CARLISLE, Pa. - The top-seeded and sixth-ranked Dickinson men's lacrosse team will attempt to repeat as Centennial Conference champions on Sunday afternoon when the second-seeded and 14th-ranked Garnet of Swarthmore College come to Biddle Field. Opening faceoff is slated for 1pm in Carlisle.
Game Information
Opponent - No. 14 Swarthmore College Garnet
Date - Sunday, May 7th
Time - 1:00 p.m.
Location - Carlisle, Pa. (Biddle Field)
Media Links - Live Stats | Live Video | Game Program
Weather Advisory!
Sunday looks like there could be some rain in the forecast during the afternoon so be prepared with your rain gear as we want RED DEVIL NATION to be out in full support and voice as they were on Friday afternoon! Umbrellas will be permitted inside the stadium, but must not be infringing upon another spectator's view of the action.
WHITE OUT BIDDLE!
We want all Dickinson fans in WHITE as we attempt to secure our sixth Centennial Conference Championship!
Regular Season Meeting - #12 DEVILS 17, #16 Garnet 4
Dickinson came out on fire in the meeting at Biddle on April 15th as Matt Thurston, James Isaacson and John McKee each struck within the first 62-seconds of the game to spark a 6-0 start to the game with Isaacson and Thurston each added one more, while Owen Porter chipped in one as well. After Carter Strauch posted one for the Garnet at the end of the first, Mac Childs, Sascha Gannon, Skyler Schuter, Isaacson, Porter and Thurston (3) went on an 8-0 charge to open the advantage out 14-1 with five minutes left in the third. Each team tallied three more times as Ethan Ackerman, Sam Campbell and Will Farrell found twine for DC to set the impressive 17-4 final. Between the pipes Chris Brandau made 11 stops for the Devils, while Patrick Scarborough notched three. At the other end Ryan Pretzer recorded 14 for the Garnet.
Inside the Devils Den (14-3, 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 108 points with Schluter posting 55 and Isaacson having 53. Isaacson leads the team in goals with 37 and has chipped in 16 assists, while Schluter has 21 markers with a team-high 34 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 31 followed, Will Farrell (26), Lee Dunn and Campbell (19), Ethan Gess (17), Thurston (14), Griffin Moore (13) and Gannon (12).
Sharing the Rock
Three players have double-digit assists on the season paced by Schluter with his 34, while Isaacson and Gess have added 16 and 14 respectively. Farrell has also added eight, while Dunn, Gannon and Moore all have seven.
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 33, while Cole Schwartz sits in sixth within the CC on 24 and Capp Reynolds is third on the team with his 22. The trio of Seamus McCloskey, Ben Tomick and Xander Usich have combined to cause 47 opponent miscues.
Strong at the Dot
Dickinson has the top faceoff man in the Centennial in junior John McKee who has gone 234-375 for a 62.4% win percentage, which ranks 31st in the nation. Ben Trucksess has also aided at the X posting a .529 win percentage thanks to his 45 wins. In the previous matchup with Swarthmore the Devils took 18 of 24 faceoffs led by McKee who went an impressive 15-19, while Trucksess chipped in three wins.
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 .534 save percentage to go along with a 9.28 goals-against average and an outstanding 14-3 record. Dickinson also has a very capable backup in Patrick Scarborough who holds .733 save percentage and an 6.50 GAA in just under 37-minutes played.
The Garnet Letter (14-2, 7-1 Centennial)
Swarthmore is in the midst of a magical and historic season that has seen them not only become nationally, but host and win a Centennial Conference playoff game after holding on to knock off third-seeded and seventh-ranked Gettysburg 12-11 on Friday night to earn their first-ever Centennial Conference Championship Game appearance. In that game the Garnet fell behind 5-1, before ripping off eight straight goals across the second and third quarters to take a 9-5 advantage. The Bullets then embarked on a 6-2 charge of their own to draw level at 11-11 with 3:24 left. However, it would be Clay Almgren who delivered the game-winning goal at the 13:15 mark to give SC the victory. The Garnet present a solid attack with five 20-plus goal scorers and eight double-digit scorers. Von Mabbs paces the group with 54 goals, followed by Carter Strauch (34), Rex Mabbs (27), Jackson Brosgol (26), Almgren (22), Nolan Ohrman (15), Cooper Bucklan (12) and Danny Lowe (11). Goalie Ryan Pretzer is the top loose ball getter for Swarthmore tracking down a team-high 55, with Will Bernstein a close second at 53. The Garnet will rely on Bernstein at X as he is 213-396 for a .538 win percentage. Pretzer has been the top man in the crease for the Garnet going 11-2 with an 11.50 goals-against average and a .539 save percentage. Backup Shane Nachshen is 3-0 and holds an 8.83 GAA with a .571 save percentage in 184-minutes played. Swarthmore is coached by Pat Gress in his 16th season.
Rest of the Tournament
The winner of the game will earn the Centennial Conference crown and the NCAA Automatic Qualifier. The loser of the contest will have a strong case for an at-large berth.
