Bryant treks to Hobart for Saturday contest
GENEVA, N.Y. – The Bryant University men's lacrosse team plays its final road game of the regular season Saturday when the Bulldogs makes a trip to Western New York to face Hobart.
The Particulars
Opponent: Hobart
Location: David J. Urick Stadium (Geneva, N.Y.)
Date and Time: Saturday, April 13 – 12 p.m.
Watch: HWSAthletics.com
Live Stats: HWSAthletics.com
Game Notes: Bryant
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #GoBryant | #NECMLax
SCOUTING THE STATESMEN
Hobart is 8-3 on the year and 2-1 in the NEC after dropping a non-conference contest to Syracuse and overtime decision to Saint Joseph's last week. The Statesmen have defeated Wagner and Sacred Heart in their other two conference games.
Eric Holden ranks third in the NEC with 30 goals while Jason Knox has added 26 and Justin Scott has chipped in 20, making them the only trio of 20-goal scorers on one NEC team. Chris Aslanian has a team-high 27 assists for the Statesmen, who rank third in the nation in assists per game (9.45), fourth in scoring (14.64), fourth in man-up offense (.474) and fifth in ground balls per game (37.45).
THE SERIES
Bryant is 7-4 all-time against Hobart and has won the last two meetings, defeating the Statesmen 13-8 on Senior Day last year and 5-4 in the 2017 NEC Championship. The Bulldogs and Statesmen have met in the NEC Tournament in four of the last five years with Bryant going 3-1 in those games.
Five Bulldogs - Matt Heldberg (Kings Park, N.Y.), Kevin Quigley (Fairfax Station, Va.), Jake Buonaiuto (Miller Place, N.Y.), Trevor Weingarten (Allendale, N.J.) and Marc O'Rourke (Hingham, Mass.) - scored two goals each in last season's victory over the Statesmen in the final game played at the Bryant Track & Turf Complex.
LAST TIME OUT: SACRED HEART 11, BRYANT 8
After a strong first half from Bryant, a six-goal third quarter for Sacred Heart turned the tide for the Pioneers last Saturday at Beirne Stadium. Redshirt-freshman Nick Beeson (Poway, Calif.) scored a career-high three goals in the defeat.
UNDERCLASSMEN PROVIDING OFFENSE
Bryant has received 68.8 percent of its goal scoring in 2019 from its freshmen and sophomores, led by 28 from sophomore Marc O'Rourke and 11 from freshman Mason Balch (Westfield, Mass.). Bryant's top three goal scorers in NEC play are underclassmen, with O'Rourke, Balch and redshirt-freshman Nick Beeson leading the way.
LUKE NOT A FLUKE
Freshman Luke Caracciolo (Centreville, Va.) leads all first-year goalies nationally in save percentage (.569) and goals-against average (9.66). Caracciolo's save percentage ranks eighth nationally among all goalies, while the goals-against average is good for 12th.
Caracciolo has made 13 or more saves in seven of his first 10 collegiate starts.
MAKING HIS MARC
Sophomore Marc O'Rourke ranks fifth in the NEC in goals (27) and fourth in points (42) entering the weekend. O'Rourke has scored 15 goals in his last five games.
NEXT UP: ROBERT MORRIS
Bryant hosts Robert Morris next Saturday for the Bulldogs' final regular-season conference game. Opening face-off is slated for noon following a Senior Day ceremony at Beirne Stadium.
Tickets for the 2019 campaign at Beirne Stadium are available by clicking HERE.
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