GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's lacrosse team is set to open its season on Friday, Feb. 16, as it welcomes Immaculata to Jean Lenox West Field. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Glenside.
 
Arcadia posted a 6-2 record in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) last season, and had a program-record, six players on the All-MAC Freedom teams.
 
Head coach Paul Mita enters his fourth season at the helm of the Arcadia men's lacrosse program. In terms of this season, he wants his team to take the season one day at a time.
 
"We aren't really going to focus too much on expectations, our goal is to just get a little bit better every day and see if we can play our best lacrosse in May," Mita said.
 
The Knights were selected to finish third in the MAC Freedom Preseason Coaches' Poll. Mita is looking forward to the challenge of the conference slate in 2024.
 
"The MAC Freedom is always a challenging conference, top to bottom there's a lot of really good teams," Mita said. "In terms of the strength of the conference, I think the calling card for this conference really has been riding. Every team in our conference wants to play defense end line to end line, so we're excited for the challenge, and we're excited for some great competition."
 
This year is Mita's first four-year class as head coach of the Knights, and he points to the experience they have in the system to drive the squad this year.
 
"What's really exciting for me is this senior class will be the first time that I've had a class for four years, so these seniors, because they've been with us for four years, they really have a great understanding of how we want to play," Mita said.
 
A 14-man incoming class is set for their first action as Knights in 2024. Mita says this class has bought into the program and what it wants to do.
 
"We have a Cabrini transfer and I think he's meshed with the program and really gets what we're looking to do here, so he's been a great addition," Mita said. "Additionally, with our first-years, I think they've all been working really hard, they're all very bought in, and I think that they understand that everything is earned here and they're ready to put the work in."
 
The Knights look forward to 10 non-conference games before opening MAC Freedom play on Saturday, April 6 at FDU-Florham. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.