Game Info: Wednesday, March 31 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: James Work Memorial Stadium - Doylestown, Pa.
Social Media: @WidenerSports |
@WidenerLacrosse
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Opening Face-off
The Pride continues its non-conference slate with a midweek matchup against the Delaware Valley Aggies on Wednesday, March 31. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Last Time Out - Three Pride Players Net Hat Tricks As @WidenerLacrosse Downs Hood
Three Pride players netted hat tricks as the Widener University men's lacrosse team defeated Hood to advance to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the MAC Commonwealth.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Nick DiCicco led all Widener players with five points off three goals and two helpers, marking his first career hat trick.
- Matt Buckley and Nick DiIorio picked up their second hat tricks of the season with three scores and an assist each in the match. Both players recorded their first in the previous game against Lebanon Valley.
- Connor Ball topped the Blue and Gold in ground balls with eight. He also added a goal and an assist.
- On defense, Aegean Cuylan led all players on the field with four caused turnovers.
- Kenneth Watts won 13-of-19 face-offs. The senior has come away with 68.9 percent of his battles through the last two games.
- The win moves the Blue and Gold to 8-0 all-time against Hood.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Blazers struck first with a score 30 seconds in, but the Pride responded with three straight of its own from DiCicco, DiIorio, and Buckley. Hood tacked on one more in the quarter to give Widener a 3-2 advantage after one.
The Blazers retook the lead by the 9:43 mark in the second off a pair of early goals, but it was short lived as DiCicco and DiIorio each found rope for the second time of the day. Hood was able to get one more past the Pride in the half's final minutes as both teams headed to the locker room with the score locked at five.
The third saw the Blue and Gold pull away as it netted six straight in seven minutes including man-up conversions by Ball and
Connor Heisman. Four more unanswered goals in the fourth gave the Pride the cushion it needed to close out the win.
Scouting Report
Delaware Valley enters the matchup 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the MAC Freedom coming off back-to-back wins over Lycoming and King's. This game marks Widener's first ever meeting against the Aggies.
Leading the offense is senior Dylan Brasch who has accumulated 18 points this season off 16 scores and two assists including six goal performances in each of his previous two outings. PJ Rafferty sets up much of the offense and has dished a team-high six helpers. On defense, Luke Kelchner and Sean Mylod have caused 14 and 12 turnovers, respectively. Kelchner's 2.8 forced turnovers per game ranks second in the MAC Freedom and top-35 nationally. In net, first year Jim Murphy is stopping 58.8 percent of shots that come his way and is averaging 12 saves per contest.
Kevin Kohout is in his third season at the helm for Delaware Valley, having accumulated a 12-16 record in that time. At 3-2 this year, he has tied the Aggies' best start in program history.
Historic Start
With its win over Hood, the Blue and Gold matched its best start in program history at 4-1. It ties last year's record when the team started 4-1 before play was suspended due to COVID-19. In both seasons, the Pride's only loss came against a ranked opponent.
Manning The Man-Up
Widener boasts a very strong man-up offense this season, converting on 43.8 percent of opportunities.
Connor Ball and
Connor Heisman's four man-up goals each leads the MAC Commonwealth and ranks 18th in all of NCAAD3.
Climbing The Ladder
With his five helpers this season,
Paz Gismondi moved into fifth place all-time for the Pride in assists. Next on the list is Robert Clemens who dished 110 dimes from 2011-14. Gismondi is also closing in on the top-10 in points as his 147 are 21 behind Luke Weber (2005-08).
Top Notch Transition
Coach
Jamie Lockard always puts an emphasis on getting the ball from the defensive side of midfield and into the attacking area. This season, however, Widener has exceeded expectations, going 95-for-102 on clear attempts including a perfect 33-for-33 through its first two games. Its 93.1 percent clearing percentage leads the conference and ranks eighth in all of NCAAD3.
Familiar Face(off)s
A successful attack starts in the face-off circle. Returning senior
Kenneth Watts boasts an impressive 69 percent face-off winning percentage this season, dominating 20-of-29 battles so far.
Sean Gibson and
Adam Oldrati also contribute as specialists with winning percentages of 64.9 and 64.5, respectively. Oldrati also comes away with the ball on many of his wins and leads the Blue and Gold with 26 ground balls.
The Votes Are In
In the Week 8 USILA Top-20 Rankings, Widener received two votes. The Pride is one of three MAC Commonwealth teams either in the poll or receiving votes, joining No. 6 York (Pa.) and No. 14 Stevenson.
Up Next
The Pride returns to Quick Stadium for another non-conference contest as it takes on Arcadia on Saturday, April 3. Opening face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
