PITTSBURGH, Pa. – February 15, 2022 – Through all the challenges last year presented, the Chatham University men's lacrosse team rose to the occasion and reached highs unforeseen prior to 2021, including the program's first ever home playoff game. Fast forward to 2022 and after a banner year, the Cougars' goal has reached new heights.
 
"We achieved most of our goals last season," said second-year head coach Kevin McDonough. "But with the guys we have returning and we're bringing in, the talent level is high, and we have the expectations to compete for a PAC Championship."
 
Last year Chatham was bounced from the playoffs by Westminster in the semifinals despite holding the #2 seed in the PAC playoffs. All three games with the Titans were decided by just one goal, including an overtime game winner in the regular season finale that was voted by students and faculty as the Chatham University play of the year for the 2020-2021 school year. Westminster would go on to finish as the runners-up in the PAC championship last year.
 
Entering 2022, Chatham sports a very deep team of returnees and newcomers. To make a run at a PAC Championship, there are several returners that Coach McDonough and company will be leaning on. For starters, the program's all-time leading point scorer Adam Bleess is back for one last go around. He's the program's only 100-point scorer with 108 coming into 2022 and has scored 79 career goals, leading the Cougars with 24 in the latter category.
 
"Bleess is one of the best shooters in the conference," McDonough said. "The weapons we have around him this year will play to his strengths."
 
One of those weapons is senior Nicholas Guaglione. He is the team's top point scorer returning from last season, placing second on the team with 32 points on 19 goals and 13 assists. Guaglione provided arguably the highlight of the season, the aforementioned overtime game winner against Westminster.
 
"We're really excited about Guaglione coming back," McDonough said. "We played him in between attack and midfield last year and we had a lot of success when he was moved permanently to the midfield. He's an athletic guy that can be dynamic."
 
Graduate Dillon Dugan will flank Guaglione and Blees in the midfield, his natural position. "[Dugan] is in the best shape of his career and will take a big step up for us this year as our glue guy," McDonough said.
 
Also returning in net is a big piece, figuratively and literally, in senior Shane Gaglione. The 6'5 Milford, Delaware product is the program's stalwart in net, racking up 315 career saves as a four-year starter. Last year he was voted team MVP by his teammates and was an Honorable Mention All-PAC nominee.
 
A key piece that was missing from last year returning to the Cougars is senior Kyle Rullan. The North Allegheny grad had the greatest offensive single season in Cougar history, scoring 49 goals with 32 assists in 2019, good for 81 points. McDonough expects Rullan to play a major role in Chatham's offensive this year.
 
A couple of transfers are expected to contribute right away. A local product in graduate Teddy McClain will anchor the defense. He brings in a wealth of experience from Franklin & Marshall and was voted captain by his teammates. Classmate Patrick Brunner scored over 100 points while in his time at Washington & Jefferson and will be a key piece for the Cougar attack.
 
Elsewhere, sophomores Isaac Joshi and Riley Lewis are expected to be in big roles in the midfield and senior Andrew Mattingly has come along moving to attacker. Mattingly and senior Charles Bradsher are emerging as leaders in the locker room. Sophomore Jackson Lavach also will return from injury and is expected to contribute a ton in the ground ball department.
 
On the defensive side, sophomore Logan Blankenship returns after an impressive finish to the season where he started the final seven games and is expected to take on a permanent full-time role. The primary defensive midfielder will be senior Gilchrist Quansah, who brings an improved stick and is thought by McDonough to be one of the best athletes in the conference. Also in the mix will be juniors Jimmy Smith and Logan Brubaker IV.
 
Returning in the faceoff circle is junior Zach Mayan, who earned an honorable mention nomination last year and has big expectations placed on him by the coaching staff. Senior Quentin Clarke is expected to be a swiss army knife of sorts as he returns to full strength.
 
Out of all the positions, the long stick midfielder group is the youngest. After losing two LSM's to graduation, three first year players have been competing for starting spots, including Jackson Adkins, Liam Behnke and Tom Curtin. Other first-years that have impressed include Dylan Wanichko and Ryan Coletta.
 
As for McDonough, he enters his second year as head coach and believes there are many factors that have resulted in a smooth transition into 2022.
 
"Coming in last year was tough, but building relationships was so crucial," McDonough said. "This year, knowing every guy already, whether it be returning or who we recruited, has helped. However, the biggest thing coming back is being able to organize a full offseason. The returners have a familiarity with the system and have a great understanding, which has made my life easier."
 
Chatham, which was picked to finish third in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, begins the 2022 season this Saturday, February 19 with a home game against Oberlin beginning at 1:00 at UPMC Graham Field.