via FSC website/press releases

Ward Announces 2024 Men’s Lacrosse Schedule

LAKELAND, Fla. – Head coach Marty Ward of the 14^th-ranked Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse team announced the 2024 schedule for the program Wednesday morning (Dec. 20). The schedule features seven home contests and eight road matchups. The Moccasins have a very balanced schedule with the longest road swing being two games while the longest home stand also only lasts two games.
 
The Mocs will battle programs from five different states including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Seven of the Moccasin opponents were ranked in the final USILA / Blatant Lacrosse 2023 Men’s Coaches Division II Poll including second-ranked Rollins, sixth-ranked Wingate, ninth-ranked Limestone, 11^th-ranked Tampa, 13^th-ranked Colorado Mesa, 19^th-ranked Anderson and 20^th-ranked Lander. Five of the seven ranked opponents will host the Moccasins in 2024 with the only two home contests being a March 19^th match-up with 13^th-ranked Colorado Mesa in Lakeland and an April 6^th Sunshine State Conference contest at home against 2^nd-ranked Rollins.
 
The 2024 season opens with a tough road contest as the Mocs travel to Wingate who ended the 2023 season ranked sixth in the country. The Mocs will battle the Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 3. One week later, FSC opens the home portion of its schedule by hosting Montevallo in non-conference action. The Mocs defeated the Falcons 23-4 on the road last season to move to 3-0 all-time versus Montevallo.
 
Another tough road contest awaits the Mocs as FSC makes its second-straight road trip to a top-10 ranked opponent. FSC takes on ninth-ranked Limestone in Gaffney, S.C. on Saturday, Feb. 17. The Mocs have gone 0-8 all-time against the Saints and hope to end that skid in 2024. FSC will hit the road once again a week later on Feb. 24 to take on Flagler for its second all-time trip to St. Augustine.
 
The Mocs return home for the second time in 2024 on March 5 as Belmont Abbey visits Lakeland for a midweek contest. A quick two-game swing in South Carolina closes out spring break as the Mocs head to 19^th-ranked Anderson on Saturday, March 9 and 20^th-ranked Lander on Monday, March 11.
 
Florida Southern closes out non-conference play at home as the Mocs host 13^th-ranked Colorado Mesa on Tuesday, March 19. Just four days later, FSC opens Sunshine State Conference play at home by hosting Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday, March 23.
 
11^th-ranked Tampa hosts the Mocs on Wednesday, March 27 for FSC’s first conference-road contest. The Mocs swap home-and-away conference contests the rest of the season including traveling to Saint Leo (April 3) and Florida Tech (April 10) while hosting Embry-Riddle (March 30), second-ranked Rollins (April 6) and Lynn (April 17).  
 
Following the conclusion of the regular season, Florida Southern and the other SSC teams will look to the Sunshine State Conference tournament which has expanded to eight teams. The opening round will take place April 20, with the semifinals slated for April 25 and the championship scheduled for April 28. All three rounds will be hosted at the higher seeded teams.

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Ward Welcomes McNichol to Men’s Lacrosse Coaching Staff

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse head coach Marty Ward announced the addition of Tim McNichol to his coaching staff. McNichol spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Chatham University where he served as offensive coordinator and ran the extra-man unit. McNichol will be working with the faceoff specialists, goalies and scout team offense for the Mocs this season while he will control the substitution box on game days.
 
In addition to his offensive coordinator duties, McNichol also served as the goalie coach for the Cougars. Chatham advanced to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament two of the three seasons in which McNichol was a member of the coaching staff.
 
“We are excited to have Coach McNichol join our program,” said Coach Ward. “He will bring valuable experience to our program and continue to push our program in the right direction.”
 
In his three years with the CU program, McNichol helped guide the 2023 PAC Newcomer of the Year, guided five student-athletes to All-PAC selections and saw six members of the program earn Honorable Mention All-PAC.
 
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity presented by Coach Ward,” said coach McNichol. “He has an established reputation as a leader of men and I can’t wait to become a part of that culture. Learning under his tutelage is an exciting opportunity to continue my own growth as a coach. My goal here is to help our players grow into men and prepare them for their professional lives. I want to build relationships personally while facilitating them at the same time. And my hope is these are lasting friendships. The community has been welcoming with open arms. Go Mocs!”
 
In addition to his coaching experience at Chatham, McNichol has spent time as a club lacrosse coach at both True Lacrosse and Pittsburgh Select Lacrosse, while also spending two years as an assistant coach at Mount Lebanon Senior High School.
 
McNichol enjoyed a four-year collegiate playing career at McDaniel College where he served as a four-year starter and was selected a team captain prior to his senior season. He finished his career with 107 points (81G/26A). His 81 career goals were good enough for 19th all-time at McDaniel.
 
McNichol, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., graduated from McDaniel College in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in communication. He is currently working on his master’s degree in education from Chatham University with an anticipated graduation date of April of 2024.

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Ward Adds Clibanoff to Florida Southern Men’s Lacrosse Staff

LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Southern College men’s lacrosse head coach Marty Ward announced the addition of Matthew Clibanoff to his coaching staff. Clibanoff is a recent graduate of Salisbury University where he was a men’s lacrosse student-athlete and helped lead the team to the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship, the program’s NCAA-leading 13^th national title.  
 
“Coach Clibanoff has been an excellent addition to our team,” said coach Ward. “He brings a great passion and knowledge of the game to our program. We are excited to have him work with our young men at Florida Southern.”
 
Clibanoff was a two-year member of the Salisbury men’s lacrosse team after transferring from Ohio State University. While at Salisbury, he appeared in 17 total contests while scoring five goals and handing out two assists. He was named to the Coastal Lacrosse Conference (CLC) All-Academic Team following his senior campaign. Prior to Salisbury, he spent two seasons at OSU where he was named a Scholar-Athlete in 2019.
 
“I cannot thank Coach Ward enough for letting me be a member of his staff,” said coach Clibanoff. “Coach Ward has put together an impressive roster, which I am eager to be a leader in. This is a great opportunity for me to challenge and develop our student-athletes to become better lacrosse players. More importantly, be better people on and off the field. An extremely important tenant of mine as a coach is that our team plays together and builds meaningful relationships and camaraderie. Go Mocs!”
 
Despite being a recent graduate, Clibanoff has extensive coaching experience helping with a number of camps and clinics as well as coaching club teams over the summer. He spent this past summer working with Mesa Fresh Lacrosse out of Radnor, Pa. where he helped organize drills and small sessions for players to help improve their skills. He also coached teams in tournaments throughout the Philadelphia, Pa. area. Prior to Mesa Fresh Lacrosse, he spent three summers working with NXT Sports in Conshohocken, Pa. where he coached a pair of eighth grade teams traveling throughout the northeast competing in tournaments over the summer. While a member of the Ohio State men’s lacrosse program, he served as a camp instructor at OSU lacrosse camps working with local youth to improve their lacrosse skills including leading a 20-person roster throughout the week-long camps.
 
Clibanoff prepped at La Salle College High School where he was a four-year member of the varsity lacrosse team. He helped lead La Salle to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Championship Finals as a junior and senior. He was an All-State selection and finished his career with 126 points over his final two seasons including 74 goals and 52 assists. He was a three-time Philadelphia Catholic League selection. During his high school career, he spent four summers working at Be Your Best Lacrosse Camp beginning his coaching journey.
 
Clibanoff, a native of Ambler, Pa., graduated from Salisbury University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in athletic coaching.