PHILADELPHIA – The Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse squad (0-1) will hit the road to face Providence (2-1) this Saturday, February 24. Opening face-off at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium is slated for 1:00 p.m.
Saint Joseph's enters Saturday's game following an 11-6, season-opening home loss to Fairfield on Saturday; senior midfielder Kyle Cain (2g, 1a) led the Hawks in scoring while graduate student attackman Mike Rastivo hit the back of the net twice in his return to the field after missing last season to injury. Senior defenseman Brendan McNicholas scooped up a team-high five ground balls while, in his first collegiate start, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mike Adler (0-1) made 10 saves in the full 60:00.
After opening the season with a 12-11 overtime loss at Boston University, Providence has won back-to-back contests, against Holy Cross, 9-6, and Bryant, 13-8, and has received votes in this week's Inside Lacrosse media poll. Sean Leahey (8g, 4a) and Nick Hatzipetrakos (9g, 1a) lead the Friars in scoring while Tate Boyce (2-1) owns a .527 save percentage and 8.51 goals against average with 29 saves in all 183:13. Providence has sent five Friars to the circle; Alex George leads the way with a team-high 17 face-off wins in a team-high 37 opportunities.
Saturday's game will mark the 16th all-time meeting between Saint Joseph's and Providence and the first since 2009. The Hawks and Friars met 15 times between 1997-2009, including twice in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference postseason. SJU last faced Providence on April 4, 2009, a quadruple-overtime contest played in Providence, R.I. The 4OT game matches the program's record for longest game played (March 10, 2015 vs. Michigan and March 22, 2008 at Marist).
All-time series results are listed below:
2009 - L - 5-4 (4OT) - Away
2008 - L - 5-4 - Home
2007 - L - 9-4 – Neutral (MAAC Championship Game)
2007 - W - 7-6 - Away
2006 - L - 8-7 (2OT) - Home
2005 - L - 6-5 (OT) - Away
2004 - L - 13-6 - Home
2003 - W - 12-11 (OT) – Neutral (MAAC Semifinals)
2003 - L - 9-3 - Away
2002 - L - 17-9 - Home
2001 - L - 8-7 - Away
2000 - W - 15-9 - Home
1999 - W - 14-9 – Away
1998 - W - 21-13 – Away
1997 - W - 13-10 – Away
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