Men's Lacrosse | 4/13/2018 11:36:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's lacrosse program has enjoyed a long and storied history since its inception in 1968. On April 14, the Tigers will formally celebrate its 50-year history, as the Tigers take on Skidmore College at RIT's Turf Field. Alumni are encouraged to come back to campus as we celebrate 50 years of lacrosse at the university. Several former players and teams will be honored throughout the game.
 
What a 50-year run it has been for RIT men's lacrosse. Throughout the years, 13 head coaches have guided the program to a 533-234 all-time record, recording a .695 winning percentage.
 
Over the years, RIT has competed as a member of three conferences (EAA, Empire 8 and Liberty League), winning 17 league titles. The first came in 1982 as a member of the Empire Athletic Association. The Tigers won eight titles as a part of the EAA, including four straight from 1985-88. RIT won three Empire 8 titles, and joined the Liberty League in 2012, winning the regular season and tournament titles six straight seasons.
 
RIT has made 19 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including seven trips to the national semifinals, and national title game berths in 2013 and 2017.

In the spring of 1968, the Tigers made their debut, with Ralph Armstrong serving as head coach. Armstrong and the Tigers posted a 4-3 record that first season, playing the likes of Hobart, University of Rochester, Ithaca, SUNY Geneseo, Siena and Alfred. The Tigers made their program debut on April 13, 1968 at Hobart and four days later, earned their first win over the Yellowjackets. The Tigers made their home debut at the new Henrietta on April 27, 1968.

Bruce Opalka, who would take over as head coach in 1972, was RIT's first 100-point scorer, recording 115 career points, including 76 goals from 1968-1970. RIT posted an 8-2 record in 1971, outscoring its opponents 122-77 that season. Glen Kelly, Rich Vail, Jim Miller, Mark Schrader, Tom Melton, Paul Barron, Tim Keck, Mark Knight, and Steve Van Gorden were standouts who led the Tigers from the early 1970s into the 80s.
 
The hiring of head coach Bill Tierney (who would eventually win seven national championships at the Division I level) in 1982 would transform the program into a national powerhouse. He led the Tigers to a 34-7 record and lifted the Tigers to their first two NCAA Tournament berths in 1983 and 1984. More importantly, he helped lay the foundation for perennial success.
 
RIT would make five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in the 1980s (1983-87), including three trips to the national semifinals. Under head coach Bill Glennon, the Tigers would go 48-14 from 1985-88. RIT would win six EAA titles in seven seasons and boast 10 first, second or third team All-Americans. Keith Vadas was RIT's first All-American in 1983. Teammate Bill Bjorness was a three-time All-American, earning first team accolades in 1984 and 1986. He graduated as RIT's all-time leading scorer and remains in the top-five. Led by two-time All-Americans Don Balch, Ted Diehl, Bruce Remus, Jim Kimmell, Tim Turner, Ed Purcell and standout goalkeepers Andy Demetres and Dave Doughty, the Tigers won 111 games in the 1980s.
 
In 1989, Guy VanArsdale took over the head coaching duties and led the Tigers to a 112-54 record in his 12 seasons at RIT. He led the Tigers to five trips to the NCAA Tournament, including an appearance in the national semifinals in 1999. Three-time All-American Tom Masaschi and Tom Emmick led the Tigers in the early 1990s, while standouts Ben Hunt, Matt Hunt, Joe Tuschong and goalkeepers Kurt Utzman and Adam Platzer, among others ushered in a new era of success for the Tigers as they headed into the new millennium.
 
Josh Molinari would become the first Tiger to score 100 points in a season in 2004 and finished his career as RIT's all-time leader with 167 assists. Two years later, led by All-American Dave Thering, RIT would win its first Empire 8 Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Thering would finish his career as RIT's all-time leading scorer and is currently second all-time at the university with 293 points. Led by head coach Gene Peluso, RIT would race out to a 9-0 record and No. 2 ranking in the USILA Poll, highest to date in program history. RIT would win 88 games in eight seasons under Peluso

In 2010, current head coach Jake Coon took the reins and under his direction, has turned RIT into a perennial power and NCAA title contender. In his eight full seasons, Coon has won eight league titles, including two Empire 8 and six straight Liberty League championships. He was USILA National Coach of the Year in 2011 and was named IMLCA National Coach of the Year in 2013. He has an astounding 159-20 record in his time at RIT with eight trips to the NCAA Tournament and guided the Tigers to their first two championship game appearances in 2013 and 2017. RIT is off to another brilliant start in 2018 with a 13-0 mark and have been the No. 1 team in the USILA Division III poll for the last seven weeks.
 
In recent years, Ryan Lee, the Tigers all-time leading scorer and only player in program history to tally 300 career points and 200 career goals, was a four-time All-American, earning first tram honors three times. He was named the Lt. Col. J.L. (Jack) Turnbull Award winner as Division III's finest attackmen in both 2015 and 2017. Matt Hossack was a two-time Division III Long-Pole of the Year (2015 and 2016) and was named Iroquois Nationals Award winner in 2015 as Division III's top player. Eleven different Tigers have earned first team All-American honors over the last seven years In addition, RIT has had several players enjoy successful careers at the professional level in both the indoor and outdoor game.
 
Over 100 Tigers have been All-American selections over the years, including 23 first-team selections. Fourteen Tigers have been inducted into the RIT Sports Hall of Fame, while 50 different players have reached 100 career points, including 10 with at least 200.