MEN

Coach: Ray LaForte (6th season)

Key returnees: Sr. A Riley McNulty, Sr. M Ryan Gochar, Sr. D Justin Edwards, Sr. G Charles McAllister, Sr. D Owen Kratowicz, Sr. M Jake Groff, Jr. A Will Iorio, Jr. M Matty Johnson, Jr. M Connor Rowan Jr. Bobby Doherty, Jr. Eric Schultz, Jr. LSM Peyton Bowler, Jr. D Ethan Geurtsen, Jr. D Tom Uhl, So. M/FO Logan Tobias, So. D Paul Mamay, So. Greg Hill.

Top newcomers: Fr. A Caleb Holdridge, Fr. LSM/FO Gunnar Brodfuhrer, Fr. M Taylor Gustafson, Fr. M Gage Kruger.

Outlook: The Bears, who have made two straight trips to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference tournament final, return six seniors and a veteran cast this spring as they prepare for Saturday's season opener at Elizabethtown at 1 p.m. LaForte, the only coach in program history, has a 52-30 overall record and will be led by McNulty, the NEWMAC Player of the Year, and Edwards. Both were All-NEWMAC first team choices while Gochar was a second-team pick. McNulty and Iorio will lead the attack and LaForte calls Holdridge, the ex-Waterford High School great, "a wonderful addition to our offense." A young defense will be tested, but Edwards and goalie McAllister will be stabilizing influences. Coast Guard will be tested by its most challenging schedule yet, which includes five different conference champions in 2019 and six teams who qualified for the 2019 NCAA Division III tournament highlighted by Salisbury (No. 1 in the preseason poll) and Wesleyan (No. 9).

WOMEN

Coach: Mary Eames (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. D MegMarie Stanchi, Sr. A Erin Mullen, Jr. M Etta Davis, Jr. M Mary Ellis Goins, Jr. A/M Haley Howard, Jr. M Haley McCue, Jr. D Rachel Piche, So. A Maddie Rizzuto, So. M Katherine Pittman, Jr. G Rebecca Dolan, Jr. G Mary Budri.

Top newcomers: Fr. M Gianna Cascio, Fr. M Catarina Goncalves.

Outlook: The Bears went 7-11 overall in 2019 and hosts a NEWMAC tournament quarterfinal game for the first time in program history over going 4-4 in the conference. Coast Guard, which opens its season on Wednesday at home (7 p.m.) against Johnson & Wales, is picked to finish fifth in the NEWMAC preseason poll. Davis, a team captain along with Stanchi, Mullen and Goins, was an All-NEWMAC first team pick while Budri made the second team. Rizzuto and Pittman will lead the offense and are guiding a talented class of nine freshmen, many who will contribute immediately. "(Rizzuto and Pittman) have been using their offensive IQ's to teach and help out freshmen adjust," Eames said. CGA is particularly strong in the midfield with the return of Davis, Goins, Howard and McCue, while Stanchi, Piche and Budri are the defensive anchors, although Eames also expects Dolan to see some time in goal.