Game Info: Tuesday, April 27 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Quick Stadium - Chester, Pa.
Social Media: @WidenerSports |
@WidenerLacrosse
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Opening Face-off
The Pride finishes up the regular season with a non-conference game against Stevens on Tuesday, April 27. Opening face-off from Quick Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Last Time Out - @WidenerLacrosse Downs Messiah In Final Game of Conference Play
The Widener University men's lacrosse team downed the Messiah Falcons 17-6 on Wednesday as it advanced to 8-3 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Paz Gismondi recorded a career-high five assists in the match, moving him to fourth-all time in career assists for Widener with 111.
- Jayce Dyer led all players on the field with a personal best five goals and six ground balls.
- Connor Heisman notched seven points off four scores and three helpers. He also caused two turnovers.
- Tommy Fredericks also caused two turnovers and scooped four ground balls.
- The Pride went a combined 17-for-27 (63.0 pct) on face-offs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Widener raced to a 4-0 lead after one quarter behind two scores from
Connor Ball. The Falcons were able to cut the deficit to three with two early scores in the second, but the Pride tacked on six more in the period capped off by a man-up goal from Ball to take a commanding 10-3 lead into halftime.
The second act was much of the same as the Blue and Gold scored five straight in the third quarter with Ball, Heisman, and Dyer securing hat tricks. Messiah was able to get three past the Pride in the final period, but Widener held onto its double digit lead as it rolled to its eighth victory of the season.
Scouting Report
Stevens enters the matchup 9-2 overall and undefeated in conference play coming off a 20-14 win over Eastern on Saturday. The Ducks recieved nine votes in the Week 11 USILA Coaches Poll, making them the third team the Pride has faced this season that was ranked or received votes.
Senior Ryan Gebhardt leads the MAC Freedom in goals this season with 45 and has dished a team-high 21 assists. Defensively, Daniel Crotty leads the way with 19 caused turnovers. The Ducks have excelled in the face-off circle and have come away with a conference-leading 62.8 percent of their battles. In net, first year Jack Zyher has shown promise, boasting a 4.46 goals-against average and 60.0 percent save percentage.
Gene Peluso is in his 12th year at the helms for Stevens, compiling a program best 147-53 record in that time. He has taken his team to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament four times and has coached 34 USILA All-Americans.
Dishing Dimes
With his 22 helpers this season,
Paz Gismondi became the fourth all-time leader in assists for Widener with 111, surpassing Robert Clemens who dished 110 dimes from 2011-14. Gismondi is also closing in on the top-10 in points as his 172 are six behind Luke Weber (2005-08).
#LaxTop5
Against Eastern, senior starting goalkeeper
Carter Landry achieved something not many goalies ever do: he scored the first goal of his career. The play was so unique that it garnered national attention and was featured as the number two play on ESPN's Top Five Lacrosse Plays of The Week during their college lacrosse halftime show.
Scoring Machine
Junior attack
Connor Heisman enjoyed the best scoring output of his career in Widener's 17-7 win over Albright. His nine points off six goals and three assists was the most for a Pride player since May 1, 2004 when Todd Fairlie notched 10 in a win over King's. His 31 total goals this season ranks third in the conference.
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. Widener has been successful on 86.9 percent of its attempted clears this spring, a mark good for second in the conference and top-25 nationally. Lockard's teams have also led the conference in clearing percentage the past two seasons, boasting a percentage of 85.1 percent in 2020 and 84.6 percent in 2019.
Spreading The Scoring
While teams often have a go-to player when they need a goal, having multiple options so the defense can't key on one player is a big advantage. The Blue and Gold has taken that concept to the extreme this season as 26 players have found the back of the net and 17 have scored multiple times.
Connor Heisman leads the way with 31 with
Connor Ball finding rope 19 times a piece.
Up Next
Widener awaits the results of Tuesday night's games to see who it will play in the quarterfinals of the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday, May 1.
