Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Career Record: 18-18 (.500)

All-Conference Athletes: 4

All-Academic Athletes: 51
 

Overview:

Matt Gilbert was named the fourth head coach in Saint Joseph's College men's lacrosse history in August 2024 after spending four seasons as the program's Associate Head Coach.

2026:

Gilbert guided Saint Joseph's to the most successful postseason run in program history in 2026, leading the sixth-seeded Monks to their first-ever Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game. Saint Joseph's finished the season 11-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play after knocking off the tournament's third and second seeds on the road before falling to top-seeded and undefeated Rivier University, 8-7, in the championship game.

The Monks opened tournament play with a dramatic 7-6 overtime victory over third-seeded Lasell University, as sophomore Maxwell Plunske scored the game-winning goal 19 seconds into overtime after Lasell had tied the game with two seconds remaining in regulation. Saint Joseph's followed with an 8-6 upset of second-seeded University of Saint Joseph in the semifinals, rallying from a 5-3 second-half deficit to earn the program's first berth in the GNAC Championship game. In the title contest, the Monks built a 6-3 halftime lead before Rivier rallied with five unanswered third-quarter goals and held on for an 8-7 victory despite a late Saint Joseph's push.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jake Dernier played a key role throughout the tournament, totaling 45 saves over the three postseason contests, while Kevin Wood, Dernier, and Tony Samiotes earned GNAC All-Tournament Team honors.

Following the season, Wood garnered First Team All-GNAC recognition after posting career highs with 47 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers, while Brandon Cavicchi collected Third Team All-Conference honors after leading the Monks with 27 assists and 73 points while adding 46 goals.

2025:

In his first season as head coach, Gilbert guided the Monks to a 7-9 overall record and a 5-4 mark in GNAC play, earning the No. 3 North seed in the conference tournament. Saint Joseph's fell to eventual finalist University of Saint Joseph in the GNAC Quarterfinals. Following the season, Kevin Wood earned All-GNAC Second Team honors while Tiger Hopkins was selected to the Third Team.

Previously:

Gilbert was promoted to head coach after four seasons as Saint Joseph's Associate Head Coach under Bill Cosentino. During that span, the Monks posted a 33-33 overall record and a 21-13 mark in GNAC play, highlighted by a 10-8 campaign and an 8-2 conference record in 2023 after Gilbert assumed offensive coordinator duties.

Gilbert has earned regional recognition throughout his coaching career, serving as a coach for the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) East-West Senior All-Star Game in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

Before arriving at Saint Joseph's prior to the 2020 season, Gilbert coached at several levels throughout Maine, including Brunswick High School, where he helped lead the Dragons to back-to-back Maine State Championships in 2017 and 2018. He also served as head coach at Brunswick Junior High School, directed Oak Hill Youth Lacrosse, and coached with both the Maine Mussels Lacrosse Club and 4Leaf Lacrosse.
 

Career Record: