CARLISLE, Pa. - The top-seeded and sixth-ranked Dickinson men's lacrosse team will try to build on their current eight game winning streak and begin their quest for their sixth Centennial Conference title by welcoming the fifth-seeded Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats to Biddle Field. The Centennial Conference title defense begins at 4pm on Friday afternoon.
Game Information
Opponent - Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats
Date - Friday, May 5th
Time - 4:00 p.m.
Location - Carlisle, Pa. (Biddle Field)
Media Links - Live Stats | Live Video | Game Program
Regular Season Meeting - #14 DEVILS 14, (RV) Diplomats 8
Dickinson was in the midst of their first losing streak in quite awhile when the Red and White welcomed Franklin & Marshall to Biddle Field back at the end of March. The Devils struck first through Will Farrell, before the visitors bagged three straight. However, after that the group of Griffin Moore, Sam Campbell, John McKee, James Isaacson and Matt Thurston embarked on a 10-1 rampage to open up an 11-4 advantage after three quarters. The Diplomats pushed some in the final period closing to within 12-8, but markers by Ben Monroe, Sascha Gannon and Campbell got DC across the finish line at 14-8. Devils goalie Chris Brandau was tasked with making six stops, while the tandem of Sage Garito an Eric Mueller combined for 16 saves.
Inside the Devils Den (13-3, 7-1 Centennial)
Chance to Repeat
The Red and White attempt to become the first team to repeat as Centennial Conference champion since Gettysburg College was able to accomplish that feat from 2015-2016. The last time Dickinson claimed back-to-back league titles was when the team from Carlisle "three-peated" between 2011-2013.
Brutal Schedule
The Red and White will come into the tournament certainly feeling that they are battle-tested having squared off against four nationally-ranked teams (at the time of playing them): #13 Cabrini (W, 16-11), #3 Christopher Newport (L, 12-13), #16 Swarthmore (W, 17-4), and #6 Gettysburg (W, 12-7). They have also faced-off with six other teams that were receiving votes: Stevens Insititute of Technology (W, 13-6), Roanoke (W, 14-13), Stevenson (L, 14-15 OT), Muhlenberg (L, 10-11), Franklin & Marshall (W, 14-8), and Ursinus (W, 15-10).
50-Point Club
The duo of James Isaacson and Skyler Schluter have combined for 102 points as both of them have picked up 51 on the season. Isaacson leads the team in goals with 35 and has chipped in 16 assists, while Schluter has 20 markers with a team-high 31 helpers.
The Rest of the Attack
Dickinson has eight other players that have notched ten or more goals on the season led by Owen Porter with 29 followed, Will Farrell (24), Campbell (18), Lee Dunn (17), Ethan Gess (15), Thurston (13), Gannon and Moore (12).
Sharing the Rock
Three players have double-digit assists on the season paced by Schluter with his 31, while Isaacson and Gess have added 16 and 11 respectively.
Strong Defensive Backbone
After losing most of the defensive core to graduation last year the re-vamped Red Devils defense has been extremely solid as six players have forced ten or more turnovers on the campaign. Evan Karetsos currently ranks second in the conference and tops on the team with 31, while Cole Schwartz sits in sixth within the CC on 22 and Capp Reynolds is third on the team with his 20. The trio of Seamus McCloskey, Ben Tomick and Xander Usich have combined to cause 45 opponent miscues.
Strong at the Dot
Dickinson has the top faceoff man in the Centennial in junior John McKee who has gone 230-362 for a 63.5% win percentage, which ranks 31st in the nation. Ben Trucksess has also aided at the X posting a .477 win percentage thanks to his 31 wins. In the previous matchup with F&M the Devils took 18 of 25 faceoffs led by McKee who went an impressive 18-24.
The Keepers of the Cage
Brandau has continued to be solid between the pipes in his second and final season with the Red and White posting a .538 save percentage to go along with a 9.35 goals-against average and an outstanding 13-1 record. Dickinson also has a very capable backup in Patrick Scarborough who holds .769 save percentage and an 5.38 GAA in just under 34-minutes played.
Inside the Parliament Building (9-7, 4-4 Centennial)
Franklin & Marshall arrives at Biddle Field having already gotten a taste of the postseason as the fifth-seed knocked off the fourth-seeded Muhlenberg College Mules by a score of 9-8 in overtime on Tuesday night in Allentown. In that game it went back and forth over the first 30-minutes as the game was locked at 5-5 heading into halftime. Then, coming out of the break the third period belonged to F&M as Kai Kelly, Kyle Russell and Tommy Garofalo bested Max May for an 8-5 edge going to the fourth. However, the Mules responded with the only three of the final period forcing the extra period, which allowed Will Mulligan to deposit the game-winner. The Diplomats present a balanced attack with three 20-plus goal scorers and six double-digit scorers. Garofalo leads the crew with 54 goals, followed by Christian Sullivan (45), Cullen Decker (24), Mulligan (17), Will Mollihan and Liam Timmins (16). Kyle Craig is the top loose ball getter for the Diplomats tracking down a team-high 49, with Pierce Archer a close second at 47. F&M presents a duo of faceoff men with Matthew Freeman going 108-185 and getting 37 groundballs, while Connor Helm is 86-186 with 34 loose balls. Sage Garito has been the top man in the crease for the Diplomats going 7-6 with an 11.51 goals-against average and a .551 save percentage. However, in a surprise twist Eric Mueller made the start on Tuesday against Muhlenberg and holds a 10.57 GAA with a .552 save percentage. Franklin & Marshall is coached by Todd Cavallaro in his 16th season.
Rest of the Tournament
In addition to the Devils and Diplomats squaring off in one semifinal the other contest will take place in Swarthmore with the second-seeded Garnet hosting the third-seeded Gettysburg Bullets at 7 p.m. The winners of the two semifinals will battle on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the highest remaining seed for the Centennial Conference crown and the NCAA Automatic Qualifier.
