It’s not often that a freshman goalie can step up and seize the starting job for a Division I men’s lacrosse team. In Rich O’Halloran and Max Nolan, Bucknell has two freshmen who have the potential to do just that.
Bison head coach Frank Fedorjaka said that the duo has adjusted well to the collegiate game thus far, noting that each has what it takes to contribute right away. In his lengthy coaching career, Fedorjaka has only had one four-year starter at goalie: Christian Klipstein, a 2019 Bucknell graduate. Right now, it’s too early to tell if either O’Halloran or Nolan will become the second or if they will work in a tandem throughout the season.
Rich and Max are neck-in-neck,” Fedorjaka said. “Either one of them could seize the starting job, but they’re still freshmen. We don’t rely on them to bark out signals or direct traffic; we have senior defensemen for that. We rely on them to rely on their instincts. We rely on them to stop the ball. What’s great for us is that they both have great instincts, and they both can stop the ball.”
O’Halloran, who stands an imposing 6-foot-6, recorded a .550 save percentage in his final season at The Taft School. He also helped his squad win the NHSLS Tournament and Geico High School Nationals.
Rich is very tall and athletic,” Fedorjaka said. “He plays consistently and makes all of the saves he’s supposed to make. At the same time, he’s dynamic enough to make the great saves.”
Nolan, who made 230 career saves with a .680 save percentage during his days at Bergen Catholic High School, also earned a spot on the New Jersey Under Armor All-American Team.
Max has the big-stop potential,” Fedorjaka said. “When he gets hot, it’s hard to get the ball past him even if you’re one-on-one in front of the cage. He has really high upside.”
The Bison have a pair of solid backups in junior Dan Parson and senior Jack Van Slyke. In 2021, Parson made made 23 saves, with 13 coming in his start at then No. 7/6 Lehigh. Van Slyke has appeared in six games in relief.
Daniel is a reliable goalie who makes the plays he’s supposed to make,” Fedorjaka said. “Jack has had some injuries, and I’m excited to have him back out at full speed because he deserves it. He works very hard and is a great teammate.”
Returnees: Dan Parson, Jack Van Slyke
Newcomers: Max Nolan, Rich O’Halloran
The Bison open their campaign on February 5 with an 11 a.m. game at Mercer. Their first home game is scheduled for February 19 against St. John's. Highlights of their 2022 schedule include a home tilt with Penn State on March 15 and a full compliment of eight Patriot League games for the first time since 2019.
Fedorjaka said that Bucknell, which features a deep roster with talent across all four classes, is poised to excel in both non-conference and Patriot League competition.
I’m really excited to coach this team," Fedorjaka said. “We have a senior class that provides not only talent but great leadership. Our seniors are surrounded by many other classes that have a lot of talent and play-making ability. We have really strong team chemistry. I’m looking forward to getting back to a normal schedule and working with this particular group of student-athletes. We’ll be tested by our non-conference schedule, and we’re looking forward to getting on the road and playing some good competition so that we’re ready for our Patriot League opponents.”
Photos by Noel Gyllenhaal, Brett Hosterman and Marc Hagemeier