The ‘Garber Gorillas’ are back.

Saturday marks the start of the UMass men’s lacrosse team’s 2025 season as it opens its campaign with a home game against No. 13/12 Army.

The Minutemen went 6-8 a year ago and will look to climb back above a .500 winning percentage this year, beginning against the Black Knights this weekend.

“It’s a really good group to work with,” UMass head coach Greg Cannella said. “We have inexperience in terms of game experience… right now [we’re] fearless going into the season.”

UMass will have the tough task of replacing its top seven scorers from a season ago. Senior Caelin Lewis returns as the Minutemen’s most prolific offensive weapon. Lewis recorded 13 goals and 16 points as a junior, which trailed Mike Tobin’s team-leading 39 points last year by 23.

With that in mind, Cannella mentioned junior Aiden Drunsic, senior Trace Hogan and sophomore Charles Kurtz, among others, as players he’s looking to take steps this year on the attack.

“These guys have played together since September,” Cannella said. “Hope the younger guys take the opportunity and embrace it.”

UMass averaged 11.86 goals and 37.6 shots per game in 2024. 

On the defensive side, the Minutemen’s biggest loss came in net as Matt Knote turned pro with the Denver Outlaws in the Premier Lacrosse League following the 2024 season. Knote was the Atlantic-10 Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and registered 185 saves in 14 games.

Graduate student Tyler Bluse and redshirt sophomore Ryan Mazzariello each appeared in two games in UMass’ goal last year, while freshman Owen Salanger is the Minutemen’s third option.

Other names Cannella noted to keep an eye on defensively were Matthew Petitto, Chance Cook, as well as midfielder Blaise New.

UMass allowed 10.79 goals on average a season ago, while giving up 42.1 shots a game.

In their third season in the A-10, the Minutemen will strive for a better conference record this time around after going 2-3 in A-10 action last year. UMass beat Hobart and St. Bonaventure, but fell to Richmond, High Point and Saint Joseph’s twice. The second loss to the Hawks ended the Minutemen’s season in their 11-9 defeat during the first round of the A-1o playoffs.

“The heavyweights right now are Saint Joseph’s and Richmond,” Cannella said. “Every game is going to be a challenge.”

UMass will face off against familiar non-conference challengers this year with games against Army, Albany, Vermont, Rutgers, UMass Lowell and Brown – all opponents the Minutemen saw in 2024. Quinnipiac, Dartmouth and NJIT are new matchups this year to round out the nine-game non-conference slate.

In a scrimmage against Yale last weekend, UMass hung tough in a 18-13 unofficial loss. The Bulldogs are expected to be one of the best teams in the nation this year as they were No. 8 on USA Lacrosse’s Men’s Division I Preseason Top 20 rankings.

The contest versus West Point will kick off Cannella’s 31st season as the Minutemen’s head coach. Cannella has a career record of 247-175 (.585 winning percentage) at the helm at UMass.

The Gorillas game against the Black Knights is set for noon at Garber Field.

UMass lost its season-opener to Army on the road last season, 13-12.