Misenheimer, N.C. – The Centenary lacrosse team begins its 2021 season on the road on Saturday as the Gents face the Pfeiffer University Falcons in a non-conference match set for 11 a.m. central time in the season opener for both teams.
The Gents will be playing their first game since March 7, 2020 when they played Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference foe Southwestern at home after their season was shortened due to COVID-19. Centenary returns nine of 10 starters from the 2020 team and adds eight new freshmen to their lineup.
"After experiencing the loss of the back half of our season, we now have a new outlook on the opportunity we have to grow as a program," said Gents head coach CJ Seling.
"We have a new perspective of how sports can prepare us for life. There are many changes that are out of our control in life. It is our job to focus on the controllable things, prepare today for tomorrow and most importantly; be ready for when it is our time to compete."
The Gents are led by Graduate Student and Captain Brooks Smitha (Shreveport). Smitha had five goals, one assist 16 Ground balls and went 21-48 at the faceoff X last season. Offensively, the Gents return sophomores Mark Temple (Houston, Texas), (8G, 2A), sophomore Kyle Comi (Allen, Texas), (1G, 6A) and sophomore John Mark Waniewski (Bossier City, La.), (9G). The Maroon and White are also looking for sophomore breakout years from Dario Garcia (Dallas, Texas) (M) and Blake Federico (Boerne, Texas).
On the defensive side, the Gents return senior Goalie Thomas Siskron (Shreveport), who finished the shortened 2020 season with 81 saves. Joining Siskron on the defensive end are senior Defenseman Ahnry Avina (Dallas, Texas), (6GB, 3CT) and sophomore captains Ethan Little (Tyler, Texas), (10GB, 2 CT) and Christopher Dant (Bossier City, La.), (8GB, 4CT).
Centenary adds a slew of freshman that are positioned to make immediate impacts. At Attack the Gents welcome, Wikenson Julien (Immokolee, Fla.) and Jacob Miller (Liberty Hills, Texas). At midfield, the Gents add sophmore Caleb Smith (Dallas, Texas) and a trio of freshmen in Jordan Cook (Bryant, Ark.), Ben Vazquez (San Antonio, Texas), and Matt Lamoreaux (Chevy Chase, Md.). At Defense, the Gents add Noah Katz (Henderson, Nev.), Jackson Ossman (Shreveport), and Matthew Lulich (New Orleans, La.).
The Gents will play all SCAC opponents twice this season and will play four more non-conference games following Saturday's season opener. Centenary faces the Averett University Cougars on Monday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. in Danville, Va. and also has out of conference matches scheduled against Hendrix College on the road on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. and at Huntingdon College on March 12 at 7 p.m.
Centenary's home opener is set for Sunday, Feb. 21 versus Southwestern in a match set for 1 p.m. at Mayo Field. The Gents welcome Dallas for a 1 p.m. match on March 7 and then close their home schedule versus Hendrix on March 18 at 7 p.m.
A link to the Gents' complete schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mlax/2020-21/schedule
Live stats and live video are available for all home matches.
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