Southern Brawl: Limestone Hosts St. Leo
from press release
GAFFNEY, S.C. — Fourth-ranked Limestone hosts
eighth-ranked Saint Leo on Saturday in an NCAA Division II south
region men's lacrosse grudge match at "The Rock" where the opening
face-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.
It's only March but Saturday's non-conference clash between the
Saints and Lions could have huge post season implications for each
when it comes to who might represent the region come D2 final
four-time. Limestone, 4-1 overall, is currently 4-0 in the region,
the Saints lone loss to date is an 8-6 decision against
second-ranked Le Moyne, March 7. Saint Leo, a member of the Deep
South Conference, is 6-1 within the region, 9-1 overall. The Lions
lone loss on the season was at now ninth-ranked Queens University
of Charlotte, 11-10, on February 26 and they have not lost since, a
span of seven games. Saint Leo's overall win total on the season is
not only the most in Division II but is equaled only in the NCAA
men's lacrosse ranks, as of this release, by Division III powers
Gettysburg and Salisbury.
Limestone entered this week third in the NCAA Division II ranks in
scoring defense yielding five goals on average while Saint Leo is
seventh in both scoring offense at 12.44 goals per game and scoring
defense allowing 6.89 per outing. The Saints have D2's fifth rated
scoring offense averaging 12.8 goals and are second in both
man-down defense at 0.9% and face-off wins at .743%.
Limestone's scoring attack is led by senior Mike Poerstel
(Annapolis, MD) and freshmen Riley Loewen (Burnaby, British,
Columbia) who average 2.2 and 2.0 goals per game respectively while
Teddy Prager (Seaford, N.Y.) averages 1.2 assists. Poerstel and
Prager each tallied goals against the Lions last season. Senior
Sean Bennett (East Moriches, N.Y.) is third nationally in face-off
win percentage at .744 and 13th in groundballs at just under five
per game. In the crease, sophomore keeper Steve Gartleman (Seaford,
N.Y.) leads Division II with a 4.9 goals against average.
The Saint Leo attack is led by seniors Luke Baruch (Golden, Col.)
and Kyle Marceau (Concord, N.H.) who average 2.75 and 2.63 goals
per game respectively. Baruch had a pair of goals and one assist
against Limestone last season. Marceau, who tallied four goals and
added three assists (7 points) in that meeting, leads Division II
in points per game averaging 4.13. Meanwhile, junior Mike Delbuono
(Southington, Conn.) ranks second nationally in groundballs at
7.63, and is fifth in face-off percentage at .685. In goal, junior
David Erdman (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) is sixth with in goals against
average at 6.91.
Saturday marks the fourth meeting in the series with Limestone
victorious the previous three including 11-10 last season in
Florida when Limestone was rated No.7 and Saint Leo 10th. The two
squads met at "The Rock" in 2008 with the Saints winning 14-5.
Limestone, which is in the midst of arguably the program's most
grueling four game regular season stretch, will visit ninth-ranked,
in-region and Conference Carolinas rival Queens University of
Charlotte next Wednesday, March 31 (6:00 p.m.) Not only are the
Saints' next two opponents a combined 14-2 but Limestone began this
stretch with in-region wins over now tenth-ranked Mars Hill (10-9
OT) and Lees-McRae (17-1) who were a combined 8-1 heading into
those contests.
Saturday's men's lacrosse contest will be available via live
audio/video web-stream and live stats, more information is
available at www.golimestonesaints.com. The video web-stream
coverage is tentatively set to begin at 12:50 p.m. with the
"Countdown to Face-off Show" which will include an interview with
the head coach of the Saints Mike Cerino who is in 15th overall
season at the helm with a mark of 120-65 including 40-9 ledger
since returning in 2007 season.
