Men’s lacrosse team makes history under the lights of Musselman Stadium

On March 22, Gettysburg College men’s lacrosse team swept past Swarthmore College with a spirited fourth quarter comeback in their inaugural Under the Lights game. The atmosphere was electric, with a tailgate before the game featuring barbecue from Servo, cornhole and pickle ball games, face painting, and a mechanical bull. Students, parents, and alumni gathered to enjoy the festivities, creating an exciting energy that carried into Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium as the band played and the crowd filled the stands.

Before the game, many Gettysburg alumni reconnected during a free tailgate hosted by the College, playing lawn games, sitting down for dinner and drinks, and reminiscing of their shared experience at Gettysburg. Nearly 40 men’s lacrosse alumni from 1974 to 2024 returned for the event and were honored on Shirk Field during halftime, illuminated by the lights made possible by many generous donors including several lacrosse alumni.

“I met with someone today who also played lacrosse in 1987, and now we have this common connection that we both played together here, played for the same coach, and that’s kind of neat,” said Oscar Myers ’75, who captained the lacrosse team twice.

Over a six-minute timeframe spanning the third and fourth quarters, Gettysburg scored four goals to erase a two-goal deficit and defeat Swarthmore 12-11 in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams. Charlie Johnson ’27, from Wilton, Connecticut, led the way with four goals and , while economics major Will Hedley ’26, from Charlotte, North Carolina, stole the show on defense with five ground balls, two caused turnovers, and an assist. 

“The atmosphere on Saturday night was incredible,” reflected men’s lacrosse captain Frank Barbera ’25 from Chatham, New Jersey. “Having the support of not only our friends and family, but the rest of the Gettysburg community was amazing. You could really feel the energy from the students, parents, and alumni, which certainly gave us an extra boost throughout the game. Having the alumni back is really special for our program. It reminds us of the great traditions and successes of the past that we must carry on today.”

Many families of lacrosse players also attended the game to cheer on their student-athletes, expressing a desire to experience more night games in the future. Gettysburg students agreed.

“Now that we have the opportunity to schedule more events with the new lights, there can be more interest and involvement,” shared political science major Geoffrey Meadville ’25, from Exeter, New Hampshire, who attended both the tailgate and the game.

After each goal for Gettysburg, the new LED lights flickered orange and blue, and the stadium lights strobed in celebration, adding to the rousing cheers from the packed grandstands.

“It means a lot to the team to see so many people supporting us after such a hard-fought victory. It was a night we’ll certainly remember, and I believe it shows how strong the Gettysburg lacrosse family is,” said Barbera, a business, organizations, and management major.

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