The 1998 edition of the Falcon's men's lacrosse team (10-7 overall, 6-1 Northeast-10 last year) enters the upcoming campaign with a lot to prove as they have graduated just three players from last season's squad. Ranked 7th in the NCAA by Face-Off '98 Men's Lacrosse Yearbook the Falcons will seek to regain the Northeast-10 championship from Le Moyne.

As a team last year they set new standards in six different categories. In the April 26, 1997 game against Assumption, the Falcons set new marks for goals in a period (14), half (20), game (31) and the largest margin of victory (28 goals). They also set team records for goals scored in a season with 235 and shots on goal with 757.

Sophomore attackman Dean Hogancamp (Yarmouth Maine / Yarmouth H.S), one of eight returning starters, will seek to continue his record setting pace. He set the Bentley lacrosse record in goals scored in a season with 52 and tied the record for most points in a year accumulating 81, 4.8 points-a-game, over the 17 game season. He was named as last year's Northeast-10 Rookie-of-the-Year and was also named to the 1st team All-Conference.

Other keys to the Falcon line-up that will be returning are five other players who were named to 1st team All-Conference honors. Junior midfielder Geoff Silva (Billerica / Billerica Memorial H.S.) returns for his third season after scoring 25 goals and 15 assists to move him to eighth on the all-time scoring list. His 6-2, 210 pound frame makes him the biggest of all returning players. Also on midfield earning end of year honors is junior Bill Bendell (North Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse H.S.) who helped the Falcons with 16 goals and 27 assists. On defense, senior Brian Donovan (Mansfield / Xaverian H.S.) returns for one last season. His solid one-on-one play makes him the anchor of the defense. Junior Ryan Little (Annapolis, Md. / Annapolis H.S.) will bring his solid defensive play back for another year. The last of the group of six 1st team All-Conference is senior goalie Mike Elrich (Lebanon, N.H. / Bridgton Academy) who allowed 9.22 goals-a-game while going 9-7 on the season.

Sophomore attackman Ryan Donoghue (Byfield / Governor Dummer Academy) received 2nd team All-Conference honors for his play last season. He is the second highest scorer among returning players having scored 27 goals and 19 assists in 16 games played last year. That was good enough to be an average of 3.1 points a game. Sophomore defenseman Mark Rollins (Duxbury / Duxbury H.S.) rounds out the list of returning starters for the Falcons. Despite getting only one point last year, a goal, his 6-0, 205 pound has been utilized to shut down the opponents attack.

There are 12 other players returning for the 1998 season. Attackman Dave Hammond (Oakland, Maine / Messalonskee H.S.), and midfielders Jamie Mitchell (West Springfield / West Springfield H.S.), Dan Stevenson (Wilbraham / Minnechaug Regional), Scott Driscoll (Weymouth / Weymouth H.S.), Jeff Kelleher (Duxbury / Duxbury H.S.), Jason McCafferty (Southington, Conn. / Southington H.S), Chris Griffin (Byfield / Governor Dummer Academy), Kevin McGivern (Litchfield, N.H. / Bishop Guertin), Greg Moreau (South Hadley / South Hadley H.S.), Jason Navarro (Middleton / St. John's Prep), Jim Ambrose (Billerica / Billerica Memorial H.S.), and Brian Gerby (Latham, N.Y. / Shaker H.S.) will all break out their sticks for another season. As a group, these 12 combined for 61 goals and 19 assists coming of the bench for the Falcons.

The Falcons will kick off the season this year on March 14 when they travel to Wheaton, Maryland to play Pfeiffer College. Also on the schedule this year are contests against AIC, Adelphi, New Hampshire College, St. Michaels, Quinnipiac, Pace, Assumption, LIU/Southampton, Saint Anselm, New York Tech, Le Moyne, and Merrimack. Of the 13 games on the schedule, six are on the road, six are at home, and the April 25th game against Le Moyne has yet to have a location decided on.