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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Apr 26, 2024

Top-Seeded Men's Lacrosse Set to Host Emmanuel in GNAC Quarterfinals

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.— The South Division top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team begins its quest for its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship, hosting North Division fourth-seed Emmanuel College (Emmanuel) in the GNAC Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. First faceoff against the Saints is set for 3:00 p.m. on the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn.

 
#1S USJ BLUE JAYS (13-3, 9-1 GNAC) vs. #4N EMANUEL SAINTS (5-11, 5-5 GNAC) 
LOCATION: USJ Lacrosse Field (West Hartford, Conn.) 
DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 27 (3:00 p.m.)  
WATCH: Live Stream 
LIVE STATS: Live Stats 
TWITTER: @USJ_BlueJays | #FearTheFlock | #GoBlueJays 
 
USJ QUICK HITS 

  • USJ earned the top-seed in the GNAC South Division after finishing with a 13-3 record overall, a 9-1 mark in the GNAC and a 5-1 record in the South Division.
  • The Blue Jays finished in a tie with Dean for the top spot but won the tiebreaker due to the teams victory over the Bulldogs earlier this season.
  • Last season, USJ finished as the sixth seed, falling to Emmanuel in the GNAC Championship.
  • The Blue Jays have been a force on both ends of the field in 2024, leading the GNAC in goals per game (14.81), total shots (844), shots on goal (502), caused turnovers (221), goals against (118) and goals-against average (7.59).
  • Leading the way offensively is senior attack Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.), who tops the team with 69 points off a GNAC leading 50 assists and 19 goals. His point total is the fifth most in the conference.
  • Senior attack Evan Baden (Burlington, Conn.), junior midfielder Christian Decker (Bristol, Conn.) and sophomore Nick Pestrichello (Newington, Conn.) form a formidable attacking trio for USJ.
  • Decker tops the team with 38 goals, while Pestrichello has netted 35 and Baden has scored 32 goals this season.
  • Defensively, senior midfielder Sam Barbetti (Guilford, Conn.) leads the team with 85 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers.
  • Barbetti also leads the team with 95 faceoff wins.
  • Junior midfielder Luke von Borstel (Massenna, N.Y.) splits time with Barbetti at the "X", posting a team-best 52.8% face-off winning percentage.
  • Senior netminder Trey McCann (Simsbury, Conn.) has started all but one game in net for USJ in 2024, leading the team with a conference-best 8.44 goals-against average and tallying 118 saves.
  • USJ have reached the playoffs in every season since the men's lacrosse team made its debut in 2020.

SCOUTING EMMANUEL

  • Emmanuel, who are the reigning GNAC Champions, earned a spot in the playoffs after finishing the year 5-11 overall and 5-5 in the conference.
  • The Saints enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak, dropping their final two games against Rivier and Saint Joseph's Maine.
  • Emmanuel is lead offensively by freshman Cooper Mehlhorn (South Portland, Maine). Mehlhorn tops the team with 52 points off 29 goals and a team-best 23 assists.
  • Sophomore Cole Cloney (Medfield, Mass.) is the main goal-scoring threat, pacing the team with 32 goals scored.
  • Defensively, sophomore Ty Carroll (Haverhill, Mass.) leads the Saints with 71 ground balls.
  • Carroll also splits time as the primary face-off man for Emmanuel, leading the team with 85 faceoff wins and a 49.4% face-off winning percentage.
  • Junior Evan Decker (Milwaukee, Wis.) paces the team with 26 caused turnovers.
  • Senior Eric Anderson (Sparta, N.J.) has started all 16 games in-between the pipes for the Saints, posting an 11.92 goals-against average while making 186 saves, the second most in the GNAC.

INSIDE THE SERIES 

  • Saturday marks the fifth meeting all-time between the Blue Jays and Saints.
  • Emmanuel have had the upper hand against USJ, posting a 3-1 record.
  • The game serves as a rematch of the 2023 GNAC Championship, where Emmanuel defeated USJ, 16-8.
  • The Saints won the only meeting between the two teams in West Hartford.

UP NEXT 
With a victory, the Blue Jays would advance to the GNAC Semifinals for the second year in a row, hosting the winner of the North Division No. 2 seed Norwich University and South Division No. 3 seed Lasell University matchup. The semifinals are set to take place on Tuesday, May 1.

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