Live Stats // Video Stream
ARLINGTON, Va. -- On a five-game tear, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will kick off Capital Athletic Conference action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Captains battle Marymount at Long Bridge Park.
Riding a five-game winning streak, CNU sits at 5-1 overall, including a 2-0 mark on the road. Meanwhile, Marymount stands at 4-3 on the season with a 1-1 mark in CAC play. Saturday's contest will serve as the Saints' 2016 home opener.
For those fans unable to make it to the game, Marymount will provide live stats and a video stream at MarymountSaints.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.
A LOOK AT THE CAPTAINS Entering the conference opener, Christopher Newport currently ranks third in the CAC with a 6.85 goals-against-average. The squad has yet to allow more than 10 goals in any of its six contests, while limiting its last five opponents to eight or fewer. Leading the way on the defensive end, junior
Matt Hayden ranks second in the league with a .647 save percentage. He has also made at least 10 stops in five of his six outings.
Along with Hayden,
Brandon Moloney and
Michael Mabry both rank among the top-10 in the CAC in caused turnovers. Moloney has forced a team-high 16 miscues, while Mabry has caused 12. Moloney also leads the team with 25 ground balls.
On the offensive end, CNU features a well-balanced attack. Although no Captain ranks in the league's top-15 in points, six players have double-digit totals so far this year.
Dave Magdeburger leads the offense with 18 points and nine assists, while
Will Geise has a team-high 10 goals.
Matthew Crist has also been especially productive in recent weeks as the sophomore has poured in seven goals in his last three appearances.
LAST TIME OUT On Wednesday, Christopher Newport upended 11th-ranked Roanoke, 11-7, in Salem. Entering the fourth quarter knotted at seven, the Captains exploded for four goals in the final period, including the go-ahead strike by Magdeburger.
Ryan Mills also scored three times against the Maroons, while Geise contributed four points.
The defense was just as sound against the Maroons as CNU held the high-powered attack to just a single goal in the second half. Leading the charge, Hayden made 14 saves for the Captains, and both Moloney and Mabry forced a pair of turnovers.
Trevor Royce also corralled a team-high four ground balls against Roanoke.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS Marymount enters the weekend having won three of its last four outings, including an 11-10 triumph over Shenandoah on Wednesday. Against the Hornets, Bryan McManus posted four goals for the Saints, while Matt Justice scored twice and added a pair of assists. Mike Kempel and Grey Clarkson combined to make 12 saves as well.
Overall this season, McManus is tied for second in the CAC with 22 goals and sits fifth with 27 points. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, John Trey Kailunas is 10th in the league with 10 caused turnovers, while Kempel has a .467 save percentage and a 12.94 goals-against-average. Nick Hohman has led the way on faceoffs, winning 35 of his 62 battles.
SERIES HISTORY CNU and Marymount have met six times with the Captains holding a 4-2 edge in the all-time series, including a 17-6 triumph last year. During that game,
John Thompson drove home six goals for CNU, while Geise and
Joey Rolando each added hat-tricks. Hayden made nine saves to earn the victory.
UP NEXT Following Saturday's battle, Christopher Newport will return to action on Monday when the squad hosts No. 17 Union at 4 p.m.
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