If you want to talk about a team that could shock the nation by making a deep run in the NCAA tournament, look no further than Harvard.
It’s wide open this season in college lacrosse, and Harvard has slowly been building momentum over the past few years.
Harvard was in every game last season. The next step is turning those close losses into wins in 2025.
They’ve quietly been stacking quality recruiting classes, and with the return of a strong senior class, anything is possible this season.
It all starts with senior Sam King, their best player and Tewaaraton frontrunner in 2025.
King is already one of the best players in the country, but could even garner more recognition nationally if Harvard performs better than their 2024 record (8-5).
Junior Teddy Malone joins King as the lefty of the attack line, forming a formidable 1-2 duo.
The righty spot seems to be between sophomore Jack Speidell and first-year Nathan Cobery. Both would be quality options and both are bound to see significant minutes.
Senior Liam Griffiths figures to resume his role on the EMO after scoring 5 power play goals in 2024 as a slick righty-finisher.
Like with the attack, the midfield is not only shaping up to be good, but also will have the depth they’ve seemed to lack in previous seasons.
Leading scorers from the midfield in junior Logan Ip and senior Miles Botkiss return and will look to build on excellent 2024 seasons.
Sophomores Jackson Greene and Jack Petersen will look to become more productive as main threats from the midfield in 2025, showing flashes of potential as first years in 2024.
John Aurandt, Joe Dowling and Lucas Hilsenrath are options that have game experience as well, and then when you factor in the return of junior Andrew Perry and senior Owen Gaffney from injury, this unit is shaping up really solid.
Expect the midfield lines to mix and match, but there’s some serious talent offensively for Harvard this season.
The SSDM unit returns lots of experience in senior Ray Dearth and juniors Finn Pokorny, Owen Guest and Finn Jensen.
Down low, seniors Martin Nelson and Logan Darrin will lead the unit after playing in every game last season while Jake Brownley and Charlie Mueller appeared in 9 games in 2024.
Tommy Martinson played in all 12 games in 2023 but missed 2024 due to injury, so he could be an option at close or LSM, and talented freshman Michael Salvadore and Tyler Mininno could be options here as well.
Much like the midfield, expect mixing and matching early in the season to figure out the optimal rotation here defensively.
Sean Jordan looks to be the top LSM, and a defender not in the close rotation figures to join him. Another intriguing player is Joost de Koning, who Inside Lacrosse reported played close defense in their fall ball scrimmage against Notre Dame, but is listed as an LSM on the roster.
Biggest Question Marks
By far the biggest question mark for Harvard will be can they win faceoffs? The Crimson went 43.3% from the X in 2024, and top faceoff man Andrew DeGennaro is not listed on the roster in 2025. That leaves Matt Barraco, who went 26-62 (41.9%), and Owen Umansky, who went 12-24 (50%), as the only two players that have taken faceoffs for the Crimson. A pair of first years in Trevor Sardis and Jackson Henehan join the roster, but they need to find a guy or combination of guys to go at least 50% to have a shot at making a run. .
who starts in net?
Signs point to top first year Graham Stevens starting in net, but like with all first years, the question will be is he ready to step up in net immediately? Christian Barnard went 50.7% last season in a tough Ivy League, and if Stevens or another guy is around that percentage, that's a good sign for the Crimson.
I really like the offensive and defensive talent and depth Harvard has cultivated over the past few years. King is one of the best players in the nation while Malone is an awesome second option. The midfield seems poised to produce the most points they’ve produced in a while while the defense is littered with options to mix and match.
I’ve said it for multiple teams, but for Harvard it seems particularly true; if they can go 50% at the faceoff and 50% in net, they could be an NCAA tournament team if King and Malone can have their best seasons yet. But in a tough Ivy League, to make a Final Four run, they can’t just be okay at the specialist positions; this needs to be a strength for them.
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