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Men's Lacrosse Set to Host Dean in GNAC Championship Game Saturday
Posted: May 03, 2024

Men's Lacrosse Set to Host Dean in GNAC Championship Game Saturday

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The South Division top-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's lacrosse team continues its quest for the program's first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship, hosting South Division second-seed Dean College in the GNAC Championship game Saturday (May 4) afternoon. The winner of the game will earn the GNAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Tournament. The opening faceoff between the Blue Jays and Bulldogs is set for 1:00 p.m. at the USJ Lacrosse Field in West Hartford, Conn.

#1S USJ BLUE JAYS (15-3, 9-1 GNAC) vs. #2S DEAN BULLDOGS (13-4, 7-3 GNAC) 
LOCATION: USJ Lacrosse Field (West Hartford, Conn.) 
DATE/TIME: Saturday, May 4 (1:00 p.m.)  
WATCH: Live Stream 
LIVE STATS: Live Stats
GAME PROGRAM: Game Program
 
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 in the South Division, but won the tiebreaker due to USJ's 15-11 victory over the Bulldogs earlier this season (Mar. 30).
  • USJ advanced to the championship game for the second consecutive season after storming back from a three-goal deficit to defeat the regining GNAC champions Emmanuel in the GNAC Quarterfinals this past Saturday, before defeating Lasell University in the GNAC Semifinals on Wednesday.
  • 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 74 points off a GNAC-leading 54 assists to go along with 20 goals. His point total is the fourth-most in the conference. Paltauf is also three points away from the 200 career point milestone.
  • 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 43 goals, while Pestrichello has netted 40 and Baden has scored 35 goals this season.
  • Defensively, senior midfielder Sam Barbetti (Guilford, Conn.) leads the team with 92 ground balls and 29 caused turnovers.
  • Barbetti also leads the team with 102 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 8.31 goals-against average, while tallying 143 saves.
  • USJ has reached the playoffs in every season since the men's lacrosse team made its debut in 2020 and have now made back-to-back appearances in the title bout.

SCOUTING DEAN

  • Dean earned the second-seed in the South Division after finishing the year 11-4 overall, 7-3 in the conference, and 5-1 in the South Division.
  • The Bulldogs were tied with the Blue Jays for the top spot in the South Division, but lost the tiebreaker due to USJ's victory earlier this season.
  • Dean advanced to the championship game after defeating Saint Joseph's College of Maine in the quarterfinals, before upsetting North Division top seed Rivier University on the road in the semifinals Wednesday night.
  • The Bulldogs are led by offensive powerhouse senior Diego Alvarez-Seege (Saugus, Mass.).
  • Alvarez-Segee leads the GNAC with 100 total points and 66 goals scored. He also ranks fourth in the conference with 34 assists.
  • Senior Alec Speirs (Old Lyme, Conn.) and freshman Manny Alvarez-Segee (Saugus, Mass.) round out the Bulldogs' offensive trio, posting 69 and 65 points, respectively.
  • Senior Tyler Benedetto (Jupiter, Fla.) is the main face-off man for Dean, posting a 255-406 (62.8%) mark at the "X" and corralling a team-high 134 ground balls, the fifth most in the GNAC.
  • Diego Alvarez-Segee is just as effective defensively, pacing the team with 21 caused turnovers.
  • Freshman Elijah Beland (Augusta, Maine) has started every game in the cage for Dean, posting a 9.93 goals-against average, the fourth best in the GNAC, and 137 total saves.
  • Dean is in the GNAC title game for the first time in program history.

INSIDE THE SERIES 

  • Saturday marks the fourth meeting all-time between the Blue Jays and the Bulldogs.
  • USJ holds the edge in the series, 3-1.
  • The Blue Jays are a perfect 2-0 in West Hartford against Dean.
  • The meeting is the first postseason matchup between the two teams.

UP NEXT 

With a victory, the Blue Jays would advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The team would learn their NCAA draw during the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse selection show, which is set to air on Sunday, May 5 at 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.

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