Pictured Above: Senior
Connor Davis
(photo by Bob Park)
LIVE VIDEO / LIVE STATS
Staten Island, NY - The Wagner College men's lacrosse team returns to Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Saturday to host the Bryant University Bulldogs in a 12:00 p.m. faceoff at Hameline Field.
Last time out, the Seahawks earned a 14-11 win over NJIT behind five goals from senior midfielder
Spencer Kaufman, five assists by freshman midfielder
Stephen Dwyer, and 22 saves in goal by senior
Matt Sefcik, all of which were career highs. For his efforts, Dwyer, who also recorded two goals to give him a seven-point afternoon, was named the
NEC Rookie of the Week.
In snapping a seven-game losing streak against NJIT, the Seahawks improved to 2-7 on the season. After opening the 2019 campaign a thrilling 7-6 comeback win at Bellarmine back on February 2, Wagner was scrappy in its next seven outings, with four of those defeats coming by three goals or less, including two tough one-goal decisions, before breaking through against NJIT.
The Seahawks, in addition to their 2-7 overall mark, are 0-1 in league, having dropped a 13-7 decision at Hobart on March 16. Wagner and Bryant have faced two common opponents, in Dartmouth and Manhattan. The Seahawks are 0-2 in these contests (Dartmouth 11, Wagner 4; Manhattan 11, Wagner 10), while the Bulldogs are 1-1 (Bryant 6, Dartmouth 5, Manhattan 9, Bryant 8).
Offensively, junior attack
Dominic Branda leads the Seahawks with 21 points (16g, 5a), followed by senior midfielder
Spencer Kaufman (13g, 5a), with 18 points, and Dwyer, who checks in with 16 points (10g, 6a). Other double-digit scorers for Wagner include senior attackman
John Norton (8g, 7a) and junior
Nic Ancona (8g, 2a), who have produced 15 and 10 points respectively.
Defensively, the Seahawks are paced sophomore defenseman
Kyle Stofko (24 caused turnovers, 19 gb), whose 2.6 CTs/game rank fourth nationally and second in the NEC. Other defensive stalwarts for the Seahawks seniors include
Kevin Doherty (13 ct, 7 gb), and
Connor Davis (6 ct, 11 gb).
Junior
Nick Warren is Wagner's primary faceoff specialist, and has gone 87-of-194 (.448) in the X, while collecting a team-high 36 ground balls, followed by senior midfielder
Riley Owens' 32 GBs.
In goal, Sefcik, fresh off his brilliant 22-save effort at NJIT, owns a save percentage of .557 (15
th in nation) and a goals against average of 10.42 (33
rd in nation).
The Seahawks, who have been whistled for just 18 penalties in nine games played, rank third in the nation in fewest extra-man goals allowed (4) and opportunities (18).
Bryant, a traditional NEC kingpin who has won a record five NEC titles in the eight-year history of the league, has uncharacteristically struggled to this point this season. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's play with a 2-7 overall record, with three of those defeats decided by one goal. Bryant is 0-2 in NEC play, with the defeats coming against Mount St. Mary's (10-7), and Saint Joseph's (11-6).
Thought Bryant is 10-0 all-time against Wagner and 4-0 on Staten Island, last year's game was a dogfight as the Bulldogs overcame a 3-1 halftime deficit in scoring all seven second-half goals en route to posting an 8-3 win in Smithfield, RI.
Following the contest vs. Bryant, the Seahawks are next in action on Saturday, April 6 when the Green & White travel to Robert Morris for a 1:00 p.m. matchup with the Colonials.
Wagner Athletics
Men's Lacrosse:
