Hartford Hawks men's lacrosse

The Hartford Hawks men's lacrosse team represents the University of Hartford in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III men's lacrosse. Hartford currently competes in the Conference of New England (CNE) and plays its home games at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Hartford Hawks men's lacrosse
Founded1979 (varsity), 1973 (club)
UniversityUniversity of Hartford
Head coachRyan Martin (8th season)
StadiumAl-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium
(capacity: 2,500)
LocationWest Hartford, Connecticut
ConferenceConference of New England
NicknameHawks
ColorsScarlet and white[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2011, 2016
Conference Tournament championships
2011, 2016
Conference regular season championships
2000, 2003

Hartford had been an NCAA Division I member before starting a transition to Division III after the 2022 season. It had been a member of the America East Conference, and before that the Northeast Conference. The Hawks played the first season of their transition in spring 2023 as a Division I independent before joining CNE (then known as the Commonwealth Coast Conference) in July 2023.

History

edit

1973–1992

edit

Hartford men's lacrosse was established as a club sport in 1973 until it became a varsity program in 1979.

In 1985, Hartford hired John Herbert as head coach for the team's inaugural season in Division 1. Hartford competed as an independent until joining the Northeast Conference in 1993. As an independent team, Hartford had an overall record of 36–58.

1993–2003

edit

In 1993, first-year head coach Jack McGetrick replaced Rob Quinn and led the team to its first winning season in eight years. In 1997, the Hartford Hawks joined the America East Conference. In 2000, the Hawks completed a 14–2 record and earned the NEC regular season title after completing a 4–1 conference record. In 2003, McGetrick once again led the Hawks to a regular season title after finishing the season with a 9–8 record and a 4–1 conference record. After 11 seasons with the Hawks, McGetrick stepped down from his head coaching duties finishing as the winningest lacrosse coach in the programs history. BlackJack returned in 2004 to coach his alumni to victory one last time over the current squad. A feat never accomplished and most likely never repeated. The game was played on the muddy practice field behind the 5’s so the lacrosse team didn’t ruin the field used by the university’s crown jewel soccer team. [2]

2004–2005

edit

Andy Towers replaced McGetrick as head coach for the 2004 season and led the Hawks to an unsuccessful 0–14 record. The following season, now under the helm of Bill Warder, ended in a disappointing 2–12 record.[3]

2006–2016

edit

In 2006, Peter Lawrence became head coach of the Hawks. In 2011, coming off seven straight losing seasons; the Hawks, led by Lawrence, would win their first conference tournament.[4] Hartford also made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2011 but lost in the first round to the second-seeded Cornell, 12–5.[5] In 2016, the Hawks lost 14–9 against Quinnipiac in a play-in game in the 2016 NCAA tournament.[6] Following the 2016 season, Peter Lawrence resigned as head coach of Hartford after 11 seasons.[7]

2017–present

edit

After the departure of long time head coach Peter Lawrence; Hartford promoted assistant coach Ryan Martin to head coach.[8] In his first season as head coach, Martin led the Hawks to a 6–8 overall record.[9]

Division III

edit

On May 6, 2021, the University of Hartford Board of Regents voted to drop its athletic department to Division III. The drop was set to take place no later than September 1, 2025.[10] The school ultimately started its transition in July 2022 and started Division III competition in July 2023, with full D-III membership to follow in the 2026–27 school year.

Annual record

edit
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Allan Wilson (Independent) (1979–1984)
1979 Allan Wilson 0–8
1980 Allan Wilson 4–6
1981 Allan Wilson 1–9
1982 Allan Wilson 3–6
1983 Allan Wilson 2–6
1984 Allan Wilson 4–4
Allan Wilson: 14–39
John Herbert (Independent) (1985–1986)
Division I
1985 John Herbert 5–6
1986 John Herbert 7–5
John Herbert: 12–11
Gus Mazzocca (Independent) (1987–1989)
1987 Gus Mazzocca 1–8
1988 Gus Mazzocca 4–7
1989 Gus Mazzocca 4–9
Gus Mazzocca: 9–24


Rob Quinn (Independent) (1990–1992)
1990 Rob Quinn 7–7
1991 Rob Quinn 3–8
1992 Rob Quinn 5–8 0–4
Rob Quinn: 15–23 0–4


Jack McGetrick (Northeast Conference/America East Conference) (1993–2003)
1993 Jack McGetrick 7–6 1–3
1994 Jack McGetrick 3–10 1–3
1995 Jack McGetrick 8–6 2–3
1996 Jack McGetrick 9–6 2–3
1997 Jack McGetrick 11–3 5–1
1998 Jack McGetrick 3–11 1–4
1999 Jack McGetrick 8–7 0–5
2000 Jack McGetrick 14–2 4–1
2001 Jack McGetrick 6–8 1–4
2002 Jack McGetrick 9–7 4–1
2003 Jack McGetrick 9–8 4–1
Jack McGetrick: 87–74


Andy Towers (America East) (2004–2004)
2004 Andy Towers 0–14 0–6
Andy Towers: 0–14 0–6


Bill Warder (America East) (2005–2005)
2005 Bill Warder 2–12 0–6
Bill Warder: 2–12 0–6
Peter Lawrence (America East) (2006–2016)
2006 Peter Lawrence 3–12 0–5
2007 Peter Lawrence 2–13 1–4
2008 Peter Lawrence 0–13 0–5
2009 Peter Lawrence 2–11 1–4
2010 Peter Lawrence 4–10 1–4
2011 Peter Lawrence 11–7 3–2 NCAA First Round
2012 Peter Lawrence 6–9 3–2
2013 Peter Lawrence 7–7 4–1
2014 Peter Lawrence 6–9 2–3
2015 Peter Lawrence 7–8 3–3
2016 Peter Lawrence 11–7 3–3 NCAA First Round
Peter Lawrence: 59–106 21–36
Ryan Martin (America East) (2017–present)
2017 Ryan Martin 6–8 2–4
2018 Ryan Martin 3–10 0–5
2019 Ryan Martin 4–11 2–4
2020 Ryan Martin 3–3 0–0
2021 Ryan Martin 2–5 2–5
2022
Division III
Ryan Martin (Commonwealth Coast / Conference of New England) (2023–present)
2023 Ryan Martin 5–0
2024 Ryan Martin 6–7
Ryan Martin: 22–39 4–13
Total: 220–342

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

†NCAA canceled 2020 collegiate activities due to the COVID-19 virus.

References

edit
  1. ^ University of Hartford Brand Identity Guide. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "FORMER HARTFORD LACROSSE COACH JACK MCGETRICK PASSES AWAY ON SATURDAY". Hartford Hawks. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Andrew Towers". dartmouthsports.com. Dartmouth Big Green. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Compitello's Last-Second Goal Gives Hartford 2011 Men's Lacrosse Title". America East. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  5. ^ "HAWKS' FLIGHT ENDS AT CORNELL WITH 12–5 LOSS TO BIG RED". Hartford Hawks. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Hawks Defeated by Quinnipiac in NCAA Preliminary Round". Hartford Hawks. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Lawrence Steps Down as Head Men's Lacrosse Coach". Hartford Hawks. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Ryan Martin Promoted to Head Men's Lacrosse Coach". Hartford Hawks. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Hartford Drops Season Finale to No. 7 UAlbany". Hartford Hawks. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  10. ^ "University of Hartford Votes to Drop Athletic Department to Division III". Sports Illustrated. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
edit