For immediate release – 5/1/2008 - #348
Lynchburg to Host ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Sunday at 1 p.m.
LYNCHBURG, VA – Lynchburg College’s Shellenberger Field will host the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament men’s lacrosse championship Sunday, May 4, at 1 p.m. The winner earns the ODAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament while the loser will await a potential at-large bid to the tournament.
Although third nationally in goals per game, only two players rank in the top 100 of D3 in goals per game because 11 players have scored 10 or more goals this season. Stephen Weis has tallied 39 goals and 16 assists, Ryan Cranston has posted 36 goals and 11 assists, and Tyler Tolson checks in with 36 goals and 11 assists. Michael Mundorf has contributed with 23 goals and 18 assists while Johnny Black has produced 23 goals and 18 assists.
The defense is equally as good, holding teams to just 5.63 goals per game, good for fouth in the nation. The man-down defense ranks sixth nationally, stopping 86.6% of opponents man-up opportunities. The Hornets special teams has vastly improved from last year. LC is winning 58.4% of their face-off attempts, checking in at 25th in D3. Goalie Garrett Curran has had a phenomenal season, ranking fifth nationally in goals against average (6.09) and 13th in save percentage (64.7%). The face-offs have been primarily manned by two people: Norby King and Jeff Schwartz. King has taken 219 attempts and won 135, checking in at 61.6% (20th nationally) while Jeff Schwartz has taken 144 face-offs and won 86 for a 59.7% winning percentage.
The Marlin offense has also proven to be a well-oiled machine, ranking 26th in D3 in goals per game and 15th in man-up offense, checking in at 38.9%. Jordan Kenney is 31st in D3 in points per game (3.94) and fourth in goals per game (3.44); Brett Morris ranks 34th in points (3.93), 35th in goals (2.6), and 89th in assists (1.33); and Maicin Dunk is 101st in points (3.13) and eighth in assists (2.44). Drew Langis (24g, 15a), Damian Becker (18g, 6a), Shawn Fitzpatrick (10g, 10a), and Josh Riley (10g, 7a) represent the supporting cast which has proven to be more than capable of punishing opposing defenses.
The defense has been more than capable of getting the job done this season, boasting a goals against average of 9.31 and a penalty killing percentage of 76.4%. The defense is headlined by goalie Tom Skartsiaris, who ranks 25th nationally in save percentage (62.3%) and is stopping 13.44 shots per game. The face-offs have proven to be a strong point as well, as Drew Smythers has taken 229 attempts, winning 118 for a 51.5% winning percentage.
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