PHILADELPHIA – Coming off of the program's most explosive offensive performance since 2014, the Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse squad returns home to host Providence (1-2) this Saturday, February 23. Opening face-off is set for 1:00 p.m. on Sweeney Field.
Live streaming of Saturday's contest and all remaining, regular-season home games will be available free of charge through NEC Front Row. For system requirements and best streaming practices, please visit: NEC Front Row. Live stats of all home games will also be provided via SJUHawks.com.
The Hawks have outscored their opposition 36-17 through their first two contests, and that offense has started with freshman face-off specialist Zach Cole's 40 wins from the X. SJU's offensive unit will go up against returning Friars goalkeeper Tate Boyce, who held SJU to just three total goals in last spring's meeting.
THE 2019 SQUAD
Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Taylor Wray, a “new look” squad will represent Saint Joseph's University this spring. Saint Joseph's returns four starters from a year ago, one in each position, in sophomore attackman Shane Fable, sophomore midfielder Nick Vernacchio, junior close defenseman Tyler Makar, and sophomore goalkeeper Mike Adler, as well as junior long stick midfielder Liam Hare and sophomore face-off specialist Billy Jardeleza, whose versatility will allow for meaningful minutes as a short stick defensive midfielder this year. Among the best in the nation at his position, Adler will be the backbone of the Hawks' defensive unit. Predicted to finish sixth in the Northeast Conference this year, the Hawks return All-Conference selections in Adler (Second Team, Rookie Team), Fable (Rookie Team), and Vernacchio (Rookie Team) while Makar was tabbed a 2019 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Northeast Conference Team defenseman.
The Hawks rolled out nine new faces on opening day (February 9), including starting freshman attackman Ryan Doran, starting sophomore attackman Nate Patterson, and starting freshman midfielder Zach Mantei as well as freshman face-off specialist Zach Cole, who served as SJU's primary FOGO.
GOALS ON GOALS ON GOALS!
Saint Joseph's put up 21 goals in its rout over Fairfield last Saturday. Rookie attackman Ryan Doran (5g, 1a) and sophomore attackman Shane Fable (5g) teamed up for 10 of them while sophomore attackman Nate Patterson (3g, 2a) rounded out a starting attack unit that put up 13 scores. The 21 goals was the most by the program since April 19, 2014. Freshman face-off specialist Zach Cole scored twice and assisted on two others and sophomore midfielder Nick Vernacchio scored once while dishing out three assists to lead nine total Hawks in scoring.
COLE COOL UNDER PRESSURE
Freshman face-off specialist Zach Cole didn't play like a rookie in his collegiate debut in SJU's 15-7 win over St. Bonaventure on February 9, winning 19 face-off possessions in 23 opportunities (82.6%) and scooping up 14 ground balls to lead the Hawks past the Bonnies. Cole followed up with a 21-for-28 showing from the X against Fairfield this last Saturday. In two games, Cole has gone 40-for-51 (78.4 percent) with 23 ground balls and five points (3g, 2a).
POINTS FOR PATTERSON
Sophomore attackman Nate Patterson waited two seasons to make his Hawk debut, and he didn't disappoint with a game-high six points on a game-high four goals (three in the second-half) and two assists in SJU's 15-7 win over St. Bonaventure on February 9. Patterson, who was on SJU's 2016-17 roster but missed his freshman season due to injury, left for Mercer for his sophomore season. He's back donning the Crimson and Gray as a sophomore and leads the Hawks on the offensive end with a team-high 11 points on a team-high seven goals and team-high four helpers.
ANCHOR ADLER
After turning in one of the most successful rookie campaigns in Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse program history, sophomore goalkeeper Mike Adler returns for his second year between the pipes in 2019. After redshirting his true freshman season (2017) behind all-time Hawk great T.J. Jones, Adler went 10-4 with an 8.11 goals against average and .596 save percentage in 835:45 last spring, with 167 saves vs. 113 goals allowed. He ranked second in the NEC in both GAA and save percentage and, among the nation's best, ranked third nationally in save percentage and sixth in GAA. He backstopped a defensive unit that ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense at a clip of 8.00 goals allowed per game en route to being named to the Northeast Conference Second Team and Rookie Team and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Team of the Week, twice. Adler is one of four captains (Liam Hare, Thomas Tarleton, Nick Vernacchio) this spring.
Adler has 12 career wins to his name after victories over St. Bonaventure and Fairfield this spring.
NO LONGER ROOKIES
Sophomore goalkeeper Mike Adler, sophomore attackman Shane Fable, and sophomore midfielder Nick Vernacchio were all voted onto the 2018 Northeast Conference Rookie Team last spring. Now in their sophomore seasons, the expectations to lead a young squad are high for the trio. Adler and Vernacchio were selected two of four team captains while Fable is the top returning scorer from 2018 and will need to carry the Hawks' offensive game this year.
NOT AVERAGE
The average number of seniors on each roster across the NCAA Division I 73 men's lacrosse programs this spring is nine. There are 44 teams with nine or more seniors on their 2019 roster. This spring, Saint Joseph's fields a roster with the smallest four-year senior class among all Division I programs that did not start up within the last three seasons. But if we're looking at what matters on the youngest team during eighth-year head coach Taylor Wray's tenure - a leadership presence that has bought into the culture of the Hawk Hill way - it really doesn't matter that there are only two seniors in the Class of 2019 to guide a roster comprised of 85% freshmen and sophomores. Senior midfielder Thomas LaRose and senior close defenseman Thomas Tarleton are more than enough. Check out the feature here.
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
The Friars are 1-2 after opening the season with an 8-7 home loss to Boston University, defeating Holy Cross on the road, 12-5, and, most recently, dropping an 11-8 contest at Bryant last Saturday.
Four Friars own seven points apiece in Nick Hatzipetrakos (7g), Brendan Kearns (5g, 2a), Matt Grillo (4g, 3a), and Ryan Nawrocki (2g, 5a) while Emmett Jennings sports team-high numbers in ground balls (7) and caused turnovers (4). Providence has utilized three face-off specialists more than 15 times each, and Alex George sports a team-high 40.9 percent (9-for-22) from the X. Goalkeeper Tate Boyce (1-2) owns an 8.00 goals against average and .520 save percentage with 26 saves vs. 24 goals allowed in all 180:00.
The Friars went 5-10 overall and 1-4 in the Big East last spring.
HISTORY OF THE HAWKS/FRIARS SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 17th all-time meeting between Saint Joseph's and Providence and just the second since 2009; the Hawks and Friars met 15 times between 1997-2009, including twice in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference postseason. The most recent meeting resulted in a 4-3 Providence win in Providence, R.I. back on February 24 of last spring; then-redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mike Adler stood on his head, making 16 saves en route to a .800 save percentage in just his second collegiate game while the Hawks' defensive unit held the Friars to a 0-for-6 day in EMOs. When SJU faced Providence on April 4, 2009, the game went to 4OT, which matches the Hawks' program record for longest game played (March 10, 2015 vs. Michigan and March 22, 2008 at Marist).
All-time series results:
2018 - L - 4-3 - Away
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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