Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/23/22
From Press Release
Lehigh head men’s lacrosse coach Kevin Cassese announced on Friday the addition of former Cornell midfielder Matthew Licciardi as assistant coach. Licciardi comes to Bethlehem following a strong playing career in Ithaca, which ended with an appearance in the National Championship Game in 2022.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Licciardi to the Lehigh Lacrosse family,” said Cassese. “Matt has an amazing lacrosse pedigree and in his short time on staff, he has made a very positive impression. It is clear he has a very bright lacrosse mind and a championship-caliber work ethic.”
Licciardi joins Cassese along with associate head coach Will Scudder and assistant coach Matt Francis on the Mountain Hawks’ staff.
“I’d like to thank both Coach Cassese and Coach Scudder for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Lehigh Lacrosse family,” said Licciardi. “I’d also like to thank the coaching staff at Cornell University, specifically Jordan Stevens, for helping me through this process. Lehigh is an outstanding university and I couldn’t be more excited to help our student-athletes, both on and off the field.”
Licciardi was one of six Big Red players to start all 19 games in 2022. He finished the season with six goals and 10 assists, along with 13 groundballs and four caused turnovers. Cornell finished the season 14-5, beating Ohio State, Delaware and Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 1 Maryland in the Championship Game, 9-7.
A native of Lloyd Harbor, N.Y., Licciardi saw action immediately as a first-year – posting six goals and five assists as part of the second midfield line. He helped Cornell win the Ivy League Tournament Title and advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals. The following year, Licciardi recorded two goals and seven assists as a sophomore in 15 games. Then, in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he had a goal and three assists in five games.
In the classroom, Licciardi was named a 2022 Scholar All-American. He graduated Cornell in May with his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics and Management.
Licciardi was also a founder of Lacrosse Training Camp in his hometown of Cold Spring Harbor. While there, he’s worked more than 30 hours corresponding with parents and coaches to provide lacrosse instruction and supervision to boys and girls ages 6-16.
