SUNY - Maritime Men's Lacrosse

2019, 2021, 2023 Skyline Coach of the Year Justin Manjares has been a member of the Maritime men’s lacrosse staff since 2014.  After five years as an assistant coach, he became the Privateers’ interim head coach in 2019 before assuming the role full-time in 2020.  Manjares also serves as Maritime’s Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting. A three-time Skyline Conference Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2023), he has led Maritime to three Skyline championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.  Manjares guided the Privateers to 33 consecutive victories against conference opponents (regular and postseason) from 2019 until the streak was snapped in the 2023 Skyline Championship Game. During his first season at the helm, Manjares led Maritime to unprecedented success.  The Privateers went 6-0 in Skyline play during the regular season, then capped off the undefeated conference campaign by beating Merchant Marine in the championship game.  Maritime made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and earned a thrilling, 14-13 overtime victory against Grove City in the first round.  The Privateers finished the season with an overall mark of 15-4, setting a school record for victories.  Manjares was named Skyline Coach of the Year and the Privateers swept the conference’s major awards.  Matt DeMeo was selected as the Skyline Offensive Player of the Year while also earning All-America honors.  Mark Buchner was chosen as the Skyline Defensive Player of the Year and Kevin Buser was recognized as the Skyline Rookie of the Year, as the Privateers collected nine all-conference selections. After the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maritime returned to the NCAA Tournament in the abbreviated 2021 campaign.  Manjares was honored as the Skyline Coach of the Year for a second time, as the Privateers won their first eight games, including a 14-13 triumph over Farmingdale in the Skyline Championship Game, before falling to St. John Fisher in the NCAA Tournament.  Joe Kiernan was named Skyline Rookie of the Year, as Maritime placed eight players on the all-conference team. In 2022, the Privateers made their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament as Skyline Conference champions.  Maritime started the year just 2-7 before posting nine straight wins.  The Privateers dominated Farmingdale, 22-13, in the Skyline Championship Game for their third consecutive conference title.  Maritime went on to face Stevens in the NCAA Tournament.  Seven Privateers took home All-Skyline honors, including Co-Rookie of the Year Michael Monahan. The Privateers beat a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time in 2023, topping No. 20 Coast Guard 10-7 at Reinhart Field.  That victory started a school-record 11-game winning streak, as Maritime went undefeated in conference play during the regular season for the fourth straight time.  Manjares earned his third Skyline Coach of the Year award, while Matthew Weigand was named Skyline Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an honorable mention All-American.  Weigand was one of nine All-Skyline performers for the Privateers that season. Prior to becoming head coach, Manjares was an assistant under Head Coach Daniel Lawrence.  Maritime improved from 5-11 overall and 1-5 in the Skyline in 2014, their first season on Fort Schuyler, to 10-5 overall and 4-2 in Skyline play during the 2018 campaign, which earned the Privateers the No. 2 seed in the Skyline Tournament.  DeMeo was the Skyline Rookie of the Year, as Maritime placed five players on the all-conference team.  The 2017 season, meanwhile, featured a 16-0 win at Maine Maritime, just the third shutout in program history. Manjares also has international coaching experience with the Filipino National Team.  As head coach, he successfully guided the Philippines through the Asia-Pacific qualifying tournament for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.   Year Overall Conference Postseason 2019 15-4 6-0 Skyline Conference Champions NCAA Tournament 2020 3-2 NA **Postseason Cancelled (COVID-19)** 2021 8-1 6-0 Skyline Conference Champions NCAA Tournament 2022 11-8 7-0 Skyline Conference Champions NCAA Tournament 2023 13-6 7-0 Skyline Conference Tournament Career 50-21  26-0  

Lawrence  begins his eighth season as the head coach of the Maritime Men's Lacrosse program entering the 2017 season. The year also marked his 12th overall following four seasons as an assistant coach from 2006-09. Under the tutelage of Lawrence at the helm of the men's lacrosse program, the team has seen 15 players selected to the Skyline All-Conference selections at the end of the season, including a team-best five All-Conference picks following the 2011 season. The Privateers once again increased its win total in 2016 as the Privateers recorded seven victories including a pair over Mass. Maritime and Maine Maritime as the Privateers clinched the 2016 Maritime Cup. The team finished with a pair of conference victories and following the season, Jonathan Strezenec '16 was voted as a Skyline All-Conference Second Team selection. Maritime increased its win total for the third straight season in 2015 as the team won six contests including a pair in Skyline Conference play over Mount St. Vincent and Stockton. At the conclusion of the season, junior Matt Hayes was named a Skyline All-Conference First Team selection for the second straight year to high light four All-Confernece selections for the team at the conclusion of the campaign. The 2014 season saw Maritime finish the year with four wins including three one-goal victories, two of which came in overtime. Sophomore Matt Hayes was selected to the Skyline All-Conference teams for the second consecutive season while ranking second in all of NCAA Division III in ground balls per game, while finishing the season sixth amongst D3 lacrosse players in faceoff winning percent. Lawrence's most successful season came during the 2011 year, where in addition to the five All-Conference selections at the end of the season, the team finished with four wins in league play, enough to qualify for the Skyline Conference Tournament. Overall that season, the team won seven contests before the year came to an end with a low-scoring affair as the #3 seed Privateers fell to second seeded Montclair State by a 4-3 score. In addition to being in his seventh season as the head coach of the lacrosse program in 2016, Lawrence is also in his sixth season as the Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting and Compliance. In his role as Assistant Athletic Director, Lawrence oversees all eligibility and compliance issues for the school's varsity sports and helps to direct the Athletic Department's compliance education program. Prior to coaching at Maritime, Lawrence served as the top assistant coach at Division II Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C. for the three seasons. Lawrence has also worked numerous camps and clinics and is currently the Boys Director for the World Class Lacrosse Camp and the Field Director for the Big 3 Lacrosse Camp. He also has international experience, having twice brought teams to Europe over the summer. His teams have finished second and first in the Prague Cup and first in the Berlin Open. A native of Long Island, Lawrence currently resides in Connecticut with his wife Sarah and their children, Noah and Molly. Year-by-Year Record 2016: 7-7 2015: 6-8 2014:  5-11 2013:  4-12 2012:  3-13 2011:  7-9 2010:  5-10 Career Record:  37-70