March 18, 2011 Quinnipiac University Bobcats (2-2) at
University of Hartford Hawks (3-3)
Saturday, March 19, 2011 - 1 p.m.
Quinnipiac Field Hockey & Lacrosse Turf Field - Hamden, Conn.

Bobcats Play Host To Intrastate Foe Hartford Saturday
The Quinnipiac University men's lacrosse team plays host to intrastate foe Hartford Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Bobcats have won their last two games, including a 9-3 victory at Providence this past Saturday. The Hawks saw their two-game winning streak snapped Wednesday at Bucknell when they fell, 7-6. Prior to the loss, the Hawks had defeated Brown, 8-6, and Bellarmine, 14-9. The Hawks took a 10-9 victory against the Bobcats last April 3. The Bobcats squandered a four-goal fourth-quarter lead, before Jack Oppenheimer's would-be game-tying goal was not allowed, being ruled to have come after the final horn.

Scouting the University of Hartford Hawks
The Hawks jumped from unranked to No. 4 in the latest New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll after defeating Brown and Bellarmine last week. Jared Franze leads the Hawks with 10 goals, while Ryan Compitello is Hartford's leader in points (15) and assists (8). Carter Bender (12), Rory Nunamacher (11) and Aidan Genik (11) have also tallied double-digit points. Tim Fallon has totaled a very efficient .594 (76-128) face-off winning percentage, resulting in a team-high 54 ground balls. Connor Flynn has caused a team-best 16 turnovers. Frank Piechota has seen the majority of time in net for Hartford, compiling an 8.78 goals-against average and a .540 save percentage.

Causing Havoc
A year after finishing fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game (10.21), the Bobcats currently rank sixth among NCAA D-I teams at 10.5. Long-stick midfielder Bobby Schnibbe has led the way with 2.25 CT/gm. (9th-NCAA).

Benz, But Don't Break
Senior goalie Kevin Benzing has been particularly stingy this season, averaging 12.75 saves per game (7th-NCAA) while maintaining a .646 save percentage (4th-NCAA) and a 7.0 goals-against average (12th-NCAA).

Stepping Up On The Man-Down
QU is ninth in the nation in man-down defense (.815). The Bobcats held Holy Cross to just one man-up goal on 10 opportunities, covering eight minutes. QU followed with an 0-for-8 blanking of Providence, covering six minutes.

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.

Webster Wins Again
Dylan Webster was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the second straight week, March 14. The freshman midfielder tallied two goals in the Bobcats' 9-3 win at Providence, March 12.

Oppenheimer Climbs Quinnipiac Career Goals List
Jack Oppenheimer's 60 career goals rank tied for 12th in Quinnipiac history.

Hagg of a Streak
Christian Haggerty has recorded at least one point in each of his 18 games in the blue and gold. The 18 games rank 25th among active streaks in the nation.

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 440, 188 behind the all-time leader at Quinnipiac, T.J. Barnett '04 (628).

NEC Recognizes Benzing, Webster
The Northeast Conference recognized Kevin Benzing and Dylan Webster as its defensive player and rookie of the week, respectively. Benzing made 31 saves in two games last week, 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 in comprising the six-team league.

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.

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

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 71 career goals rank 13th all-time at Quinnipiac.

15 Seniors Depart
The Bobcats must find a way to replace 15 graduated seniors from a year ago, many coming in the midfield. The top scorer to depart is Alex Marotto, who contributed 15 goals, while Todd Kaiser also chipped in with 12 goals. Garett Kerr also had 10 goals. Face-off specialist Ben Mullaney will certainly be missed, while Alex DeAlmeida's 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) will also have to be replaced.

Up Next
The Bobcats return to action Saturday, March 26, when they travel to Baltimore, Md., to take on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Opening face-off from UMBC Stadium is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.