas College in Maine March 30, to Rivier April 3, and to Dean April 6. The Pride welcome defending GNAC champion Emmanuel to campus April 10 before returning to Maine for a league match against Saint Joseph's College April 12.
The Pride will close out the home schedule against GNAC newcomer Mitchell April 17 and against Albertus Magnus April 20, which will be Senior Night. Regis wraps up the regular season at Norwich Wednesday afternoon, April 24.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the GNAC Men's Lacrosse Tournament, with cross-divisional quarterfinals taking place Saturday, April 27. The semifinals are set for Wednesday, May 1, with the championship match scheduled for Saturday, May 4. The winner of the GNAC Tournament receives the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Tournament.
The Regis College men's lacrosse team will look to qualify for the GNAC Tournament for the first time since the program joined the league in 2017-18.