MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's lacrosse team has improved its win total in each of the program's initial varsity seasons, and in 2015, head coach Dave Zazzaro's squad will take aim at the first .500-or-better record in program history.
 
The Lynx are scheduled to face four opponents that finished 2014 in the top 100 of the LaxPower Computer Ratings, beginning with a non-conference game against Carthage (No. 70) on Feb. 15.  A late March trip to northwest Georgia features back-to-back games against Southern Athletic Association foe Berry (No. 83) and Division II program Shorter University.  The Lynx will complete the regular season by hosting 2014 SAA champion Centre (No. 71) and 2014 SAA runner-up Sewanee (No. 54), both of whom participated in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
 
Offensively, Rhodes returns five of its top six scoring threats, including Jason Lee (24 goals, 18 assists in 2014),M.G. Jadick (20/6), and Alessandro Secino (11/3). Lee will look to create opportunities for fellow juniors Cooper Robinson (10/3), Kevin Vieira (9/9), Matt Vavrek (8/0), and Andrew Salamunovich (6/6), all of whom will be counted on for their scoring punch. Rhodes went 7-1 last season when netting seven or more goals, and sophomore subs Tyler Tisdale (5/1), Matt Jones (4/2), and Peter Baricev (3/0) will all be expected to give greater contributions in their second collegiate season.
 
In the midfield, the Lynx will try to find ways to replicate the success of 2014 graduate Dewey Stierer, one of only two players in the Southern Athletic Association to win at least 60 percent of their faceoff draws last year.  Defensive stalwart Patrick Tinari (14 ground balls, six caused turnovers) is expected to share duties with long-stick middie Tat Whitley(9/1) to begin the year. In transition, Tinari and Vieira (27/10) will get help from Leighton Younger (7/5) as well as long-stick middie Liam Coyle (21/9). Athletic sophomore Jaylen Powell (3/1) played just six games last season due to injury, but is expected to return in 2015.
 
On defense, the Lynx return two starters from 2014. Sophomores John Wancowicz (38 ground balls, 22 caused turnovers) and Henry Smith (14/6) anchor a unit that converted 87 percent of their clearing attempts last season, the twelfth-best mark in the country.  To fill the third spot on defense, Rhodes will look to Coyle, Whitley, and hard-nosed veteran Alex Morse (28/8) for answers.  Perhaps the toughest job—and greatest opportunity—lies at the feet of incoming goalkeeper Thomas Matthews, who will mind the net as a freshman.  Lynx opponents converted just 24 percent of their shot attempts last year, and the Rhodes defense will do their best to improve on that mark in to support of their first-year goaltender.
 
The 2015 Lynx feature 14 newcomers from ten different states, 13 of whom are freshman.  Junior Mattison Hamilton is the only upperclassmen among them, and he's expected to compete for opportunities at the faceoff X.  Ryan Fennelly, Justin Powers, and Tommy Reingruber will add firepower to the attack, while Evan Fitzpatrick, Austin Bridgforth, Mike Knudsen, and Steven Yowan will buoy the midfield unit's depth. The additions of Owen Koorbusch, Zach Gilbert, John Snyder and Nick Demaris will help solidify the defense, and Blake Roberts will see time with a long pole while also backing up Thomas Matthews in goal.  Nine of the freshmen recruits stand at least six feet tall, adding size to a 2014 team that featured a dozen contributors who measured under the 6-foot mark.