COLUMBUS, Ohio – Under the leadership of first-year head coach, A.J. Smith, the Capital University men's lacrosse team is ready to get back on track during the 2022 season. An uncharacteristic year that ended with a 7-6 record and a 3-5 conference mark left a sour taste in the mouth of the Comets. Heading into a fresh campaign with new direction at the top, the team is sure to see what they can do within the ever-difficult OAC conference. 

Last Season in a Nutshell
Dealing with the uncertainties brought on by COVID-19 last season, Capital had some solid showings on the field, but were undone by narrow margins in other games that led to a disappointing finish to the season. The regular season was highlighted by a big 10-9 win on the road at Ohio Northern, a narrow 15-13 loss in a thrilling game vs. Baldwin Wallace, and four games in which the team scored 17 or more goals. 

At the end of the season, three Comets were named All-OAC Honorable Mention – CJ Hughes, Doc Crimmel, and Jack Scharner. 

Top Returners
Capital returns two of the aforementioned All-OAC players from a year ago – Doc Crimmel and Jack Scharner. Scharner led the team in scoring last season with 40 points, buoyed by 13 goals and 27 assists. Crimmel was a disruptor on the defensive end, scoping up 33 ground balls and causing 16 turnovers – both team highs. 

On the offensive end, Evan Frund, Brenden Pelton, Jake Belt, Nathan Mork, and Johnathon Kilgallon return for this season. All five players scored 10 or more goals last season. Frund scored a team-high 26 goals, while the other four combined to score 52 goals. 

Defensively, Jaden Kaznowski returns after starting nine games last season, where he recorded 14 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Ethan Adkins also returns to help defensively after recording 16 ground balls and six caused turnovers last season. Dylan Comella played both ways for Capital last season, scoring eight goals and passing out four assists. On the defensive end, he contributed 24 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. 

At the faceoff position, Capital returns both of their top guys in the form of Lake Harris and Mikey Collins. Harris won 55.8% of his attempts, going 121-for-217. He also tied for the team-lead in ground balls with 33. He netted one goal and had two assists as well. Collins won 61.1% of his faceoffs, foring 58-for-95 with 30 ground balls and one assist on the season. 

In goal, Capital returns two goalies who both saw action in a combined 10 games. Sam McInturf played in six games, making eight saves, while Ryan Pierce appeared in four games. 

New Faces
Working alongside the new head coach, A.J. Smith, Jack Jasinski and Marshal Amon joined the coaching staff to lead this group forward in 2022. Jasinski is a 2019 Ohio State graduate who now plays in the National Lacrosse League for Panther City Lacrosse Club. He previously played for the Denver Outlaws in the MLL. Jasinski also works as a staff coach for Resolute Lacrosse. Amon played his college lacrosse at Cleveland State as a goalie before finishing his degree at Miami University. He has previously coached on the club circuit and at high schools in the Cincinnati area. 

On the field, this coaching group welcomes six new faces to the team this season, all who are primed to make a mark on the team this season. 

The Schedule
The Comets will hit the road for their first game of the season, heading down to Virginia to play Bridgewater on February 19th at 12 p.m. Capital will then return to Columbus for their next two games against NCAC opponents Kenyon and Wooster. Those games are scheduled for February 26th and March 2nd. One more road game to Transylvania awaits the team on March 5th before a four-game homestand will occur. 

Capital will play Oberlin (March 12th), North Central (March 14th), and Wittenberg (March 19th) all at home to conclude non-conference play. They will then open with a home OAC match against Baldwin Wallace on March 26th. The remainder of conference action will then follow with road games taking place at Muskingum, John Carroll, Otterbein, Ohio Northern and Heidelberg. The Comets will play home to Marietta, Mount Union and Wilmington, in addition to the aforementioned contest with BW.