| Date |
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 (7 p.m.) |
| Matchup |
#2 Merrimack (4-1, 1-1 NE10)
Bentley (1-3, 0-2 NE10) |
| Location |
Bentley Lacrosse Field
Waltham, Mass. |
| Multimedia |
Live Stats // Video |
| Social |
@MerrimackMLAX // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The No. 2 Merrimack College men's lacrosse team will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it continues Northeast-10 Conference play at nearby rival Bentley in a Wednesday night midweek matchup in Waltham. Game time from Bentley field is 7 p.m.
Inside the Series:
- Merrimack owns an 18-13 all-time record against Bentley but is an impressive 10-1 record against the Falcons in its last 11 games.
- That stretch also includes a current seven-game winning streak.
- Last year, the Warriors ran by Bentley in a 19-8 win in North Andover.
- Merrimack's last loss in the series was a 9-8 setback on April 19, 2011, at home.
Last Time Out:
- Merrimack suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of second-ranked Le Moyne College on Saturday at Ted Grant Field.
- Merrimack had the game's first two goals, but Le Moyne would draw even with goals at 8:01 and 2:56. Sophomore Charlie Bertrand gave the Warriors the lead with only 16 seconds left in the quarter, but that was the last time Merrimack would lead all game. Le Moyne drew even at 3-3 midway through the second quarter and went ahead temporarily with 4:44 remaining in the half.
- Merrimack tied the game again shortly after, but the Dolphins took a lead they would never relinquish with 42 seconds left in the half.
- Two early third-quarter goals for the hosts ultimately wound up being the difference, as Le Moyne scored 25 seconds into the second half and then again about 90 seconds later to give the Dolphins a three-goal lead (7-4). Merrimack buried the only man-up goal of the game with 10:23 to play in the third, and that was the final score of the third quarter, as the Warriors were two goals within reach (7-5) after 45 minutes.
- The Dolphins added an insurance goal with 9:24 to play, and defensively yielded nothing the rest of the way, as the Warriors would be held to under 10 goals for the first time all year en route to their first defeat of the season.
Poll Watch:
- Merrimack, which earned its first-ever No. 1 national ranking in the USILA/Nike 2017 Division II Coaches' Poll last April, started the 2018 season in the No. 2 spot before rising to No. 1 in the first weekly poll of the nation's top-20 programs. They have been no lower than second all year.
- As is usually the case, the Warriors will face plenty of the nation's top programs this year, as six other schools that are on Merrimack's schedule are also ranked in this week's poll.
- The Warriors have already NYIT (ranked eighth when they played), LIU Post (12) and Le Moyne (2); they are yet to face Pace (5), Adelphi (6) and Saint Anselm (20).
'Mack Facts:
- Merrimack is off to a 4-1 start on the year thanks to a torrid offense that averages 12.80 goals per game (sixth in the NE10), while defensively it yields 8.40 goals per game, the fifth-lowest figure in the league.
- Freshman Sean Black (27 points) leads all Warriors on the offensive front with 11 goals and 16 assists. He leads the NE10 in total scoring and ranks second in assists.
- Sophomore Charlie Bertrand, meanwhile, ranks second on the team with 18 points and leads the Warriors with 13 goals. He is also tied with freshman Christian Thomas in overall scoring.
- Senior Blake Boudreau has won 72-of-113 on the X (.637) as Merrimack's primary faceoff man, ranking ninth nationally and second in the NE10 in faceoff win percentage. He also leads the team with 38 ground balls.
- Senior James Bassett, reigning USILA Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Warriors with nine caused turnovers, while senior long midfielder Eric Coburn is close behind with six. Both have 18 and 15 ground balls, respectively.
- In net, freshman Peter Brown has started the last three games and has been solid, posting a 5.77 goals against average and .577 save percentage in that span.
- Merrimack has won the last 16 games it has scored 10 or more goals in; its last loss when posting a double-digit scoring total was in double overtime against Le Moyne (12-11) on March 18, 2017.
Scouting Bentley:
- Bentley has just one win in four tries this year, entering Wednesday at 1-3 (0-2 NE10).
- Bentley averages 9.25 goals per game (9th/NE10) while yielding 11.47 (10TH).
- Sam Hurley (7g, 4a) and Matt Sanford (7g, 3a) are the only Falcons in double-digit scoring figures.
- Nick Irby is Bentley's primary faceoff man and has won 25-of-66 on the X. Robert Hamerman has a team-high 12 ground balls, and Dave Rogers leads the team with four caused turnovers.
- Hamerman has started all four games for Bentley in net and owns an 11.70 goals against average and .421 save percentage.
Inside the Matchup:
| #1 Merrimack (4-1, 1-1 NE10) |
Category |
Bentley (1-3, 0-2 NE10) |
3/17 vs. Saint Rose (W, 12-5)
3/24 at #2 Le Moyne (L, 8-5) |
Recent Games |
3/17 vs. Le Moyne (L, 18-7)
3/24 at Saint Rose (L, 10-9) |
| 12.80 |
Scoring Offense |
9.25 |
| 8.40 |
Scoring Defense |
11.47 |
| 40.9% |
Man-Up Offense |
38.9% |
| 86.7% |
Man-Down Defense |
66.7% |
| 64/205 (.312) |
Goals/Shot Attempts (Sh. Pct.) |
37-153 (.242) |
| 30.20 |
Ground Balls/Game |
90 |
| 13.60 |
Turnovers/Game |
12.25 |
| 8.00 |
Caused Turnovers/Game |
20 |
| 63.9% |
Faceoff Pct. |
37.1% |
| 89.0% |
Clearing Pct. |
88.9% |
Up Next
Merrimack returns home to take on American International this Saturday (March 31) at 1 p.m.
