Colgate University’s men’s lacrosse team began their highly anticipated 2025 season with a 14-9 loss to then-No. 12 Penn State University on Saturday, Feb. 1. Although the Nittany Lions pulled away during the second and third quarters – holding a 13-6 lead entering the fourth – the Raiders played a close game in the first quarter and eventually pushed for a late comeback. At times, they exhibited flashes of the fast paced, disciplined lacrosse that the Raiders and fans expect for the season.
The loss to Penn State is the beginning of the Raiders’ incredibly competitive out-of-conference schedule. They battle several top-ranked programs, including No. 4 University of Virginia, No. 31 University of Albany, No. 20 Harvard University and No. 19 Villanova University. Colgate will also compete with No. 5 Syracuse University for a mid-season juncture (all rankings are up-to-date as of Feb. 11). The team is certainly not shying away from competition. Head Coach Matt Karweck and his team hope to forge a perennial powerhouse and improve upon last season’s success, when they secured their first winning record since 2015.
Three of Colgate’s team captains — senior goalie Matt LaCombe, senior defenseman Max Yates and junior midfielder Hunter Drouin – are undoubtedly prepared to lead the Raiders and turn these tough matchups into valuable opportunities for growth and success.
“I think this week, after the loss, we definitely reset our minds and got back to our standards which we were kind of lacking in the past,” LaCombe explained. “I think that Penn State game reminded us of how hard we have to work if we want to get to where we want to go.”
Following the opener, the Raiders identified areas for improvement, focusing on stick work, defensive clearing, ball movement and offensive efficiency. With their sights set on winning the Patriot League Tournament, the team is embracing a long-term approach.
“We don’t need to be playing our best lacrosse right now, we want to be playing our best lacrosse down the road,” Drouin said. “All of our out-of-conference games are circled on our schedule […]. The biggest one we have is [against the University of] Virginia this weekend. Everybody knows about Virginia lacrosse – historically one of the best programs ever — so that’s going to be a super fun game.”
The team is also motivated by last year’s bitter ending. In the 2024 Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals, Colgate fell 18-17 in a triple-overtime heartbreaker against Boston University — its fourth consecutive loss to the Terriers.
“I think the number one team that all of us have circled is BU,” Yates said. “Lehigh [University] is another one. They beat us, they slowed the ball down, they exposed a lot of weaknesses on our team, so we’re excited to play them again and get the upper hand.”
Evidently, all members of the team have confidence in winning the Patriot League Tournament championship.
“We’re returning the same coaches and pretty much the same team, and we’re strengthening our fundamentals every single day,” Yates said. “So for us, we don’t go in with the mentality that we’re a dark horse. We go in with the mentality that we’re going to win every game we play.”
Such confidence also stems from the optimistic expectations of the younger classes and experienced veterans. The captains praised underclassmen who are rising through the ranks, including sophomores Tommy Arata, Liam Connor and Kyle Rummel. First-year attackman Casey Quinson adds skill to the rookie roster as well. Led by 18 seniors, the veteran core brings a wealth of experience and guidance, which, when combined with fresh perspective and youthful energy, may be exactly what the Raiders need in order to drive the program to heights it has not encountered in a decade.
“Our biggest benefit this year is how much we returned, and our returners are our leaders. The young guys can see the blueprint of how we play and really buy into that leadership and then take the program where we want to go,” Drouin said.
With a quintessential mix of seasoned veterans who hold high expectations for the team, and enthusiastic young players who are eager to contribute to the revival of Colgate lacrosse, a sense of collective determination has unfolded. The Raiders have adopted a meticulous approach heading into the rest of the season, prioritizing cohesion and incremental improvement. The team is prepared to build on its strong foundation from last year, with aspirations to not only contend for a Patriot League title, but also make a historic and substantial NCAA tournament run.
