BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The College at Brockport's Men's Lacrosse team is looking for bigger and better things this year after winning a school record eight games last season.  Hopes are high after finishing with their first winning season since 2010 last season.  The players and coaches believe that with some hard work and determination they can make the State University of New York Athletic Conference tournament.
 
This year's team will be returning two of the SUNYAC's top ten goal scorers in Jake Giudice, and Marcus Palvino who scored 1.8, and 1.55 goals per game respectively.  Both Giudice and Palvino made the SUNYAC All-Conference Second team.  While Junior Colin Blind, and Sophomore Zach Cook were honorable mentions on the All-Conference team. With their offensive presence the men's lacrosse team has the potential to be at its best on offense. 
 
Head coach Ben Wineburg expects his team to be led by team captains Nick Smith and Oliver Oswald on defense, John Countryman on attack, and Austin Recor at midfield.  Smith was noted as an All-American Honorable Mention pick in 2015 by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association for his work in the backfield. They will be joined by other seniors Kevin Klaiber, Brian Rahman, Sang Kim, Michael Gallagher and Russell Runions.
 
Despite the impact expected from the large senior class, coach Wineburg still has high expectations for his junior class.  This year's class consists of attackers Mark Robinson, and Peter Barilla.  Midfielders Max Hill, Casey Cleary, Brendan Fitzgerald, Quinn Halligan, and Joe Mikiciuk.  Defenders Jamie Grimm, and Colin Blind and goalkeeper Connor Nowak.  
 
With such a large amount of the team being upperclassmen, it is usually expected that the team's underclassmen will not make as big of an impact.  However coach Wineburg did not make any assumptions about who would play more than others when it came to seniority.
 
"We have a mix of good talent and youth, but in order to reach our goals we need to have heart and work as hard as possible." Wineburg said. "We cannot dwell on the past, but we can use it as a source of motivation; and move the 2016 team in the right direction." 
 
Much of that talent and youth lies in the sophomore class which will look for key production from Colton Oliver, Jack Lennon, Dallas Meyers, Ben Thomas, Gabriel Coppola, Trey Love, Dan Graham, Pat Quinlivan, Steven Gurin, Zach Cook, and Michael Drankwater. 
 
Last but not least, the men's lacrosse team has a new group of eight freshmen who will look to give this team a shot of energy when they are called upon. Tyler Bonilla, Brad Sovocool, Hunter Solecki, Bob Costanzo Jr., Jake Recor, Liam Cannon, John Clancy, and Matt Malecki hope to be the freshman class that breaks out for the Golden Eagles this year.
 
For the 2016 season to be a successful one, the men's lacrosse team will need to take care of business and play hard.  If they can do that, then the sky is the limit for the 2016 Golden Eagles.  
 
The Brockport men's lacrosse team opens at home against Alfred University on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.
 
Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Golden Eagle scores and awards by following @BportAthletics on Twitter and by liking the "Brockport Golden Eagles" Facebook page.