NEC Offensive Player of the Week
Mike Mawdsley, Sacred Heart
5-11, 210lbs
So., A, Innisfil, Ontario/Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille
Sacred Heart’s Mike Mawdsley found the back of the net early and often as the second-year attackman totaled nine goals in a pair of Pioneer victories last week, including five in a 13-12 win over then-No. 15 Yale, to earn this week’s NEC Offensive Player of the Week award. Entering the week with six goals to his season resume, Mawdsley almost doubled that figure in the game against Yale, scoring five times during a 10-1 run that spanned nearly two quarters and put the visitors out in front, 12-8, with 15:50 to play. He then pocketed four more, including the game-winner, in a 9-6 decision over Manhattan at home. Sacred Heart’s leading scorer with 15 points, Mawdsley ranks first in the NEC in goals per game (3.00) and man-up goals per game (0.80), and places fourth in points per game (3.00).
NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Ryan Hughes, Sacred Heart
5-9, 185lbs
So., GK, Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point
Sophomore Ryan Hughes could not have asked for a better first collegiate victory. The Bayport, NY native made 12 saves and helped hold then-No. 15 Yale to a 1-for-6 clip on the man-up as the Pioneers stunned the Bulldogs, 13-12. He then matched that save figure by stopping 12 again in a 9-6 win over Manhattan. Taking over the reins as the Pioneers’ lead protector between the pipes three games ago, Hughes currently boasts a 2-1 record with a 9.34 goals against average and a .543 save percentage.
NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Dillon Pope
5-8, 180lbs
R-Jr., GK, Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West
Robert Morris’ Dillon Pope delivered in a big way in his first collegiate start, stopping 13 shots and allowing seven goals in a 9-7 road win over then-No. 18 Ohio State last week. The redshirt junior was on top of his game throughout the entire 60 minutes with at least three saves in each quarter, highlighted by a four-stop outing in the third when the Buckeyes had three man-up opportunities (0-3). He also added a game-high eight ground balls and committed just one turnover for the contest.
NEC Rookie of the Week
Michael Sagl, Quinnipiac
5-10, 175lbs
Fr., A, West Islip, NY/West Islip
Quinnipiac rookie Michael Sagl had the hot stick for the Bobcats last week. The West Islip, NY native scored five times and handed out three assists in a pair of setbacks at home. Against then-No. 17 Fairfield, Sagl assisted on his team's first goal in the opening quarter before striking late in the fourth during a comeback attempt that fell short, 9-6. He then reeled off a career-high four goals – all in the second half - and picked up two assists in a 13-10 loss to Detroit Mercy.
NEC WEEKLY WRAP-UP
It was another busy week in the world of NEC men’s lacrosse as five of the league’s six teams were in action. Overall, NEC teams went 5-2 during the seven-game slate, with Sacred Heart, Robert Morris and Bryant coming out as big winners.
The Pioneers snapped their three-game winless streak with a huge win over then-No. 15 Yale, 13-12, thanks to a career-day from sophomore Mike Mawdsley (Innisfil, Ontario/ Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille), this week’s NEC Offensive Player of the Week.
The Canadian-born attackman tormented the Bulldogs, scoring five times during a 10-1 run that spanned nearly two quarters and turned a 7-2 deficit into a 12-8 lead for the Pioneers. He then chipped in four more in a win over Manhattan, 9-6, to make it back-to-back Ws for head coach Tom Mariano and company. NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and second-year goalkeeper Ryan Hughes (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Blue Point) moved to 2-1 for his career with 12 saves in each game.
Robert Morris, meanwhile, righted the ship after allowing a combined 45 goals in its past two games by limiting last week’s 18th-ranked team, Ohio State, to just seven goals, including one on five man-up opportunities.
On offense, Kiel Matisz (Stoney Creek, Ontario/Saltfleet) led a balanced attack that saw eight players tickle the twine with a team-high two goals. Jake Hayes (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial) continued his offensive tactics, burying a goal and helping out on another. Both players are currently tied for first in the league in overall goals with 16 apiece. On defense, redshirt junior Dillon Pope (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown), the other recipient of the NEC Defensive Player of the Week award, shined in net with 13 stops to earn his first collegiate victory.
Moving back to the New England area, head coach Mike Pressler had to be pretty happy about the way his Bryant Bulldogs responded after trailing 5-0 to come back and top Drexel, 7-6.
“I would say that was one of the most remarkable comebacks I’ve ever been involved in in 29 years of coaching,” said Pressler. “To be down, 5-0, with three minutes to go in the third and come all the way back to win is pretty incredible and pretty exciting.”
Sophomore Alex Zomerfeld (Port Jefferson, NY/Comsewogue) led the comeback with a game-high four points off two goals and a pair of assists, setting new career single-game highs in assists and points while tying his personal best for goals in a game. After assisting on the Bulldogs’ first goal of the game with 2:33 to play in the third, Zomerfeld went on to have a hand in each of the final three goals of the game, including scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals 63 seconds apart late in the fourth quarter.
Jameson Love (Darien, CT/Darien) shut the door on the Dragons after allowing four goals in the first quarter with all 13 of his saves in the final 45 minutes of the game.
Mount St. Mary’s got back to .500 and snapped its two-game skid with an 11-goal victory over VMI, 15-4, that saw senior Brett Schmidt (Great Mills, MD/St. Mary’s Ryken) match a career-high for points in a game with seven (4gs, 3as). He has now scored in 17 straight games, a mark that ranks as the fifth-longest streak in the country.
The victory also pushed head coach Tom Gravante closer to tying the school record for most wins by a head coach, a figure set at 120 by former skipper Randy Kilgore. He will look to make it one win shy when the Mount faces Georgetown on Mar. 13.
Despite dropping both of its games last week, Quinnipiac has to very optimistic about the emergence of freshman attack Michael Sagl (West Islip, NY/West Islip), this week’s NEC Rookie of the Week. Sagl gave the opposition’s defense fits with a five-goal, three-assist week. Against then-No. 19 Fairfield, the West Islip, NY product scored once and added an assist. He then produced four goals and two helpers in a three-goal loss to Detroit Mercy, 13-10. The Bobcats will look to bounce back this week with a pair of road games, beginning at St. Joseph’s.
Having the week off, Wagner resumes action on Tuesday, Mar. 13, at VMI.
NEC-TOIDS
NO LOVE LOST: Bryant’s Jameson Love (Darien, CT/Darien) has been one of the top goalkeepers since day one and its no different this season. The Darien, CT native has recorded double-digit save totals in each game this season, totaling 74 stops through five games (3-2). It marks the longest stretch of double-digit saves totals since former Mount St. Mary’s netminder TC DiBartolo did it through five games last season.
CANADIAN FLAVOR: Since the Northeast Conference started sponsoring men’s lacrosse, it has seen a player from north of the border lead it or rank near the top in scoring. Robert Morris’ Trevor Moore, a two-time NEC Player of the Year and a native of British Columbia, led the league in goals in 2011 and ranked in the top-5 during the 2010 season. This year, the current top-3 scorers all hail from Canada. Mike Mawdsley (Innisfil, Ontario/ Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille) from Sacred Heart ranks first in goals per game (3.00) and places second overall with 15 scores. RMU’s Kiel Matisz (Stoney Creek, Ontario/Saltfleet) and Jake Hayes (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial) are tied for second in the category of points per game and first overall in total goals with 16 apiece.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Robert Morris’ Kyle Buchanan (Nepean, Ontario/John McCrae) joined an exclusive club in Moon Township, PA with his one-goal, one-assist effort against Ohio State last Friday. With his second point of the game he cracked the 100-point mark, becoming the seventh player in RMU history to do so.
CONSISTENCY COUNTS: Regardless of the opponent, Mount St. Mary’s has seen the duo of Brett Schmidt (Great Mills, MD/St. Mary’s Ryken) and Andrew Scalley (Arnold, MD/Archbishop Spalding) extend a pair of streaks. Schmidt’s four-goal outing last week against VMI stretched the senior’s goal streak to 17 straight games, tying it for fifth longest in the nation. Over that span he has scored 45 goals. Scalley, meanwhile, has tallied at least one point in 36 straight games, a mark that ranks as the fourth longest at the current moment.
TAKING NOTICE: Two teams from the NEC are being recognized on the national stage this week, as Robert Morris and Bryant are receiving votes in the latest USILA Coaches’ Poll. Robert Morris recently defeated then-No. 18 Ohio State while Bryant is coming off a 7-6 victory over a Drexel team that was receiving votes during the previous week. RMU is also receiving votes in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Division I Poll as well.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Bryant (3-2, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week’s Opponent: Mar. 10 vs. Drexel W, 7-6
This Week’s Opponent: Mar. 17 at Albany
• The Bulldogs completed arguably the most stunning comeback in program history Saturday afternoon, breaking out for seven second-half goals to overcome a 5-0 halftime deficit and stun a Drexel team that was receiving votes in both national polls with a come-from-behind 7-6 upset win over the Dragons at home.
• Sophomore Alex Zomerfeld (Port Jefferson, NY/Comsewogue) led that comeback charge with a game-high four points off two goals and a pair of assists, setting new career single-game highs in assists and points while tying his personal best for goals in a game.
• Rookie faceoff specialist Kevin Massa (Huntington, NY/Elwood John Glenn) had just as much to do with the comeback as the Bryant offensive ranks, winning 8-of-10 second-half faceoffs and picking up a game-best six ground balls. The frosh would finish the game 11-of-17 from the X and leads the team with 34 ground balls on the season.
Mount St. Mary's (2-2, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week’s Opponent: Mar. 10 vs. VMI W, 15-4
This Week’s Opponents: Mar. 13 at Georgetown; Mar. 17 vs. Drexel
• Senior Brett Schmidt (Great Mills, MD/St. Mary’s Ryken) matched a career high with seven points in the win. He had four goals and three assist to pace the Mount offense. Schmidt has now scored a goal in 17 consecutive games. It is the fifth-longest goal-scoring streak in the nation and he has 45 goals over the 17-game span.
• Junior attack Andrew Scalley (Arnold, MD/Archbishop Spalding) had two goals and three assists for the Mount in the win over VMI. Scalley has recorded at least one point in all 36 career games he has played. The 36-game point streak is tied for the fourth-longest current streak in the nation. Scalley is tied for second on the Mount with 11 points (6g, 5a).
• Senior Christian Kellett (Audubon, PA/Malvern Prep) made his first start of the season on attack for the Mount at VMI. He came through with two goals and four assists to match his career high of six points.
• Head coach Tom Gravante now has 118 career wins at the Mount, just two shy of tying the school record of 120 set by Randy Kilgore.
Quinnipiac (0-4, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week’s Opponents: Mar. 7 vs. #17 Fairfield L, 9-6; Mar. 10 vs. Detroit Mercy L, 13-10
This Week’s Opponents: Mar. 13 at St. Joseph’s; Mar. 17 at Hartford
• The Bobcats dropped two non-conference matches last week, first to No. 19 nationally ranked Fairfield, 9-6, and then finished on the wrong end of a 13-10 decision.
• Freshman Michael Sagl (West Islip, NY/West Islip) led the Bobcats offensively, posting five goals and three assists for a total of eight points on the week.
• Freshman Dylan Torey (Darien, CT/Darien) made 25 saves, including 17 against Fairfield.
Robert Morris (4-2, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week’s Opponent: Mar. 9 at #18 Ohio State W, 9-7
This Week’s Opponent: Mar. 17 at Hobart
• The win gave RMU its second straight triumph over the Buckeyes and was also the program’s second victory over a nationally-ranked team in its past eight games against non-conference opponents.
• Senior Kyle Buchanan (Nepean, Ontario/John McCrae) notched a goal and an assist Friday to become the seventh Colonial in program history to hit 100 career points.
• Junior Jake Hayes (Calgary, Alberta/Central Memorial), who had two points against Ohio State, led the nation in shooting percentage at the beginning of this past week and currently checks in with a .667 mark (16 goals on 24 shots).
• Robert Morris has now won four of its first five games that have come away from home this season.
Sacred Heart (2-3, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week’s Opponents: Mar. 6 at #15 Yale W, 13-12; Mar. 10 vs. Manhattan W, 9-6
This Week’s Opponent: Mar. 17 at Vermont
• Mike Mawdsley (Innisfil, Ontario/Nouvelle-Alliance) scored a career-high five goals in the 13-12 win over No. 15 Yale.
• The Pioneers went on a 10-1 run to boost themselves over Yale.
• Sacred Heart was 54.5% (6-11) this week on man-up opportunities. Against Yale, they went 3-for-6, and were 3-for-5 against Manhattan.
Wagner (0-5, 0-0 NEC)
Last Week’s Opponent: None
This Week’s Opponents: Mar. 13 at VMI; Mar. 16 at Mercer
• Wagner is in the midst of a 10-day break between games. The Seahawks last played on March 3 when they dropped a hard-fought 6-5 decision at home to Saint Joseph’s.
• The Seahawks, who are 0-5 on the season, now head South for a pair of games, the first of which is on Tuesday, March 13 when Wagner meets the Keydets of VMI in a 3:00 pm game. Both teams will be seeking their first victory of the season as VMI enters the Wagner game with an 0-6 mark. Following the VMI tilt, Wagner heads further South to play another team seeking its first win of the year in the Mercer University Bears who are 0-7 on the season.
• Wagner is led in scoring by the junior midfield tandem of Nick DePhillips (Glen Ridge, NJ/ Glen Ridge), a transfer from Ohio State, and Colin O’Rourke (Worcester, MA/ St. John’s Shrewsbury) who have scored nine and seven goals, respectively. Junior attackman Brian Faughnan (New Canaan, CT/ New Canaan) has six points on the season on three goals and three assists.