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Men's Lacrosse 2/28/2020 10:00:00 AM

#20 Men's Lacrosse Heads to Monmouth on Saturday

Junior midfielder Austin Strazzulla has scored in three of SJU's first four games of the season.

SJU: Roster | Schedule | Stats

Monmouth: Roster | Schedule | Stats

PHILADELPHIA – Riding the momentum of a two-win week over high-quality opponents, the #20 Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse squad (3-1) heads to Monmouth (2-2) to continue non-conference action this Saturday, February 29. Opening face-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, N.J.

Saturday's game is a ticketed event. Click here to purchase. A live stream of the game will not be available.

Through four games, Saint Joseph's sophomore face-off specialist Zach Cole leads the nation in ground balls (56), scrapping for an average of 14.00 per game. Cole is off to an outstanding start at the X, going 69-of-92 for a 75.0 winning percentage, which ranks third among all Division I face-off specialists. In Cole's last two games against then-#20 Delaware and then-undefeated Providence last week, Cole won 33 of 44 possessions to lead the Crimson and Gray to a pair of statement victories.

Monmouth goalkeeper Noah Lode (2-2) has played all 240:00 this season and averages 11.00 goals allowed per game. Led by the starting attack unit of redshirt freshman Levi Anderson (9g, 3a), freshman Matt Bohmer (8g), and junior Matt Tufano (2g, 6a) and starting midfield unit of junior veterans Evan Campbell (3g, 4a), Shane Fable (4g, 2a), and Austin Strazzulla (3g, 2a), Saint Joseph's is averaging 10.00 goals per game entering Saturday's contest.

SJU senior goalkeeper Mike Adler (3-1) and his defensive core will look to stifle a Monmouth offense that averages just under eight goals per contest, led by Eamon Campbell (5g, 3a) and Brock Anderson (6g).

Both squads have faced Delaware this year, in the same week, as SJU upset the then-#20 Blue Hens, 11-8, at home Sweeney Field on February 18 and Monmouth fell to the then-#20 Blue Hens, 11-2, at home on February 22.

LAST TIME OUT
The Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse squad handed Providence its first loss of the season with a 10-8 victory over the Friars on Sweeney Field on Saturday, February 22. Sophomore face-off specialist Zach Cole continued to impress, going a blistering 19-of 22 (86.4 percent) from the X, which included an 11-of-12 first half and a 6-of-6 second quarter, with 16 ground balls. Freshman attackman Matt Bohmer (4g on five shots) and redshirt freshman attackman Levi Anderson (3g, 1a) led SJU's offense while the defensive core of senior goalkeeper Mike Adler (3-1) and close defensemen Tyler Makar, Josh Bosher, and, in his first career start, Sean Voelkel held the Friars to eight goals on the afternoon and redshirt freshman defenseman Joe Burnham caused two key turnovers in the final minutes.

RANKED!
On the heels of a two-win week over previously-#20 Delaware and previously-undefeated Providence, the Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse squad has been ranked #20 in the nation in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Media Poll, it was revealed on Monday, February 24. This marks the second time in the 27-year history of the program in which the Hawks have been ranked, joining the 2018 Hawks (April 30, 2018). Saint Joseph's has also received votes in both the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division I Coaches Poll and Inside Lacrosse Maverik Division I Media Poll.

BRING OUT THE BROOMS... SJU SWEEPS NEC WEEKLY HONORS
Leading Saint Joseph's to a pair of statement wins and a #20 ranking in this week's Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Media Poll, sophomore face-off specialist Zach Cole (Player of the Week), senior goalkeeper Mike Adler (Defensive Player of the Week), and freshman attackman Matt Bohmer (Rookie of the Week) have swept the Northeast Conference's weekly honors.

COMING BACK FROM 2019...
On the offensive end of the field, Saint Joseph's returns 87.8 percent of its goal scoring production from a year ago. Returners with 10 or more goals from last spring include junior attackman Nate Patterson (18g), sophomore attackman Ryan Doran (18g), junior attackman Shane Fable (14g), junior midfielder Austin Strazzulla (11g), junior attackman Matt Tufano (10g), and junior midfielder Evan Campbell (10g).

The defensive end of the field will be led by a veteran group of seniors, as captain Mike Adler returns for his third year between the pipes, Tyler Makar returns for his third year of anchoring the close defensive group, and Liam Hare returns for his second year as SJU's top long stick midfielder.

Coming off of the most successful freshman season a Hawk has ever seen at the X, 2019 Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year and 2020 Inside Lacrosse NEC Preseason Team selection Zach Cole is set to enter his second year as SJU's primary face-off specialist.

Be sure to follow the Saint Joseph's men's lacrosse program on Twitter and Instagram and like the Hawks on Facebook. Fans can receive all of the latest news and info on the men's lacrosse program with Hawk E-News.

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Players Mentioned

#0 Mike Adler: GK; 5' 10"; Senior

#8 Levi Anderson: A; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#4 Matt Bohmer: A; 6' 1"; Freshman

#44 Josh Bosher: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#56 Joe Burnham: D; 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

#35 Evan Campbell: M; 6' 0"; Junior

#7 Zach Cole: FO; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#2 Ryan Doran: A; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#41 Shane Fable: M; 5' 10"; Junior

#21 Liam Hare: LSM; 6' 0"; Senior

#32 Tyler Makar: D; 6' 2"; Senior

#24 Nate Patterson: M; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#0 Mike Adler
: 5' 10"; Senior
: GK

#8 Levi Anderson
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: A

#4 Matt Bohmer
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: A

#44 Josh Bosher
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#56 Joe Burnham
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman
: D

#35 Evan Campbell
: 6' 0"; Junior
: M

#7 Zach Cole
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: FO

#2 Ryan Doran
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: A

#41 Shane Fable
: 5' 10"; Junior
: M

#21 Liam Hare
: 6' 0"; Senior
: LSM

#32 Tyler Makar
: 6' 2"; Senior
: D

#24 Nate Patterson
: 5' 10"; Junior
: M