After a 9-4 regular season record in 2000 and a return trip to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championship Tournament, the Trinity College men's lacrosse team hopes to continue its success by qualifying for the inaugural New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) postseason tourney in 2001. The Bantams boast 22 returnees this season, led by two-time all-league and Inside Lacrosse pre-season All-American honorable mention selection Mark Tassie in the midfield.

The Bantams qualified for the ECAC tourney last season as the No. 4 seed but dropped a 13-9 decision to Wesleyan in the quarterfinals. Trinity finished with a No. 5 ranking in New England and a No. 17 ranking in the nation as Head Coach Mike Darr took home both the NESCAC and New England Coach of the Year awards. Trinity is rated No. 22 in the Laxpower pre-season Division III ratings.

Darr, entering his 23rd season, has plenty of firepower, with two of the team's top four scorers returning. Tassie, a senior co-captain, and sophomore attackman Ravi Pillay combined for 43 goals and 25 assists last spring. Tassie has 79 goals and 37 assists for 116 points in his career. Senior Rob Morse and junior Sean Rohan will also contribute to the Bantam attack, along with freshmen James Skiff and Sandy Leighton.

Junior co-captain Jeff Bruno and seniors, Brian Andre, Peter Gottlieb, Bill Meara , and Brendon Sullivan will join Tassie in a deep Bantam midfield. Bruno, Achterhof, Andre and Meara were all significant contributors a year ago, while Gottlieb and Sullivan look to rebound from injury-plagued seasons last spring.

Juniors Peter Rogers, who notched nine goals and three assists last year, and speedy Alex Westcott are both solid scorers from the midfield position. Sophomore Erik Mazmanian and David Constantine and freshman Will Peace each have starting potential at midfield as well.

Defensively, Trinity will miss All-New England performer Robb Kennedy but will return a pair of tough, physical starters in junior Matt Gjerulff and sophomore Will Seifert. Sophomore Keith Huffman could make some noise in his second year, and freshman defenders Tony Alexandre, Peter Kennedy, and Dan Bernardi will receive immediate playing time. 

Junior Eric Wilson  is ready to replace four-year starter Matt Jerry in goal after a two-year apprenticeship. Freshmen prospects Geoff Shaw and David Elwell will provide depth in net.