LebCo Girls & Boys Lacrosse Season Outlook: 2024

With season underway, we take a quick look at how each of the LebCo Lacrosse teams are looking in 2024. Be sure to check LebCoSports.com throughout this season for updates as we work to keep tabs on all of the action.

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Girls Lacrosse

     Cedar Crest Falcons 

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1

Head Coach: Jeanine Snyder – 1st season back, 5th season total

Key Returners: Halle Smith (Sr., Defense); Brianna Koehler (Jr.); Katelyn Brenner (Jr.)

Key Losses: Emma Brooks; Hailey Newmaster; Nicki Wise

2023 Record: 6-10

Outlook: Following three wins in 2022, Cedar Crest improved to six victories last season. Much of the turnaround can be credited to the hard work of the team’s members, along with the development that has been taking place in the CC Youth Girls Lacrosse Club. The Falcons will return a core group of veterans this year led by senior defender Halle Smith, and a group of freshmen that will have an immediate impact. The first-year players adding depth for Crest include Atalia Alnoor, Addison Davis, Avery Lechlightner, and Olivia Ryland. Overseeing this unit will be Jeanine Snyder, the head coach who takes over for Tony Sinico after Sinico left to take the Athletic Director job at Lebanon after six seasons in charge. For Snyder, it will be her fifth season at the helm, having previously held the position from 2007-2011. Snyder inherits a team that is on the rise and who will be competitive throughout 2024. They are 2-0 through two games, outscoring opponents 35-8.

   Palmyra Cougars

Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division

Head Coach:Nathaniel Lantz – 1st season

Key Returners: Morgan Courville (Sr.); Morgan Lantz (Sr.);

Key Losses: Alicia Battistelli, Anna Edwards, Olivia Kirkpatrick, Katie Lintz, Avery Russell

2023 Record: 16-4, Distrct 3 Qualifier

Outlook: Last season, Palmyra found its fair share of success in making it into the District 3 Quarterfinals. In total, they won sixteen games with a senior-heavy crew that featured several Division 1 athletes. They enter this season having lost nine starters to graduation. First-year head coach Nathaniel Lantz will have to rely on two key seniors, midfielder Morgan Lantz, and goalie Morgan Courville, as he works to develop his younger talent. Usually, losing that number of players means a complete rebuild, but having UMass-Lowell commit Morgan Lantz on offense to lead the way, the Cougars should be competitive. Through three games in this young season, this squad is 2-1 and shows a team mentality that will quicken the talent development.

Boys Lacrosse

     Cedar Crest Falcons 

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1

Head Coach: Jack Wuori – 5th season

Key Returners: Tanner Bruckart (Sr.); Bryce Craig (Sr.); Aaron Fink (Sr.); Daulton Krall (Sr.); Ryan Snavely (Sr.); Joe Arnt (Jr.); Connor Rowe (Jr.); Cole Stevenson (Jr.); Gage Yoder (Jr.)

Key Losses: Josh Trovinger (Juniata College); Bryce Culp; Erik McLaughlin

2023 Record: 1-16

Outlook: Cedar Crest won their first game of 2023 but did not register a victory for the remainder of the season. Within the 1-16 record, there were some positives for the Falcons. First, their 116 goals and 65 assists were higher than the two previous seasons combined. In addition to the growth of their offense, the players learned about resilience and showed a “never quit” attitude. They will now return stronger in 2024 with a solid group of veterans in all three levels, including returning all of its starting attackers and a solid junior midfielder in Connor Rowe. The Falcons will also feature several newcomers, including a new face in the net as sophomore Paxton Thomas steps in to replace Josh Trovinger as the team’s goalie. With a dominant 15-1 victory over Conrad Weiser to start the season, Cedar Crest is showing that it will aggressively work to overcome the challenges it faced last season.

   Palmyra Cougars

Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division

Head Coach: Dave Ondrusek – 9^th season

Key Returning Players: Jack Custer (Sr.); Andy Driscoll (Jr.); Ryan Kowalski (Jr.); Elias Rose (Jr.); Colin Ward (Jr.); Connor Klucinec (So.); Lukas Verdelli (So.)

Key Losses: Sam Trujillo (Tiffin University), Ben Bell, Brady Ward

2023 Record: 10-8, District Qualifier

Outlook: Last season, Palmyra finished with ten wins and an appearance in the District 3 Playoffs. They accomplished the feat despite having injury issues much of the way. They enter 2024, having lost some top players, including top-end goal-scorer Brady Ward, but return most of their talent, with most only entering their junior year. The team will be led by the strength of its midfielders, led by juniors Eli Rose and Ryan Kowalski. Goaltender Colin Ward, also a junior, will bring another year of experience to his role as the final line of defense for the Cougars. Look for Palmyra to drastically improve upon last year’s record as this group continues developing. They are currently 1-1, having lost a close game to Exeter before notching a convincing 19-3 win over Chambersburg.