Men's Lacrosse | 5/10/2018 12:51:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – The top-ranked RIT (19-0) men's lacrosse team will host No. 14 Stevens (18-2) in the third round of the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at RIT's Turf Field.
The Tigers advanced to the third round with a convincing 26-3 win over New England College in Wednesday's second round, while Stevens beat Springfield 10-9 in overtime. RIT is making its ninth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 20th overall, while the Ducks are making their 10th trip to the tournament and first since 2013.
RIT enters Saturday's game third in Division III in scoring, averaging 18.10 goals per game. The Tigers lead the nation, converting an impressive 61.8 percent (42-of-68) of their man-up chances, and are third in the country, averaging 12.68 assists per game.
RIT features 14 players with 10 or more points and ine student-athletes with at least 10 goals.
Kyle Killen (Peterborough, Ontario/Crestwood Secondary), the 2018 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, leads RIT in scoring with 88 points on a single-season school record 75 goals and 13 assists. He is sixth in Division III, averaging 3.95 goals per game, and leads the country with 20 extra-man goals, also a single-season team mark.
Shawn Nally (Rochester, NY/McQuaid) is second on the team in scoring with 58 points, and leads the Tigers with 32 assists.
Ryan Tandy (Montrose, NY/Hendrick-Hudson),
Aidan Milburn (Vancouver, British Columbia/Sentinel Secondary),
Quinn Commandant (Rockwood, Ontario/The Kiski School) and Cam Issac all have at least 20 goals.
Defensively, RIT allows 7.89 goals per contest. The Tigers are third in Division III with 825 ground balls, averaging 43.42 per contest. RIT is 21st nationally, winning 64.1 percent of its face-offs and has allowed 25 man-up goals in 79 chances.
Nate Farrell (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) is 12th in Division III, winning 68.8 (183-of-266) percent of his draws.
Eli Salama (Coquitlam, British Columbia/Dr. Charles Best), the 2018 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, leads RIT with 28 caused turnovers.
Ryan Gebhardt tallied the game-winner with 2:43 remaining in overtime to give the Ducks a 10-9 win over Springfield College in the second round. Stevens rallied from a 9-4 third quarter deficit to earn the win. Gebhardt led Stevens with three goals, while Max Bailey had three assists. Brendan Monteleone and Tommy Dawson each scored two goals, while Jack Braswell got the win in net, making five saves without allowing a goal in relief.
Stevens, the Empire 8 Regular Season and Tournament Champions, enters tonight averaging 16.25 goals per game. The Ducks have out-scored their opponents 325-143 this season. Stevens is converting 43.7 percent of its man-up chances.
Bailey leads the team and entered the week tied for 20th in Division III in scoring with 94 points, averaging 5.0 points per game. He entered this week third in the country, averaging 3.67 assists per game. Gebhardt leads the Ducks with 54 goals and is second on the squad with 66 points.
Defensively, Stevens allows 7.15 goals per contest. The Ducks have allowed 10 or fewer goals 17 times. The Ducks have allowed 16 man-up goals in 77 chances.
Daniel Crotty leads the Ducks with 36 caused turnovers, while Alec Caseiro leads Stevens with 62 ground balls. Nicholas Carnovale has won 64.5 percent (100-of-155) of his draws taken this season.
RIT is 6-1 all-time versus Stevens. The two teams last met in 2011 when RIT was a member of the Empire 8. The Tigers came away with an 18-8 win at Tiger Stadium.
The winner of Saturday's third round game will advance to the quarterfinals and will play the winner between York College and Amherst College on Wednesday, May 16.
