University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
No. 7 Hofstra
Challenging Trip To No. 7 Hofstra Awaits Men's Lacrosse
April 20, 2017 | Men's Lacrosse
Minutemen meet the Pride at James M. Shuart Stadium on Sat., April 22 at 1 p.m.
| University of Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 12 | Massachusetts (5-6 overall, 2-1 CAA) at No. 7/10 Hofstra (10-1, 2-1) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, April 22, 2017 | 1 p.m. |
| Location | James M. Shuart Stadium | Hempstead, N.Y. |
| Live Statistics | Sidearm Sports |
| Watch | GameCentral |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 22-19 Last: Hofstra 10, Massachusetts 9 (OT); April 23, 2016 • Amherst, Mass. |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Hofstra |
| Team Information | Massachusetts | Hofstra |
| @UMassAthletics | @UMassMLacrosse | |
| UMass Men's Lacrosse | |
| Buy Tickets | Home: Single game available at Garber Field | Season Away: at Hofstra |
UMass Nation Descends On N.Y.
University of Massachusetts Athletics will host a pair of events in the New York City area prior to the men's lacrosse team's away game at Hofstra University at 1 p.m. on Sat., April 22.
On the eve of the game, alumni, friends of the program and UMass Athletics fans are invited to the Ainsworth Midtown (45 E 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016) for a Fri., April 21 gathering on the outdoor terrace from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Gameday will begin at the Green Turtle (1740 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554) at 11 a.m., for alumni, friends of the program and UMass Athletics fans to connect prior to the game against the Pride.
Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford and Senior Associate Director of Athletics David Biancamano will be in attendance at both functions to share updates on and insight into the department. Light appetizers will be provided at both events while a cash bar and full menu will be available for purchase.
The Minutemen take on the Pride at James M. Shuart Stadium (900 Fulton Ave., Hempstead, N.Y. 11549) at 1 p.m. on Sat., April 22. Current UMass Laxbackers can receive complimentary tickets to the game. Contact Biancamano (dbiancamano@umass.edu) by Tues., April 18 to register for complimentary tickets or for more information on supporting the program and joining the UMass Laxbackers.
On Top Of The Tweet Game
Instant information about the UMass men's lacrosse program, including an inside look at key points and statistics in each game as well as updates from practice and other team events can be found through the Twitter handle @UMassMLacrosse. Follow the Minutemen there and catch information about each UMass Athletic Department program through @UMassAthletics.
@UMassMLAX On The Gram
UMass men's lacrosse joined Instagram during the 2016 season. Find the Minutemen on there via the handle @UMassMLAX for inside looks at the program in addition to content found on Twitter (@UMassMLacrosse) or via the UMass Athletics Facebook page.
Select Home Contests Available On UMass Sports Network
UMass men's lacrosse will have four of the six home games broadcast online UMassAthletics.com courtesy of the UMass Sports Network. The link for each broadcast is accessible in each game preview to direct fans or other interested parties to the event page. The UMass men's lacrosse home contests against Army (2/11), UMass Lowell (3/14), Brown (3/25) and Delaware (4/1) will be broadcast on this platform free of charge.
CAA Partners With Lax Sports Network For "Game Of The Week" Series
The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and the Lacrosse Sports Network (LSN) struck up a partnership to digitally stream 15 contests during the 2017 regular season in a "Game of the Week" series. Massachusetts will participate in two of those contests during home games against Fairfield (4/15) and Drexel (4/28). Those two contests will be available to watch exclusively through LSN's platform.
21 With The Tally
Tyler Bogart currently ranks sixth in the CAA in goals per game (2.09) with 23 over the opening 11 games played. It is already 12 more goals than the now-sophomore scored on attack for the Minutemen in 2016.
Paparo Joins The Back Line
Sophomore Isaac Paparo moved into a starting role on close defense for the game against UMass Lowell and owns 14 caused turnovers along with 16 groundballs in his six appearances at the spot. Paparo, who previously played long-stick midfield, leads the team in caused turnovers with a career high 21 through 11 games (1.9). He ranks second in the CAA and 12th nationally in the category through games on Mon., April 17.
Rak-ing Up The Faceoff Wins
Over the last seven games, Noah Rak is 89-for-145 on faceoffs (61.4 percent) with 43 groundballs and two goals scored. He won at least half against No. 15 Yale (14-of-23), UMass Lowell (12-of-21), Hartford (18-of-24), Brown (12-of-23), Delaware (15-of-18) and No. 15 Towson (10-of-19). Rak scored a goal each against UMass Lowell and Hartford and dished an assist against Fairfield. His 10 groundballs at Hartford marked a career high while he has at least six in five of those contests.
Rak has not appeared in enough of the team's games to qualify for the CAA or NCAA rankings in faceoff percentage (missed opening three contests). He would rank second in the CAA and 15th nationally with his 59.0 win percentage (92-156) with the prerequisite number of appearances. He would also rank second in the CAA and 22nd in NCAA Division I with 5.5 groundballs per game.
Making The Fifth Year The Best One
Dan Muller, a redshirt senior midfielder, ranks tied for fourth in the CAA in assists per game (1.18) and eighth in points per game (2.73) as of games on Sat., April 15. After Muller recorded six points in the opening four games, with no more than two points in any single game, he averaged 3.4 per contest over the last seven games, with no less than three in any contest. He leads the team in points (30) and assists (13) and is second in goals (17). The team is 5-2 when Muller has three or more points and 0-4 when he has two or fewer.
Carr Revs His Engine
After he was held scoreless against Army and at Ohio State, junior attack Buddy Carr has at least one point in each of the last nine games with 20 via 12 goals and eight assists this season. Four times, Carr collected three points (at Harvard; at Hartford, at No. 15 Towson & vs. Fairfield). He also has multi-point outings against Albany (two goals), UMass Lowell (goal, assist) and Brown (one goal, one assist). Carr's 56 career points (36 goals, 20 assists) rank as the most by a non-senior currently active on the team.
Getting It McDonough
Sophomore long-stick midfielder and first-year Minuteman Mike McDonough averages 2.0 groundballs per game with 20 over 10 appearances with the team. McDonough enhanced his efforts over the last five games with 14 groundballs in that span (2.8 per game). He also has three of his five caused turnovers in that span. He played his freshman season at Saint Leo University, where he had 36 groundballs, nine caused turnovers and four points as a short-stick defensive midfielder. He did not travel with the team to No. 15 Towson for personal reasons.
Gruder Embraces SSDM Role
Dylan Gruder is in his first season as the primary short-stick defensive midfielder and, through 11 games, already surpassed his career best totals for a single season. Gruder owns 27 groundballs, 10 caused turnovers and three points via a goal and two assists. He had 24 groundballs and seven caused turnovers in 13 appearances as a junior.
Smith With The Stop
Senior goalie D.J. Smith made 120 saves over the opening 11 games of the season, an average of 10.9 per game. He ranks 25th nationally for saves per game through play on Mon., April 17. His 120 saves already more than double his career total entering the season (50). Smith made at least 10 in eight games this season, including a career high 16 against Brown.
Squeaky Clean
UMass is second in the CAA for fewest penalties taken per game and third in fewest penalty minutes per game this season with 3.09 penalties averaging two minutes, 35 seconds of man-down lacrosse over the opening 11 games. The only team in the CAA playing cleaner lacrosse is Fairfield (2.25 penalties per game; 1:52 penalty minutes per game). Towson averages more penalties (3.10) but fewer penalty minutes (2:21).
Caused Turnover & Effect
UMass leads the CAA and is 23rd in NCAA Division I with an average of 7.27 caused turnovers per game. Led by Isaac Paparo (21 CTs) and supported by balance across the lineup (17 Minutemen with one or more CTs), Massachusetts outpaces the next CAA team, Towson (7.10). A caused turnover has directly led to 16 UMass goals through 11 games (1.5 per game).
Sharing Is Caring
Massachusetts sports assists on 65 of the team's 95 goals (68.4 percent) through the opening 11 games, the second-most per contest (5.91) in the conference behind only Hofstra (73, 6.64). Dan Muller (13) and Grant Consoletti (10) rank as the top two distributors among Minutemen and both have already reset their previous single-season assist records.
Massachusetts posted assists on each of its nine goals against Delaware. In total, UMass has five games with assists on 75.0 percent or more of its goals in 2017. The team only has a single game with assists on fewer than 50.0 percent of its goals this season.
Ben Spencer Mans-Up
Ben Spencer has six man-up goals through the opening 10 weeks of the season, tying Spencer for first in the CAA for man-up goals and ranking him tied for third nationally. He scored two at No. 20 Ohio State, had another at No. 15 Yale in the 11-9 win, added his fourth vs. Brown and followed with his fifth vs. Delaware and sixth against Farfield. The 6-foot-4 shooter totaled three man-up scores as a freshman in 2016 when he collected CAA All-Rookie Team. His nine career man-up goals ranks second-most among active Minutemen behind only Gianni Bianchin (10).
