Photo: gobonnies.com
BY: SEAN WALLACE, STAFF WRITER
The Bonnies men’s lacrosse team looks to rebound from a frustrating 2024 season after finishing 0-5 in the Atlantic 10 with an overall record of 1-11.
Entering their seventh Division I season, the Bonnies started as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2019. They have a combined record of 2-24 since joining the A-10 in 2023. Six of their top seven scorers from last season will return.
Named to the A-10’s 2024 All-Rookie team, sophomore attacker Jake Kucinski tied SBU’s single-game record for most goals in a game, netting six against Binghamton University. Kucinski recorded 17 goals and nine assists, leading the team with 26 points as a freshman last season.
Second among the team in points as a freshman last season, attacker Patrick Shanahan recorded three straight hat tricks against VMI, Cleveland State and Canisius University. Shanahan finished the season with 15 goals, nine assists and 24 points.
Kellen Pulera, drafted by the Buffalo Bandits 68th overall in the 2023 National Lacrosse League draft, will not return. He scored 12 goals in last season’s first three games and set a new program record with a goal in 10 straight games last season. He tallied 22 goals, the most among the team, and started all 12 games.
Rounding out the top seven scorers, senior midfielders Drew Kenney, Kyle Pepper, junior midfielder Patrick Carpenter and senior attacker Conor Murphy will return.
Cristofero Cucciuffo and Aiden MacDonell will also return. Cucciuffo, a junior goalie, recorded 127 saves in 2024. MacDonell, a senior defender, led the team in caused turnovers.
The team added 17 players, including freshmen attackers Chase Perryman, Logan DelPonte and Raymond Cortes.
Perryman tallied 193 goals and 170 assists over four years in high school. He was named the Monroe County Division Three Player of the Year, a First Team All-Section V selection and a First Team All-League selection.
DelPonte accumulated over 300 points in high school. Named league MVP his senior year, he led all Tri-Valley League teams in points and earned US Lacrosse All-America.
Cortes tallied 280 goals, 150 assists and 175 ground balls in high school. Named to the Buffalo News 2024 All-Western New York team, he won three straight Section VI Class C titles with Silver Creek High School.
The team also added midfielder Cole Kucinski, brother of Jake, and attacker Carter Accursi, son of Halifax Thunderbirds head coach, Mike Accursi. Goalie Isaac Farmer joins after compiling a 63% save percentage during his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Sophomore midfielder Blayze Becker commented on the team’s potential and strategy during the offseason. “The whole team put in work all fall to get ready for this season,” said Becker. “We all grinded. Everyone got up early in the morning to get better and put in the extra work. We have a good team full of talent and I really believe we can make an impact this year. Other teams aren’t going to expect it.”
Senior midfielder Drew Kenney also commented on the team’s potential and strategy. “This offseason was about getting in the best physical shape possible while polishing specific skills,” said Kenney. “Coach Mearns was clear with what he wanted to see in each of us individually in terms of growth this offseason, and it was up to the guys to put the work in so we can see results on the field. Our focus is on the processes of improving every day, learning from each mistake and working together to win lacrosse games. We know it’s going to take a lot of hard work and long hours, but we believe in our ability to compete at a high level and put ourselves in a position to compete for a ring.”
The team recently announced the hire of Brett Beetow to the coaching staff. Beetow, ’22, played three seasons as a midfielder for the Bonnies. Drafted 58th overall in the 2022 NLL draft, he spent time with the Georgia Swarm and Halifax Thunderbirds. Beetow also spent time as an assistant coach at Lancaster High School.
Randy Mearns, head coach, will return for his eighth season and Jeff Handman, associate head coach, will return for his second. The Bonnies will open their season against VMI at the Marra Athletics Field Complex on Sunday, Feb. 2.
