Wilkes Men's Lacrosse 2025 Season Preview
WILKES-BARRE - The WIlkes University men's lacrosse team begins their 2025 season this Saturday, looking to build upon their first season in the Landmark Conference. Curtis Jaques leads the Colonels in his tenth season as head coach in 2025.
In 2024, the Colonels went 4-12 overall and 1-8 in conference play following their first season in the Landmark.
Ahead of their first game, Jaques spoke of the team's excitement heading into the season "Overall high excitement, I think we're ready to go."
Wilkes fields a 23 man roster comprised of four seniors, four juniors, six sophomores, and nine first-year student athletes.
The senior class features goalkeeper Nicholas Devitis, midfielders Anthony DelDuca (Westchester, NY/Westlake) and Jackson Casper (Bel Air, MD/Bel Air) and attacker Joseph Kozlowski (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley).
The junior class consists of face-off specialist Cody Dembski (Agoura Hills, CA/Agoura), a transfer from Keystone College, as well as defenseman Michael Rauch (Jackson, NJ/Jackson), goalkeeper Caleb Miller (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) and attacker Tim Hartka (Phoenix, MD/Calvert Hall). Hartka leads the Colonel offense, having recorded 21 goals and 12 assists in the 2024 season, while Miller recorded 52 saves in net.
When asked about the returning players, Jaques said he has "high expectations, this is year two in the Landmark…they're really holding down a good leadership…we're ready to go."
The sophomores class is made up of midfielders Bradley Smith (Northampton, PA/Northampton Area), Nicholas McManus (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon), and Vinny Santoro (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa Park), and defensemen Mac Jackson (Long Valley, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and Owen Peters (Oreland, PA/Roman Catholic). Attacker Austin Sosnovik (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) rounds out the sophomore class, and recorded 19 goals and 11 assists during his first season.
Joining the team this year are midfielders Liam Dutill (Adams, NY/South Jefferson), Stone Sosnovik (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh), Matthew Mosey (Ocean Township, NJ/Ocean Township), as well as attackers Matthew Rotolo (Long Island, NY/St. John the Baptist) and Oscar Cline (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz), and defensemen Drue McLean (Bel Air, MD/Harford Technical), Kyle Jurkuta (Richmond, VA/The Steward School), and Brandon Cooke (Wappingers Falls, NY/Kent). Rounding off the first year class is goalkeeper Brett Mooney (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East).
Speaking on the newcomers to the program, Jacques said "you'll see some news faces down on defense…and they definitely have an impact."
Heading into their second season of play in the Landmark, Jacques said "it's the speed of the game, you got to play faster in the Landmark…there's still some firsts, but we're going to elevate this year."
The Colonels kick off their season at home against Elizabethtown on Friday, February 14 at 4:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.
