Elizabethtown College’s men’s lacrosse team is days away from its first game under new Head Coach Drew Delaney. After posting an 8-6 record last year, the Blue Jays are hoping to have even more success this season.

Senior midfielder Craig Hunsberger and junior defender Matt Frey are two of the key players for this upcoming season. The Blue Jays team also includes returning sophomores Jimmy Waters, Tucker Keefer, Jordan Bowser, Jake Snyder and junior Chris Wenger, who all started in more than 10 games last season.

Delaney is excited for his first season as the Blue Jays’ head coach. He is also eager to see how some of the first-years can perform at the college level. Delaney’s main goals for this upcoming season are to be competitive and to learn from every game. “All the talk about NCAAs and the conference tournament will speak for itself if we compete like we can,” Delaney said.

Delaney claims that every game is important, but he is most excited for the game against the Merchant Marine Academy. One of the strengths of the Blue Jays’ lacrosse team is that it is a fast and athletic team. “We’re younger on offense than we are on defense, but the offense has been putting in the work to learn the new system,” Delaney said.

Sophomore attackman Pat Scott is also very excited to get the season underway. “I’m anxious for the season to start so I can see all the hard work we have been putting in pay off,” Scott said. Compared to last season, Scott claims that the team is more passionate about lacrosse this year. He thinks this could help the team become successful this coming season.

The Blue Jays started off their season last year on a good note by winning seven of their first nine games but then fell in four out of their last five games.

One thing that Delaney wants to strive for this season is consistency. He claims that the team has struggled with being consistent in the past, but he thinks if they keep working hard, they will be able to attain the consistency that he hopes for.

Sophomore attackman Zach Nichols thinks that the team will be more consistent this upcoming season and has a good feeling about this year’s team.

“We have been playing well in practice and are looking better than last year. I think the new style that Delaney has brought to the program will be a big factor in our success this season,” Nichols said.

Delaney’s expectations for this season are for the team to start to establish new standards and to see as much success in the classroom and weight room as on the lacrosse field. Delaney thinks the team has been looking good, and he is ready to get the season underway. “The guys have been working hard and are really starting to have a better grasp of the style,” Delaney said.

The Blue Jays’ first game is on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Wolf Field at 3 p.m.