Men's Lacrosse Travels To UMBC Saturday
3/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
University of Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers (1-4)
Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 3:30 p.m.
UMBC Stadium - Baltimore, Md.
Bobcats Travel To UMBC Saturday
The Quinnipiac University men's lacrosse team travels to
Baltimore, Md., on Saturday to face the University of
Maryland-Baltimore County. The Bobcats are coming off a
heartbreaking 10-9 overtime loss to Hartford this past Saturday.
While the Retrievers have fallen in their last four games following
a 16-10 season-opening victory against Presbyterian, UMBC has faced
stiff competition in national powers Rutgers, North Carolina, Johns
Hopkins and Maryland. UMBC has won each of the two games in the
all-time series with victories in 2004 and 2005.
Scouting the University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Retrievers
The Retrievers are led by Rob Grimm, whose 15 points and
eight assists are both team highs. Scott Jones has scored a
team-high eight goals, while Dave Brown and Scott Hopmann have also
added seven goals apiece. Joseph Impallaria (.533) and J.D. Harkey
(.492) have split face-off responsibilities, while Neill Lewnes' 26
ground balls lead the Retrievers. Brian McCullough and Adam Cohen
have split time in net for UMBC. McCullough's 11.60 goals-against
average and .431 save percentage best Cohen's 14.80 and .383
marks.
Hat
Trick Twosome
Kevin Kelly and Christian Haggerty each compiled hat
tricks against Hartford. Kelly now has five hat tricks for his
four-year career, while Haggerty has four in his two years at
QU.
Causing Havoc
A year after finishing fifth in the nation in caused
turnovers per game (10.21), the Bobcats currently rank sixth among
NCAA D-I teams at 11.0. Long-stick midfielder Bobby Schnibbe has
led the way with 2.0 CT/gm. (13th-NCAA).
Benz, But Don't Break
Senior goalie Kevin Benzing has been particularly stingy
this season, averaging 12.6 saves per game (13th-NCAA) while
maintaining a .624 save percentage (7th-NCAA) and a 7.52
goals-against average (11th-NCAA).
Stepping Up On The Man-Down
QU is seventh in the nation in man-down defense (.813).
The Bobcats have held opponents to just two man-up goals in the
last 23 opportunities, covering 18:30.
Webster Wins Again...And Again
Dylan Webster was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of
the Week for the third straight week, March 21. The freshman
midfielder had a goal and an assist against Hartford, March 19, a
week after tallying two goals in the Bobcats' 9-3 win at
Providence, March 12. He began the stretch with three goals and an
assist against Holy Cross, March 5.
Benzing Takes Second NEC Defensive Player of the Week
Kevin Benzing was named the NEC Defensive Player of the
Week for the second time in the last three weeks on March 21. The
senior goalie made 12 saves on 22 chances in the Bobcats' 10-9
overtime loss to Hartford.
Oppenheimer Climbs Quinnipiac Career Goals List
Jack Oppenheimer's 60 career goals rank tied for 12th in
Quinnipiac history.
Hagg
of a Streak
Christian Haggerty has recorded at least one point in each
of his 19 games in the blue and gold. The 19 games rank 26th among
active point streaks in the nation.
Benzing Grabs Second In Saves
With 19 saves against Holy Cross March 5, Kevin Benzing
passed Mike Sturmer '99 (428) for second all-time at QU. He now
stands at 452, 176 behind the all-time leader at Quinnipiac, T.J.
Barnett '04 (628).
Second Half Lockdown
QU outscored Providence, 6-0, in the second half on March
12. After the teams were deadlocked at 3-3 following the first
half, Quinnipiac scored goals on six of seven shots on goal, while
Bobcats goalie Kevin Benzing stopped all five shots on goal he saw
in the second half.
Good
Things Come In Three's
Kevin Kelly tallied a career-high six points on three
goals and three assists, March 12, at Providence.
NEC
Recognizes Benzing, Webster
The Northeast Conference recognized Kevin Benzing and
Dylan Webster as its defensive player and rookie of the week,
respectively, on March 7. Benzing made 31 saves in two games,
including 19 in the Bobcats' 10-5 victory against Holy Cross.
Webster scored three goals and added an assist against Holy
Cross.
New
To The NEC
With Bryant becoming eligible for postseason play in 2011,
the Northeast Conference now has six men's lacrosse-playing
institutions and has officially become a men's lacrosse league. QU
joins Bryant, Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and
Wagner in comprising the six-team league.
Crazy Eight
Quinnipiac finished 2010 eighth in the nation in ground
balls per game (35.57).
20/20
Christian Haggerty became just the fourth player in
Quinnipiac history to compile a 20-goal, 20-assist season with 20
goals and 25 assists last year. Haggerty joined Joe Baglio (49 G,
29 A in 2001) as the only other Quinnipiac player with a 20-20
season at Division I, while Brian Perry (33 G, 25 A in 1998) and
P.J. Gillard (24 G, 21 A in 1995) achieved the feat at the Division
II level.
Glad
To Have You
Christian Haggerty led the Bobcats in points (45), with 20
goals and 25 assists in 2010. His assist total tied for second on
the QU single-season list, tied with Brian Perry in 1998. Haggerty
was the first Bobcat to reach as many as 17 assists in a season
since both Joe Baglio (29) and Jeff Speed (24) did so in 2001.
Oppenheimer Goals: The Right Way To Score
With 32 goals last season, Jack Oppenheimer led the
Bobcats and moved into 10th all-time on the Quinnipiac
single-season chart. Oppenheimer's 71 career goals rank 13th
all-time at Quinnipiac.
15
Seniors Depart
The Bobcats must find a way to replace 15 graduated
seniors from a year ago, many coming in the midfield. The top
scorer to depart is Alex Marotto, who contributed 15 goals, while
Todd Kaiser also chipped in with 12 goals. Garett Kerr also had 10
goals. Face-off specialist Ben Mullaney will certainly be missed,
while Alex DeAlmeida's 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) will also
have to be replaced.
Up
Next
The Bobcats begin Northeast Conference play Friday, when
they travel to Bryant. Opening face-off from Bulldog Stadium is
scheduled for 7 p.m.
