PUEBLO, Colo. (February 20, 2020) – The wait is finally over for Colorado State University-Pueblo Men's Lacrosse as the ThunderWolves will begin their 2020 season on the road at Westminster College Friday at 3 p.m. The Pack's season opening road trip rolls along Sunday with a 12 p.m. game at No. 17 Colorado Mesa University.

The Pack will look to build off of their 2019 campaign, when they set a program record with seven wins. CSU-Pueblo set many program records offensively, totaling 209 goals a season ago.

Head Coach Sean Blair earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors in 2019. His ThunderWolves claimed the No.3 seed in the RMAC Tournament last year, their highest finish in program history. According to the RMAC Coaches Preseason Poll, the ThunderWolves were predicted to repeat this finish again in 2020.

The Pack returns three All-RMAC honorees from their 2019 team. Tavian Watson (Sr., Aurora, Colo.) earned First Team All-RMAC honors at defense last season. Watson secured a career-high with 26 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers in 2019.

Tommy Vassallo (Sr., Sarasota, Fla.) totaled 50 points in 2019, the second-most on the Pack and the most of any returner. Vassallo received Second Team All-RMAC honors after scoring 32 goals and dishing out 18 assists. He finished 2019 fifth in the RMAC in goals per game and sixth in assists and points per game.

Jacob Muir (So., Ogden, Utah) collected Second Team All-RMAC honors as a freshman after the most successful season at the faceoff position in program history. Muir set a Pack record with 215 faceoff wins and 118 ground balls in 2019. He won 55.7 percent of his draws, also a school record. Muir ranked second in the RMAC and 12th in D-II with 7.87 ground balls per game.

Also returning for the Pack are former All-RMAC selections, Devin Thrower (Las Vegas, Nev.) returns for his senior season. A defensive midfielder, Thrower is a former Second Team All-RMAC selection. Thrower ranks fifth in ground balls in program history.

Former Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection Michael DeMaio (Jr., Gambrills, Md.) looks to reclaim All-RMAC honors. DeMaio earned this honor as freshman and appeared well on his way to another All-RMAC selection before being injured in 2019. He averaged 4.5 ground balls per game in just four contests last season.

Skylar Weathers (So., Ogden, Utah) returns after scoring 18 goals last season. Matt Lutz (So., Austin, Texas) will be back as a defensive midfielder. Brance Anderson (So., Bulverde, Texas) will also return after starting at defense in most of the Pack's games last season.

After splitting goaltending duties a year ago, sophomores Garrett Breeling (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Ethan Ferrie (Littleton, Colo.) will continue to battle for time in cage for the Pack. Freshman Darius Miller (Aurora, Colo.) will join the goalkeeping fold for the Pack. Miller competed for Team USA at the International Junior World Indoor Championships last summer.

The Pack also welcomes in a large freshman class as 17 freshman are expected to make their debut for the Pack in 2020. Letter winners Trevor Thompson (So., Sacramento, Calif.), Mykael Haney (Jr., Denver, Colo.), Patrick Rego (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.), and Kyle Sanchez (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) all return for the Pack.

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.