(Rochester, NY)… This summer was a changing of the guard for Rochester’s top collegiate box lacrosse team. With only seven players and two coaches back from the previous summer, the Hawkeyes were rebuilt by adding some past stars and former Section V standouts to their roster.
Despite overhauling the lineup, the Hawkeyes followed in the footsteps of past great teams. They helped the club advance to the National Collegiate Box Series (NCBS) National Championship Game for the third time in four years. Although falling short in the title game, the upstart team of mainly college freshmen and sophomores made their mark at the annual tournament.
Hawkeyes bench during the Finals at Frank Ritter Ice Arena.
“I mean, we couldn’t speak enough on the growth of this group over three or four days,” said veteran forward Nate Senez. “We had five practices, and not everybody was able to make it. To be able to learn on the fly like that with those young guys, or guys who haven’t played as much box, really speaks volumes about the leadership we have, which is awesome. I know the younger guys, when they’re in this tournament, they’re trying to learn and go on.”
With just five practices before the tournament, the Hawkeyes proved they were fast learners, posting a 5-1 record at Nationals. They roared through pool play with a 4-0 record to capture the No. 1 seed and knocked off the defending champion Dramingos in the semifinals.
It was veterans Jackson Saulpaugh, Matthew Blythe, Senez, Taylor Jungermann, and Colt Green who provided the leadership and mentored the young group. Sly Sundown and Braden Fingar were also back for a second season after making their Hawkeyes’ debuts at the 2025 event, while Will Hardy, Declan Landers, Jett Richardsen, and Thomas Gravino returned to the tourney after taking a brief hiatus the past summers. The NCBS Nationals also saw the emergence of young stars Brodie Joyce, Quinn Kailbourne, Sven Habitzreuther, Drew Angelo, and Grady Goodberlet.
“It was fun to get here and play some box,” said Joyce, who netted five goals and added one assist. “I haven’t played in a while. These guys are a lot of fun. Being able to play higher-level lacrosse was great. We had some great older guys, but I think they instilled a lot of knowledge into us, and everything was working great.”
Joyce during practice at Blue Cross Arena.
Joyce, a Penfield native, was one of 14 players who were added to the roster this summer. The Hawkeyes tapped into the local lacrosse market to recruit players from Honeoye Falls–Lima, Penn Yan Academy, West Irondequoit, and Victor. The former all-league selections made quite an impact in their first tournament together. The Hawkeyes also tapped into RIT’s roster, bringing in current Tigers Jackson McEnerney, Liam Wheeler, and Kailbourne.
“Going into the finals, I think you surprised a lot of people that you’re so young,” said team captain Jackson Saulpuagh. “You have so many young guys. Not many guys came back because they all aged out, but we still ended up in the Finals. It was definitely a great, great tournament, and not how we wanted it to end, but it was just a great tournament overall. I mean, it just comes down to what’s in that locker room. When we’re having fun, when we’re buzzing, great things happen. I mean, it’s not how we wanted it to end, but to leave a summer team and have 21 brothers I can reach out to at any point. It’s just way bigger than lacrosse.”
Saulpaugh has seen the Hawkeyes’ ascent as a college lacrosse power in a short period of time. The Rochester team was established in 2021 as a founding member of the Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (UCBLL). After losing in the league semifinals in the inaugural season, the Hawkeyes dominated the league, winning three straight Mearns Cups (2022-24). The past two summers, the Hawkeyes have been strictly a tournament team.
The team has appeared in the NCBS Nationals for five straight years, while advancing to three Finals. In 2024, the Hawkeyes captured the NCBS Cup, winning in overtime to dethrone the champion San Diego Royals. Last season, Rochester fell in the semifinals, denying them an opportunity to repeat as champs. The returning players and coaches entered the 2026 NCBS tourney with a mission.
“Everybody was here for the same reason,” said coach Jordan Jarvis. “They wanted to win. They had a chip on their shoulders from last year’s semifinal loss. They just wanted to come out and win.”
Jarvis was one of the new members of the Hawkeyes’ coaching staff, which returned Rochester Knighthawks players Ryland Rees and Taylor Jensen. Fellow Knighthawk Dan Coates, who built the team’s culture and winning model, served as the general manager while coaching the Junior “A” St. Catharines Athletics to an Ontario championship.
“It was great to be back. We had some familiar faces and some new (guys),” said Rees. “It’s super fun to be at these tournaments. Being able to teach them a little bit more about box lacrosse and seeing it actually being done was pretty satisfying.”
Rees coaching during practice at Blue Cross Arena.
For this year’s tournament, the Hawkeyes also added former players and Knighthawks draft picks Conner Fingar and Clifford Gaston and RIT player Tyler Kuchar to the coaching staff. Ottawa Black Bears standout Larson Sundown was also an assistant coach during the playoff rounds. It was a family affair for two of the coaches. Conner had an opportunity to coach his younger brother Braden, and Larson got to work with his brother Sly.
“I just love being around him because of how he plays the game. He plays it the right way,” said Conner. “It’s fun to coach him.”
Larson, who began the tournament as a fan, jumped behind the bench for the playoff run. The National Lacrosse League forward was excited to lend his expertise to the coaching staff and the players.
“It’s awesome. Having the chance to be there with my brother, but not only that, I have a good relationship with Cliff, T (Taylor) and Jarvis,” he said. “Seeing the growth that’s come since my time at RIT, playing at the Webster box, seeing all these kids that are coming out here now, and they’re making names for themselves. They’re playing the game the right way and certainly making athletic plays that we see on the weekends in the NLL. So, it’s amazing.”
Sly Sundown during practice at Blue Cross Arena.
The Hawkeyes showed that will to win like their NLL counterparts, the Rochester Knighthawks. The collegiate box lacrosse team rallied to win three of their five games, including a 12-10 win over the defending champion Dramingos in the semifinals.
“They’re resilient, and they listened to us really well. Like we told them, ‘Just keep grinding and keep chipping away and good things will come,” said Jensen. “I’m a little bit new because I was with the (UCBLL) Armory guys before. Some of these guys have been together for a while now. It’s really nice to see the culture and how much everyone trusts each other.”
Led by returning stars like Blythe (16+8), Senez (10+13), and Green (4+11), the Hawkeyes averaged almost 15 goals per game during their five-game unbeaten streak. Hardy returned to provide 10 goals and eight assists, while Sly Sundown posted 11 goals and three assists. Jungermann, a veteran of the Jr. Knighthawks, Roots Box Lacrosse League and the UCBLL, earned the starting job after serving behind starter John Jacobs. He seized his opportunity and posted a 3-1 record and a .660 save percentage.
Rochester also received production from young stars Braden Fingar, Joyce, and Goodberlet. The trio combined for 14 goals and 10 assists. Syracuse’s Drew Angelo also had an impressive debut, winning 94 faceoffs and collecting a .662 percent faceoff winning percentage. In goal, Habitzreuther appeared in five games and was 2-0 with an 8.98 goals-against average and a .730 save percentage.
Hawkeyes during practice at Blue Cross Arena.
Rochester convincingly opened the tournament with a 20-10 win over the Vermont Voyageurs, before holding off the Paper City Oaks, 16-15, to finish the opening day tied for first with a 2-0 record. The Hawkeyes used a goaltending rotation featuring Jungermann in the first half and Habitzreuther in the second, which worked perfectly to start NCBS Nationals. Both goalies allowed 12 goals, while Habitzreuther posted a .730 save percentage and Jungermann posted a .680 save percentage.
The contest against the Oaks was a real test, as the Hawkeyes fell behind 2-0 early but stormed back with five straight goals. Rochester then used a 3-0 run late in the third to move in front 15-11. Senez notched the lone fourth-quarter goal, and Rochester needed it as the Oaks cut the deficit to one. However, defenseman Taiden Makubire forced a turnover in the final seconds to secure the win.
After finishing Day One unbeaten, it set the stage for the battle of the unbeatens at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. It was Jungermann’s chance to shine as he went the distance in goal in a 15-10 victory over the eventual champion Buffaloes. He played the game of his life, making 11 of his 25 stops in the second quarter.
Hawkeyes goal covered by Jungermann during Final at Frank Ritter Ice Arena.
“We got off to a shaky start, but once I got settled in, I felt great and was in the zone,” said Jungermann. “We were awesome in transition, and our defense kept them from being able to get inside. It was a great team effort.”
The Hawkeyes fell behind 4-1 early in the first quarter but showed their resilience once again, rallying to score the next four goals and take a 5-4 lead at 2:04 of the second. After a Buffaloes goal, Rochester scored the next four to close out the half up 9-5. The Hawkeyes pulled away in the second half, taking a 15-8 lead with under three minutes to play. Blythe notched five goals and added one assist, while Hardy, Joyce, Garvino and Sundown each scored twice.
The next game was Habitzreuther’s opportunity to start, as he backstopped the Hawkeyes in a showdown against the defending champion Dramingos. The story of the contest was the play of the Hawkeyes’ defense and Habitzreuther. Making his first start of the tourney, he made 27 saves and posted an eye-popping .820 save percentage as he helped hold the Dramingos’ offense at bay in an 11-7 win.
The Dramingos, who hail from Florida and California, took control early with a 4-1 lead, but the upstart Hawkeyes, like they had done all tournament long, stormed back by scoring eight of the next nine goals to take a 9-5 lead at halftime. The teams traded goals in the second half as the Hawkeyes finished pool play with a perfect 4-0 record. Blythe again led the way with four goals, and Sundown posted a hat trick.
In the playoff round, the Hawkeyes had the unenviable task of beating the Dramingos for a second straight time in 24 hours. Rochester proved it was ready for the task, using a second-half comeback to earn a 12-10 win. The intensity and action had the feel of the title game.
“The Dramingos were the previous champions, and they had a lot of guys with a lot of experience, and they were a big athletic team,” said Hardy, who scored two goals in the win. “It was a physical, fast game, and it really did feel like a championship game, where you had to come back and grind it out, but we ended up getting it done. I’ll remember that one for sure.”
Hawkeyes during the Final at Frank Ritter Ice Arena.
The defending champs came out flying and took an early 2-0 lead, but the Hawkeyes battled back and tied the contest at two on goals by Senez and Hardy. The first half featured two more ties before the Dramingos scored three straight to end the first half leading 7-4. In the second half, they kept to the script and turned to Habitzreuther in goal, who had the full support of the coaches and his teammates.
“That was one of the most memorable moments of the tournament,” said Habitzreuther about entering the game. “We were down by three goals, and I was going out to warm up. Everybody came out and trusted me. That support from my teammates, who had faith in me, made it a no-pressure moment. That propelled me to be more successful.”
Habitzreuther was nearly unbeatable in the second half, stopping 11 of the 14 shots he faced in the final 24 minutes. With the defense smothering the Dramingos’ forwards, the Hawkeyes went to work on offense. Hardy and Sundown scored 19 seconds apart to open the third quarter, and Jackson Coon tied the contest at seven at 3:33. The Dramingos would take their last lead of the game at 4:59, but Rochester answered with the next four goals to pull in front 11-8 early in the fourth. The Dramingos battled back to get within one at 11-10, but Habitzreuther kicked away the final chance with 18.4 seconds to play. Wheeler then iced the game with an empty-net goal.
In the title game, the Hawkeyes fought valiantly as they regrouped in the third quarter to score six times, but the second-half push was not enough against the Buffaloes. Angelo was incredible, posting 19 loose-ball recoveries and winning 29 of 33 faceoffs for an .878 faceoff winning percentage. Hardy and Sundown also notched a pair of goals.
The contest was the final collegiate box game for four UCBLL legends: Senez, Green, Saulpaugh, and Blythe.
For Blythe, a former HF-L High School and Grove City College standout, being a Hawkeye allowed him to play box lacrosse at the highest collegiate level. It also created some of his greatest lacrosse memories, like the time he scored the overtime game-winner in the 2024 NCBC Finals. He will go down as one of the greatest Hawkeyes of all time.
Blythe in the Finals at Frank Ritter Ice Arena.
“I just feel like it kind of hit the ground running every year, just got a little bit better,” he said about the UCBLL. “It was awesome coming back every summer to play in the UCBLL and compete for the Mearns Cup, and then ultimately compete for a national championship. It was a great experience. It was something I looked forward to. It was an absolute blast and a blessing to be able to be a part of it.”
With the departure of the players from the original UCBLL, next year it will be players like Gravino who will assume the leadership role for this hungry, athletic, young team.
“The future of this team is bright. A lot of younger guys are coming back next year,” he said. “You’ve got to feel pretty confident that this team is going to have success in the future. We’re losing a little veteran core with some of the guys who’ve been here for four or five years. However, there’s a lot of younger guys who did well the whole tournament, so I’m pretty excited for that.”