With 44 national titles, nine NCAA D-I championships and a tradition of winning, the Hopkins lacrosse team always brings a certain fanfare to the beginning of every season. The school’s most prominent sports team is a perennial contender on the largest scale and started off its newest chapter of history with a bang when it edged the No. 1 ranked Denver 14-8 this past Saturday in a pre-season scrimmage.
Within a month of being named the No. 5 ranked team in the country by the Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Poll, the Blue Jays made an immediate statement in their first opportunity by rallying against last year’s NCAA semifinalist Denver who had earned the top spot in pre-season rankings.
Leading the offensive charge for the Jays was pre-season All-American honorable mention Ryan Brown. The junior attacker landed three long-range goals and looks to lead a lethal onslaught of weapons after a 40-goal season that tied the highest amount by a sophomore in over a decade. Heralded freshman Shack Stanwick also made contributions in the attack game with a goal and an assist while fellow freshman Joel Tinney and sophomore Wilkins Dismuke added additional spectacular efforts.
This first victory bodes well for the Jays, who need all the momentum they can get in their first season as a member of the Big Ten conference. Their upcoming schedule is a challenging one, including the first road trip of more than three games since 2000 and six matchups against teams ranked in the top 20. On Mar. 28, the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers will travel to Homewood Field for the Jays’ first Big Ten conference game in school history. The historic matchup starts off a five-game stretch of conference games to wrap up the season. Other games of note include the first regular season visit to Ohio State since 2002 and the 112th meeting between the Jays and Terrapins of Maryland to perpetuate one of the greatest rivalries in college lacrosse.
The trio set to make the most noise for the Jays are the captains: senior midfielder Michael Pellegrino, senior attackman Wells Stanwick and goalie Eric Schneider. Pellegrino becomes the 13th two-time captain in Hopkins history after his junior campaign that ended in Second Team USILA All-American recognition. His 45-game career includes five goals, five assists, 98 ground balls and 38 turnovers. Stanwick is a first time captain with two All-American honorable mentions to his name. He looks to follow up an incredible season leading the team in points with 67 while also contributing 23 goals. His team-leading 44 assists in 2014 was also the fourth highest single season total in school history. Schneider has been a mainstay in goal for the Jays. He started all 16 games last season posting a .547 save percentage, good for 16th in the nation. He becomes the first goalie captain since 2003.
Pellegrino and Stanwick also round out another impressive Hopkins trio taken in this year’s Major League Lacrosse Draft. Joined by senior John Kelly, the three Jays were chosen along with 60 other collegiate players in the eight round professional draft that took place here in Baltimore last week. Kelly capitalized on his first season as a starter ranking second on the team in ground balls and turnovers and is slated to provide a physical presence for the Jays defense.
The team takes the field for a scrimmage once again this Saturday, Jan. 31 for the “Charles Street Massacre” as the Loyola Greyhounds make the short trip to Homewood Field for more preseason action. The season then officially opens against University of Maryland Baltimore County on Feb. 7, for an afternoon matchup where once again the Nest will be packed, raucous will be made, and Hopkins will begin its journey to another NCAA tournament.
