Men’s Lacrosse Set to Start 2024 Season

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The (RV) Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's lacrosse team opens its 2024 season with a game at Hiram College on Saturday, February 3.

Men's lacrosse is set to compete in its second season in the Heart of America Conference. Coach Ryan Farr's team ended last season with a record of 11-4 and 3-2 in the Heart. MVNU ended the 2023 season receiving votes in the final poll and will look to improve upon its historic season in 2024.

The Cougars will have many ranked matchups against conference opponents that are in the NAIA Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Top 10 preseason rankings. Those teams are No.8 William Penn (Iowa), No.10 St. Ambrose (Iowa), and (RV) Benedictine (Kan.).

The current team boasts the presence of three pivotal returning players for their fifth year in Brett Townsend, Micah Rex, and Josh Jerome. Among the eight seniors in the class are Luke Modesto, Preston Barnes, Kaelin Tran, Matt Quire, Zach Wigton, Dakotah Marshall, Cayden Coffman, and Aaron Woods. The wealth of experience from these veterans is expected to significantly contribute to MVNU's success on the field and provide valuable leadership for the younger members of the team.

Multiple Cougars received League Honors from the Heart of America to conclude the 2023 season, including Modesto, Tyler Dickerson, Townsend, Rex, and Jerome. Modesto was named as the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Heart and made first team honors for MVNU. The defender from Point Loma, California was a force defensively with 29 caused turnovers and 55 groundballs. Modesto also displayed a skilled offensive arsenal, scoring six goals and dishing out four assists in 2023.

Dickerson made the first team as an attacker for MVNU. The Granville, Ohio product was third in the conference with 38 goals and was fifth with 54 total points. Townsend joined Modesto and Dickerson on the first team. Townsend finished second in the heart with 56 assists and was third with 77 total points. Townsend, who is from North Canton, Ohio, was second in the entire NAIA in assists.

Rex made the second team in the Heart as well. From Harrod, Ohio, Rex gave MVNU great play as a short-stick defensive midfielder. Rex caused 18 turnovers and had 54 groundballs. Rex also added a goal and three assists. Jerome was another big part of MVNU's defense and landed on the second team. The Fayetteville, North Carolina native wrecked havoc with 24 caused turnovers. Jerome had 34 groundballs and chipped in with two goals and two assists on offense.

Gametime for MVNU at Hiram College is set for 12:00pm on Saturday in Hiram, Ohio.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,000 students from 25 states and 11 foreign countries.