After two injury-plagued seasons, St. Joe’s Richie LaCalandra is finally bacon the lacrosse field in full force, writes Mia Messina for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
With 36 points through 10 games, LaCalandra is leading the charge for No. 15 Saint Joseph’s, reminding everyone why he was once a two-time NEC Player of the Year at Long Island University.
LaCalandra’s college journey has been a winding one: from LIU to a short stint at Ohio State, and finally to St. Joe’s, where an NCAA waiver delay kept him sidelined last season. This year, he’s making up for lost time.
“I always knew I’d be back out there sometime,” LaCalandra said. “It’s been what I’ve been looking forward to the past two years.”
With 17 assists and 19 goals, he’s both setting up teammates and finishing plays. Head coach Taylor Wray calls him a “dynamic playmaker” and credits his vision and growing chemistry with teammates for St. Joe’s offensive spark.
Though the Hawks’ seven-game win streak ended with a tough 11-10 loss to UMass, LaCalandra posted four goals and remains focused on the big picture.
He’s just four points shy of 200 for his career, but there’s only one stat he really wants to add.
“I would trade all those points, all those goals, anything for another A-10 ring,” he said.
Read more about Richie LaCalandra in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
