University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Harvard
Men's Lacrosse Continues Homestand Against Harvard On Saturday
February 22, 2018 | Men's Lacrosse
Minutemen Host the Crimson at Garber Field for a 1 p.m. game on Feb. 24
| University of Massachusetts Men's Lacrosse Game Notes & Information | |
| Game Three | Massachusetts (1-1 overall) vs. [RV/RV] Harvard (1-1) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 | 1 p.m. |
| Location | Garber Field | Amherst, Mass. |
| Live Statistics | Statbroadcast |
| Watch | UMass All-Access (Free) |
| Series History | Massachusetts leads, 32-16 Last: Harvard 11, Massachusetts 7; Feb. 25, 2017 • Cambridge, Mass. |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Harvard | CAA | Ivy League |
| Team Records | Massachusetts | Harvard |
| @UMassAthletics | @UMassMLacrosse | |
| UMass Men's Lacrosse | |
| Buy Tickets | Available through the UMass Ticket Central Page |
On Top Of The Tweet Game
Instant information about the 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 @UMassMLacrosse. Follow the Minutemen 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.
Staying Power
Head coach Greg Cannella now approaches career win No. 200 as he enters his 24th season at the helm of the Minuteman program, one of the longest tenured coaches active in Division I men's lacrosse. He is the second-longest tenured head coach at one institution and fifth nationally in terms of total years spent as a Division I head coach. Cannella began his time as the leader of the team ahead of the 1995 season and, since then, won 10 or more games during seven campaigns. He guided the Minutemen to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and currently stands at 194-136 overall (58.8 win percentage).
When Cannella was hired, the following had not been invented yet...
• Nintendo 64 (1996)
• The DVD player (1996)
• Google (1998)
• The iPod (2001), iPhone (2007) or iPad (2010)
• MySpace (2003)
• Facebook (2004)
• Twitter (2006)
...and the following events were yet to happen:
• 2018 NFL Hall of Fame class members Brian Dawkins (1996), Ray Lewis (1996), Terrell Owens (1996), Randy Moss (1998) and Brian Urlacher (2000) debut in the league
• Spacecraft Pathfinder lands on Mars (1997)
• "Dolly the Sheep" is cloned by Scottish scientists (1997)
• J.K. Rowling publishes the first Harry Potter book (1997)
• Tiger Woods wins his first major championship (1997)
• The International Space Station is launched (1998)
• SpongeBob Squarepants debuts on Nickelodeon (1999)
• The European Union launches its currency, the "Euro" (1999)
• George W. Bush is elected president, the first time (2000)
• Enron Corporation files for bankrupcy (2001)
• Major League Lacrosse plays its inaugural game (2001)
CAA Preseason Poll, All-Conference
Massachusetts collected third place on the CAA Coaches Poll while junior close defenseman Isaac Paparo earned preseason all-conference. Towson was picked first and Hofstra second. Drexel earned fourth, followed by Fairfield and Delaware.
The Captains: Lisauskas, Paparo, Rinkus
UMass men's lacrosse seniors Jake Lisauskas and Shane Rinkus, and junior Isaac Paparo lead the team as tri-captains in 2018.
Lisauskas played first and second-line midfield over his opening three seasons. Rinkus is the team's top long-stick midfielder who also saw time on close defense during his tenure. Paparo started his career at long-stick midfield before he transitioned into close defense five games into the 2017 season.
Paparo is only the third junior elected captain during head coach Greg Cannella's tenure. The honor was previously bestowed on Ryan Izzo during his junior year in 2014 and Buddy Hoffman in 1995.
C.C. Puts The CAA On Notice
Freshman attack Chris Connolly won CAA Rookie of the Week on Tues., Feb. 20 following his four-goal performance in the 13-9 win over Sacred Heart. It is the first weekly accolade for the Minutemen in 2018.
Big Game Buddy Carr
Senior midfielder Buddy Carr provided a touchdown and extra point on three goals and four assists against Sacred Heart. His personal-best seven points came on his fourth collegiate hat trick and a career high in assists. It marked the most points in a game since Grant Whiteway had eight on seven goals and an assist during a 16-11 win over Providence on March 11, 2014.
Save By Sconone!
Junior goalie Sean Sconone reset his career high in saves during each of the first two games of the season, including 14 at No. 16 Army West Point and 15 over the win against Sacred Heart.
Sconone's previous one-game best was his 13-stop showings against Delaware on April 2, 2016 and Hofstra on April 23, 2016.
Through games on Sat., Feb. 17, Sconone's 14.50 saves per game ranks fourth across NCAA Division I while his 29 total saves stands tied for 11th.
4G Network
Freshman attack Chris Connolly scored four times against Sacred Heart in his Garber Field debut and collected three groundballs - two of which led to additional UMass tallies. His third goal of the day came on a highlight-reel behind-the-back, underhanded shovel shot. It marks the second straight season where a UMass freshman potted four or more goals in a game, after Jesse Leung had five against Drexel during the 2017 season.
FO-GOals
Senior faceoff specialist Noah Rak scored a pair of goals at No. 16 Army in the season-opener, the first multi-goal game for Rak in his career and the first by the Minutemen in 2018.
He added his third goal on as many shot attempt during the 13-9 win over Sacred Heart. Rak already reset his single-season career high with his third goal of the season. He previously had two apiece as a sophomore and junior.
Rak enters play against Harvard with 14 career points via seven goals and seven assists.
Mr. 300
Senior faceoff specialist Noah Rak eclipsed 300 career faceoff victories during the season-opener at No. 16 Army. His 300th faceoff victory came 12:20 remaining in the first quarter. He is 328-of-589 (.557) entering play against Harvard. Dane Collins holds the record for most faceoff victories by a Minuteman in program history with 423 secured between 2003-06.
The First-Timers
Six Minutemen made their collegiate debuts during the game at No. 16 Army West Point, including Hampton Brannon, Joe Casucci, Chris Connolly, Sam Eisenstadt, Clayton Proctor and Kevin Tobin.
Connolly started at attack while Proctor rotated in as a reserve up front. Tobin played as a reserve midfielder while Casucci and Eisenstadt saw minutes as part of the close defensive lineup. Brannon relieved starting goalie Sean Sconone during the fourth quarter.
Logan Danenza made his first appearance as a Minuteman on defense as well. He previously appeared in eight games as a member of the High Point program in 2017.
Three Minutemen also made their first collegiate starts at Army West Point, including Connolly, first-line midfielder Ben Spencer and close defenseman Jackson Suboch.
