Great Danes dismiss star Nanticoke from program

Internal team issues given as reason for leading scorer’s ouster

University at Albany senior lacrosse star Tehoka Nanticoke had his bumpy moments since joining the Great Danes as the No. 1 high school recruit in the country four years ago.

But it seemed like those days might be behind him.

“He really has stepped up this year as a leader,” Ualbany head coach Scott Marr said last week.

Now Nanticoke is gone, his Great Danes career over after he was dismissed from the program on Wednesday.

“Nanticoke was dismissed based on internal team issues,” a Ualbany statement read. “Marr and the program wish Nanticoke well moving forward. There will be no further comment at this time.”

Marr declined to answer questions about Nanticoke in a Zoom call after the announcement.

Nanticoke, from Six Nations, Ontario, is on the watch list for the Tewaaraton Award, given to

the best player in college lacrosse. He leads the Great Danes with 19 goals, including four in last Saturday’s loss at Stony Brook.

Asked if Ualbany can still accomplish its goals without Nanticoke, Marr responded, “Absolutely.”

The Great Danes (4-2 overall, 2-2 America East) play their first match postnanticoke against Umass Lowell at John Fallon Field on Saturday.

“Because we’re very talented,” Marr elaborated. “I’m as deep as I’ve ever been. I’ve got a great goalie (Liam Donnelly). I’ve got tremendous defenders. We’re getting better at the faceoff X . ... We have a lot of guys that can play. We’re a very talented group and they’ll play hard for each other, that’s for sure.”

Nanticoke posted a statement on Twitter shortly after the announcement.

“This was a difficult group decision for me to no longer be a part of the program, but it is what is

best for me personally and the future of this team,” Nanticoke said.

Nanticoke said he will still be taking classes online with the university.

“Coach Marr is still riding and sticking with his commitment in keeping me on track to graduate,” Nanticoke said. “It will, and will always be, a goal of mine to graduate college ever since leaving home back in 2014. I have nothing but love for this program. I would not be who I am today without ... (Ualbany) coaches who pushed me to be the best me day in and day out.”

Nanticoke had an eventful four seasons with the Great Danes. He scored 50 goals as a freshman to help Ualbany reach its first national semifinal in 2018.

He withdrew from campus in the fall of 2018 for personal reasons before returning in time for the 2019 season. Marr benched him for a home loss to Maryland in 2019 and called it a “personnel decision.” He was withheld from a game against Cornell for that same season because of questions about his amateur eligibility when he tagged a stickstringing company on Instagram. He was cleared and missed only that one game. Marr made Nanticoke off-limits to the media during his sophomore season.

Marr said junior Corey Yunker, freshman Logan Tucker and sophomore Keelan Seneca are among the players who could see more time with Nanticoke gone.

Just a week ago, Marr praised Nanticoke’s leadership when the senior had to watch from the sideline and encourage his teammates in a victory over Umass on March 23. Nanticoke was suspended for that match along with two teammates for their roles in a bench altercation against Binghamton on March 20.

“I was very proud of him (at the Umass game),” Marr said last Wednesday. “He really has stepped up this year as a leader. Very vocal with our guys. Good vocal. Sometimes tough on the young guys, but making them smarter and harder and making them better players . ... He’s really done a nice job.”

Senior midfielder Alex Burgmaster said Nanticoke’s departure “definitely does not change anything ” regarding the team’s approach the rest of the season.

“We’re just focused on Umass Lowell at this point,” Burgmaster said. “We’re working hard this week to try to get a win on Saturday.”