PREVIEW: Men's Lacrosse vs. Alma College (2/25)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
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THE LEAD
The University of Dallas men's lacrosse team plays its home opener on Saturday versus Alma College (MI). Game is slated to begin at 3 p.m. after the women's match against University of Saint Mary (KS).
Dallas is 1-2 on the year and has dropped its past two outings. The most recent was at Southwestern University on Wednesday. The Crusaders only play five times at the friendly confines this season and will play three out of the next four in Irving.
UD NOTES
- Andrew Jones (Austin, Texas) and Ben Blessard (Falls Church, Va.) are the top scorers with four goals apiece. Jones had two in his most recent contest.
- Jones is also the team leader in faceoff wins with 14. Tyler Smith (Snoqualmie, Wash.) is right behind at 13.
- Jake Frederick (Coppell, Texas) and Smith are atop on the team with three assists.
- Peter Early (San Antonio, Texas) is the other multi-scorer with two netted assists that both came in Wednesday's game.
- Christian Lopez (Las Vegas, Nev.) has collected 44 saves in all 180 minutes between the pipes. He garnered a career-high 25 last game.
SCOUTING THE SCOTS
Alma College is from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and were tabbed 2nd in the Preseason Men's Lacrosse Coaches Poll with 39 points. Alma is coming off a 13-5 last season, and open the new year on Saturday against the Crusaders. This will be the first time these squads play each other.
The Scots return four of their five top players in points. Jared Nycz tallied 47 assists to pace the team in points with 87. Daniel Buchy is the leading scorer from last season with 44 and rounded out the top three with 48 points. He is back as the second ranked player in points, while Jake Ellens and Austen Irrer each come back having posted respectively 34 and 24 on the scoring column. They each added 45 and 33 in points.
Cam Stelljes and David Smith both are goalies on the roster that saw limited action last year. Stelljes is the returning keeper with the most minutes played at 162:45. He had 25 saves.
2016 Alma College Season Stats
UP NEXT
Dallas plans to makeup its originally scheduled season opener game at Dallas Baptist University on February 28 at 7 p.m. After that, the team is off until March 6 against SUNY Oneonta at 3 p.m.