the Informer

Over the past two seasons, head coach Peter Lawrence and the University of Hartford Hawks lacrosse team have won only two games. However, as the Hawks prepare to take the field this spring, the mentality is far from that of a losing team.
“Our expectations are high,” Lawrence said. “But we are moving in the right direction.”

That move to the correct path began to take shape towards the end of last season when the team won two of its last three games, including a win over the sixth-ranked and eventual America East champion UMBC Retrievers.

The momentum from that late-season surge has carried over into this season. On Sat, Feb. 13, the Hawks hosted Marist and Providence College in a series of scrimmages. The Hawks won both scrimmages, beating Marist, 10-8, in the morning and running out to a 12-2 lead against Providence before the Friars threw in the towel after three quarters.
So what is different about this year’s squad?

For Lawrence, one of the keys to the team’s preseason success is experience. Last year, his Hawks had a tough time in close games, losing eight games by two goals or fewer, with four of those tough losses by only a single goal.

“We were a victim of youth,” Lawrence said. “But now hopefully we can get those one-goal swings in our favor and win those games.”

He has good reason to be hopeful. That youth from last year has turned into what he calls a “core nucleus” of returning talent.

That core includes a quartet of sophomores performing on both ends of the field. Scott Bement returns in goal as one of the top net-minders in the nation. Bement, the America East Rookie of the Year in 2009, is looking to repeat the success he had as a freshman. His save percentage of .577 was 13th in the nation and his 12.7 saves per game led the conference.

Meanwhile, the trio of Aidan Genik, Ryan Compitello and Carter Bender, the team’s three leading scorers last spring, return to anchor the offense.

Overall, the Hawks return all but two starters from last year. That includes the top five scorers and over 90 percent of the goals scored and assists.

While the team has retained a strong chunk of its talent, it is still a young team with only two seniors on the squad. Team captain Justin Bearse and fellow senior Leif Abrahamson, along with younger players such as Bement and Bender, are just a few of the players that Lawrence thinks will be team leaders on the field.

Bement, along with Bender and junior defenseman Conor Flynn, was named to the America East Preseason All-Conference team.

Preseason though, is over now. The Hawks open up the regular season Saturday, Feb. 20, on the road at Massachusetts. Hartford will need to muster all of last year’s experience and output against the Minutemen, who are currently ranked No. 17 in the nation.

The schedule will not get any easier. Two of the team’s first four games are against ranked teams. Overall, the Hawks have four games on the schedule against teams currently ranked in the top 20.

According to Lawrence, though, his team is ready and excited. “Our guys are working hard in the weight room and in the classroom. We take pride in what we are doing.”

That preparation, focus and pride are what these Hawks need to stay poised and make some noise in the America East conference.