en Franco ’25 thought for a second about the question asked, then responded, “A perfect day [on the field] would consist of a high level of play and a high level of communication between my teammates and me. It would have a high level of efficiency, and our defense would work really well. We wouldn’t have any lulls.” It was the type of analytical answer one could expect from the senior goalkeeper for the Lycoming College men’s lacrosse team, one that makes it clear that even though Franco holds just about every saves record that one could at the school, he knows he isn’t sitting on a lonely island when he steps into the crease at UPMC Field at Keiper Stadium. As Franco talks, the trust, excitement, and love that he has for lacrosse, his teammates, Lycoming College, and the future of the men’s lacrosse program under second-year head coach Tony Mackin ’08 begins to shine through even more. “Coach Mackin is trying to build a program that fits into that mold,” Franco said. “If our team is working like a well-oiled machine and we’re being productive, that’s what he wants to see out of us.” Production, at least out of the team’s defense, hasn’t been an issue thanks to Franco and his classmate and roommate, Jakob Switzer ’25. In three seasons as the team’s starting goalkeeper, Franco, a biology major from Macungie, Pa., has earned two all-conference accolades, was the MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year in 2022, and has set program records with 250 saves in 2024 and 695 saves in his career. “Everything runs through Ben,” Switzer said. “He has the career saves record for a reason. Having him as our backbone and having him tell us what he sees, it makes KEEP LYCOMING Defensive B Franco, Switzer ON THE MEN’S LACROSSE By Joe Guistina IT’S A TEAM DEFENSE; NO ONE PERSON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERYONE. Franco 22 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2025 SPRING MAGAZINE
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