Dartmouth Set to Open Season at Bucknell Saturday

GAME 1
Dartmouth (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) at Bucknell (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League)
Dates: Saturday, February 17, 2024 – 1 p.m.
Location: Lewisburg, Pa. – Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Watch Live | Live Stats

Setting the Scene
The Dartmouth men's lacrosse team opens the 2024 season, and the Sean Kirwan era as Big Green head coach, on Saturday at Bucknell. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. on ESPN+. There's a lot of momentum within the program, which is coming off a 6-6 season in 2023, its best record since 2008, and added Kirwan as head coach — a two-time national champion, winning in 2019 and 2021 as offensive coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers.

The Big Green return their top 12 scorers from a season ago, led by current junior Colin McGill, who posted 31 goals and 15 assists for 46 points last season, the most points by a Dartmouth player since Ari Sussman had 47 in 2008. As a team, Dartmouth reached 140 goals on the season, its most since 2008 (when the Big Green scored 150).

Dartmouth's second leading scorer last season was Quinn Moore, who posted 30 (24 goals, six assists). Nate Davis followed with 29 (20 goals, nine assists) to earn second team All-Ivy League honors. Mitchell Myers was named All-Ivy for a second straight season, being named to the second team after finishing the regular season second in the league in faceoff percentage (56.1) with a team-leading 83 groundballs. He was named a Midseason honorable mention All-American by Inside Lacrosse. Also returning for Dartmouth is the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year, Emmett Paradine, who posted 27 points (18 goals, nine assists), highlighted by a 10-point, seven-goal, three-assist effort at Hobart.

The Big Green return a strong core at defense as well, led by fifth-year Andrew Johnston, one of four Dartmouth fifth years returning (along with Tommy Rogan, Payton St. Geme and Myers). Both goaltenders from a season ago return, led by Sam Cooper who played in 582:47 of action during his rookie season.

Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Dartmouth and Bucknell. It's also the first of three straight games against the Patriot League to begin the season. The Big Green host Holy Cross next Saturday before heading to Trinity in Hartford, Connecticut two days later to face Lehigh in a neutral-site matchup.

With A Win...
- Dartmouth would win its season opener for a second straight season.
- The Big Green would win a nonleague game for the 10th time in their last 13 tries dating back to the 2021 season.

Last Time Out
HANOVER, N.H. (4/29/23) — The Dartmouth men's lacrosse team opened a 7-4 second-quarter lead, but Brown responded with nine of the next 10 goals to take a 13-8 advantage, on the way to a 13-11 win over the Big Green on Saturday at Scully-Fahey Field. Trailing by five in the fourth, the Big Green had one last run in them, scoring three goals in just 3:40 to pull within 13-11 with 7:35 remaining, but couldn't get any closer. Colin McGill capped off a tremendous season with four goals and one assist, finishing the year with 46 points (31 goals, 15 assists), the most points by a Dartmouth player since Ari Sussman had 48 in 2008.

All-Time vs. Bucknell
Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Dartmouth and Bucknell.

Scouting Bucknell
Bucknell has already played two games this season, standing 0-2 with losses at Merrimack (14-10) and Marist (17-10). The Bison were picked seventh in the preseason Patriot League poll following a 3-10 record last season, 2-6 in the league.

Bucknell's leading returning scorer Connor Davis, leads the Bison so far in goals (7) and points (7). Michael Meyer isn't far behind with six points via three goals and three assists. Peter Grandolfo has five (four goals, one assist), along with a team-leading three caused turnovers. Faceoff specialist Brendan Coyle has enjoyed a strong start to the season, winning 52.7 percent of his draws (29-of-55) with 16 groundballs. Three goalkeepers have seen time so far, led by 77:19 of action from Max Nolan with a 15.52 goals against average and 39.4 save percentage.

Johnston, Myers, Davis Named Captains
Dartmouth head men's lacrosse coach Sean Kirwan announced the Big Green captains in January, which included fifth years Andrew Johnston and Mitchell Myers, and senior Nate Davis. The captains were chosen by their peers.

Four Pick Up Postseason Honors
Following a strong season of progress, four members of the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team were recognized with postseason Ivy League awards. Emmett Paradine was named Rookie of the Year, the Big Green's first Ivy League major award winner since 2007. Senior Mitchell Myers and junior Nate Davis were both named second team All-Ivy while junior Peter Lapina was named Academic All-Ivy.

Paradine becomes Dartmouth's fifth all-time Ivy League major award winner, all being Rookies of the Year. The others were Ari Sussman (2007), Jamie Coffin (2003), Brian Merritt (1994) and Jenkins Marshall (1981).

This also marks the first time Dartmouth has had multiple players named first or second team All-Ivy in consecutive seasons since 2005-06. Myers was named to the first team and Daniel Hincks to the second team last season.

Follow Along
Saturday's game can be seen live on ESPN+.

Next Up
The Big Green will play their home opener next Saturday when they host Holy Cross at 12 p.m. on ESPN+. Dartmouth then faces Lehigh in a neutral site game at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut on Monday night.

Schedules