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Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Photo Credit: Steve McLaughlin Photography
Posted: Apr 30, 2024

Top-Seeded Men's Lacrosse Hosts Lasell in GNAC Semifinals

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.— The South Division top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team looks to make it back-to-back apperances in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game, hosting South Division third-seed Lasell University (Lasell) in the GNAC Semifinals Wednesday night. First faceoff against the Lasers is set for 4:00 p.m. on the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn.

#1S USJ BLUE JAYS (14-3, 9-1 GNAC) vs. #3S LASELL LASERS (11-6, 8-2 GNAC) 
LOCATION: USJ Lacrosse Field (West Hartford, Conn.) 
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 1 (4:00 p.m.)  
WATCH: Live Stream 
LIVE STATS: Live Stats
GAME PROGRAM: Game Program 
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.
  • USJ advanced to the Semifinals after storming back from a three-goal deficit to defeat the regining GNAC champions Emmanuel in the GNAC Quarterfinals this past Saturday.
  • The Blue Jays have been a force on both ends of the field in 2024, leading the GNAC in goals per game (14.53), total shots (888), shots on goal (529), caused turnovers (228), goals against (127) and goals-against average (7.67).
  • Leading the way offensively is senior attack Ryan Paltauf (Southbury, Conn.), who tops the team with 71 points off a GNAC leading 52 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 41 goals, while Pestrichello has netted 39 and Baden has scored 32 goals this season.
  • Defensively, senior midfielder Sam Barbetti (Guilford, Conn.) leads the team with 89 ground balls and 27 caused turnovers.
  • Barbetti also leads the team with 101 faceoff wins.
  • 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 8.48 goals-against average and tallying 130 saves.
  • USJ have reached the playoffs in every season since the men's lacrosse team made its debut in 2020.

SCOUTING LASELL

  • Lasell earned the third-seed in the south division after finishing the year 10-6 overall and 8-2 in the conference.
  • The Lasers advanced to the semifinals after upsetting the North Division second-seed Norwich University this past Saturday.
  • Lasell is paced offensively by graduate student midfielder Landon Reyes (Westfield, Mass.). The midfielder leads the team with 58 points off a team-high 38 goals and 20 assists.
  • Freshman midfielder Jason Martin (Billerica, Mass.) is the primary playmaker, dishing out a team-high 31 assists, the fourth-most in the GNAC.
  • Defensively, senior defender Francis Pino (Methuen, Mass.) tops Lasell with 29 caused turnovers.
  • Junior midfielder Matthew Carbone (Needham, Mass.) leads the team with 151 ground balls, the second most in the GNAC, while also serving as the primary faceoff man, posting a 217-for-349 mark at the "X".
  • Junior Michael Catalano (Norwood, Mass.) has started all but one game in-between the pipes for the Lasers, posting a 10.97 goals-against average while making 184 saves, the third most in the GNAC.
  • Lasell is looking for the programs' third GNAC Championship and first since the 2021 season.

INSIDE THE SERIES 

  • Wednesday marks the fifth meeting all-time between the Blue Jays and the Lasers.
  • Lasell has a slim 3-2 lead in the all-time series, but the Blue Jays sport a two-game winning streak.
  • USJ is 1-1 all-time in West Hartford.
  • The meeting is the second postseason matchup between the two teams, as the Blue Jays upset the Lasers in the GNAC Semifinals last season.

UP NEXT 
With a victory, the Blue Jays would advance to the GNAC Championship for the second year in a row, hosting the winner of the North Division No. 1 seed Rivier University and South Division No. 2 seed Dean College matchup. The championship game is set to take place on Saturday, May 4.

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