April 23, 2011

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (4-6, 2-1 NEC) vs.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers (4-7, 1-2 NEC)
Saturday, April 23, 2011 - 1 p.m.
Quinnipiac Field Hockey & Lacrosse Turf Field - Hamden, Conn.

Bobcats Play Host To Sacred Heart On Senior Day
The Quinnipiac University men's lacrosse team plays host to intrastate Northeast Conference rival Sacred Heart Saturday at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey & Lacrosse Turf Field. Prior to the game, the Bobcats will honor their 11-member senior class as part of Senior Day ceremonies. The Bobcats are coming off a pair of tough losses to Harvard and Mount St. Mary's, while the Pioneers have also lost two in a row against Mount St. Mary's and Bryant. Sacred Heart owns a 10-5 advantage in the all-time series. After the Pioneers won eight of the first 10 pairings, Quinnipiac has taken three of the last five, including a 13-8 victory last April 27 in Fairfield.

Scouting the Sacred Heart University Mountaineers
The Pioneers' attack is led by two very potent scorers in Bryan Badolato (20 G, 11 A, 31 P) and Mike Mawdsley (22 G, 8 A, 30 P). Cody Marquis (13 P), Alex Miller (13 P) and Trevor Dauses (10 P) have also reached double-digit points. Stephen Kontos has taken the majority of face-offs for Sacred Heart, winning 54.1 percent (118-218), resulting in a team-high 53 ground balls. Tim Caton and Pat Fletcher have caused 12 turnovers apiece to lead the Pioneers. Zach Frank has seen the majority of time in net, compiling a 9.79 goals-against average and a .573 save percentage.

Senior Send-off
Prior to Saturday's game, the Quinnipiac Department of Athletics and Recreation will honor the Bobcats' 11-member senior class. This year's senior class has qualified for two Great Western Lacrosse League Tournaments, finished third in ECAC Lacrosse, and can earn a berth in the NEC Tournament this season with a win in either of its final two games.

Causing Havoc
A year after finishing fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game (10.21), the Bobcats currently rank eighth among NCAA D-I teams at 9.9. Jake Glebocki has led the way with 2.00 CT/gm. (10th-NCAA).

Benz, But Don't Break
Senior goalie Kevin Benzing has been particularly stingy this season, opening the week at 10.3 saves per game (22nd-NCAA) while maintaining a .502 save percentage (46th-NCAA) and a 10.32 goals-against average (43rd-NCAA).

Oppenheimer Climbs Quinnipiac Career Goals List
Jack Oppenheimer's 68 career goals rank tied for eighth in Quinnipiac history.

Hagg of a Streak
Christian Haggerty has recorded at least one point in each of his 24 games in the blue and gold. The 24 games rank 22nd among active point streaks in the nation.

Tricky Trio
Kevin Kelly, Christian Haggerty and Jack Oppenheimer each registered hat tricks against Robert Morris on April 9. Kelly scored a team-high five goals, while Haggerty and Oppenheimer had three goals each.

A Goalie's Revenge
After being peppered with 1,431 shots in his four-year Quinnipiac career, senior goalie Kevin Benzing unleashed his first career shot, a full-field heave that found the back of the net on the fly, April 9 against Robert Morris.

NEC Honors Kelly, Webster
The Northeast Conference named Kevin Kelly and Dylan Webster its player and rookie of the week, respectively, on April 11. Kelly scored five goals against Robert Morris, while Webster scored a goal, added three assists, won all 10 of his face-offs, scooped up seven ground balls and caused two turnovers. The award was the first of the season for Kelly and the fifth for Webster.

Wilbur's Game-Winner
Seeing just his second game action of the year, sophomore Brendan Wilbur scored twice, including the game-winning goal as time expired, Apr. 1 at Bryant. Wilbur had scored just once before in his career, Mar. 4, 2010, against Wagner. He proved it was not a fluke, scoring twice more and adding an assist, Apr. 9 against Robert Morris.

Do We Call Him A Rookie of the Year Candidate At This Point?
Dylan Webster was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the fourth time in five weeks after scoring an improbable goal against Bryant. After getting the ball checked out of his stick, Webster recollected and shot it past two defenders and the Bryant goalie to give QU a late 12-10 advantage.

Benzing Grabs Second In Saves
With 19 saves against Holy Cross March 5, Kevin Benzing passed Mike Sturmer '99 (428) for second all-time at QU. He now stands at 492, 136 behind the all-time leader at Quinnipiac, T.J. Barnett '04 (628).

Career-High For Coppolecchia
Chris Coppolecchia scooped up a career-high seven ground balls, March 26 at UMBC.

Webster Wins Again...And Again
Dylan Webster was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the third straight week, March 21. The freshman midfielder had a goal and an assist against Hartford, March 19, a week after tallying two goals in the Bobcats' 9-3 win at Providence, March 12. He began the stretch with three goals and an assist against Holy Cross, March 5.

Benzing Takes Second NEC Defensive Player of the Week
Kevin Benzing was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks on March 21. The senior goalie made 12 saves on 22 chances in the Bobcats' 10-9 overtime loss to Hartford.

Hat Trick Twosome
Kevin Kelly and Christian Haggerty each compiled hat tricks against Hartford. Kelly now has five hat tricks for his four-year career, while Haggerty has four in his two years at QU.

Second Half Lockdown
QU outscored Providence, 6-0, in the second half on March 12. After the teams were deadlocked at 3-3 following the first half, Quinnipiac scored goals on six of seven shots on goal, while Bobcats goalie Kevin Benzing stopped all five shots on goal he saw in the second half.

Good Things Come In Three's
Kevin Kelly tallied a career-high six points on three goals and three assists, March 12, at Providence.

NEC Recognizes Benzing, Webster
The Northeast Conference recognized Kevin Benzing and Dylan Webster as its defensive player and rookie of the week, respectively, on March 7. Benzing made 31 saves in two games, including 19 in the Bobcats' 10-5 victory against Holy Cross. Webster scored three goals and added an assist against Holy Cross.

New To The NEC
With Bryant becoming eligible for postseason play in 2011, the Northeast Conference now has six men's lacrosse-playing institutions and has officially become a men's lacrosse league. QU joins Bryant, Mount St. Mary's, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart and Wagner.

Crazy Eight
Quinnipiac finished 2010 eighth in the nation in ground balls per game (35.57).

20/20
Christian Haggerty became just the fourth player in Quinnipiac history to compile a 20-goal, 20-assist season with 20 goals and 25 assists last year. Haggerty joined Joe Baglio (49 G, 29 A in 2001) as the only other Quinnipiac player with a 20-20 season at Division I, while Brian Perry (33 G, 25 A in 1998) and P.J. Gillard (24 G, 21 A in 1995) achieved the feat at the Division II level.

Glad To Have You
Christian Haggerty led the Bobcats in points (45), with 20 goals and 25 assists in 2010. His assist total tied for second on the QU single-season list, tied with Brian Perry in 1998. Haggerty was the first Bobcat to reach as many as 17 assists in a season since both Joe Baglio (29) and Jeff Speed (24) did so in 2001.

Oppenheimer Goals: The Right Way To Score
With 32 goals last season, Jack Oppenheimer led the Bobcats and moved into 10th all-time on the Quinnipiac single-season chart. Oppenheimer's 66 career goals rank ninth all-time at Quinnipiac.

Up Next
The Bobcats wrap up the 2011 regular season when they travel to Staten Island, N.Y., to take on Wagner. Opening face-off from Wagner Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.