No. 6 Hofstra Entertains Sacred Heart
from press release
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The sixth-ranked Hofstra Pride
men’s lacrosse team begins a three-games in an eight day
stretch this Saturday, March 20 when they host the Pioneers of
Sacred Heart University at James M. Shuart Stadium. Game time for
this non-conference match-up is 1 p.m.
The Pride are coming off a 14-6 victory over #7 Johns Hopkins
University last Saturday at Shuart Stadium. The victory propelled
Hofstra from tenth in the rankings to number six this week. In that
Johns Hopkins contest, junior attackman Jamie Lincoln recorded a
career-high eight points on five goals and three assists in leading
the Pride to victory. The St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada native
netted two goals in the first half and three in the second half to
top his previous Hofstra best of four set against Princeton on
February 27. While his three assists in the contest were a career
single-game best for Lincoln, the five goals are one off of tying
his career-best of six set at Denver against Quinnipiac in 2008. He
now has 10 goals and six assists on the season. For his efforts he
was named the CAA and the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Player of the
Week.
Hofstra freshman goalie Rob Bellairs (North Massapequa, NY)
recorded his second straight victory in the Pride cage Saturday
night. He faced 19 shots, recorded seven saves, including three in
the first quarter, and allowed a season-low six goals, including
two while Hofstra was a man-down. He was named the CAA Rookie of
the Week. He now has a 10.40 goals against average on the
season.
Lincoln and Bellairs weren’t the only stars for the Pride
against Johns Hopkin as junior attackman Jay Card (Caledon,
Ontario, Canada) recorded two goals and a career-best four assists
and sophomore midfielder Brad Loizeaux (Mullica Hill, NJ) had a
goal and a career-best three assists. The four points for Loizeaux
are also a career-best. Sophomore midfielder Mike DeNapoli
(Lynbrook, NY) tallied two or more goals for the third straight
game, posting two goals and adding one assist against the Blue Jays
as did junior attackman Stephen Bentz (Massapequa, NY), who posted
two goals. Bentz now has seven goals and four assists on the
year.
Hofstra’s high-powered attack has now recorded 14 goals or
more in three consecutive games for the first time since the 2002
team did it twice, scoring 15 at Notre Dame, 18 at Drexel and 16
against Army, and 17 at Delaware, 19 against Sacred Heart and 14
against Duke. In addition, the Pride’s 42 goals in their
first three games is their best offensive start since the 1990
season when Hofstra tallied 17 against Penn State, 15 against
Bucknell and 14 against St. John’s. Hofstra currently ranks
third in scoring offense in the country.
The Pioneers of Sacred Heart University come into Saturday’s
game with a 1-4 record following their 17-7 loss at upstart
Jacksonville University last Saturday. Sacred Heart has a win over
Presbyterian (13-6) and has losses to Manhattan (12-9), Marist
(11-10) and Massachusetts (15-12). The Pride will be playing
Jacksonville, Manhattan and UMass later this season. Hofstra
is 8-0 against the Pioneers including a 4-0 mark on Long Island
where the Pride has outscored their guests, 70-23. But after last
year’s nail-biting 6-5 Hofstra victory in Fairfield,
Connecticut, the Pride will not be resting on their laurels this
weekend.
Sacred Heart is led in scoring by senior attackman Timmy Katz, who
has notched 14 goals and four assists in five games. Senior
linemate Jon Flood has added 10 goals and three assists while Evan
Morgan, another senior attackman, has added five goals and six
assists. Sophomore midfielder Matt Ferrino has chipped in with
eight goals. Senior goalie Tom Trgo has recorded a 12.39 goals
against average and a .593 save percentage in five games this
year.
The Pride, who will end a three-game homestand on Saturday, will
travel to St. Johns University on Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m.
before opening their CAA season on Saturday, March 27 at the
University of Massachusetts at 1 p.m.
