Game Notes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The 12th-ranked Orange (5-6) will look to put an end to its three-game losing streak at Garber Field when it meets Massachusetts (6-6) in Amherst on Saturday, April 28 at 3:00 p.m. SU has not fared well in its recent trips to Garber, losing three consecutive one-goal games, two of which were decided in overtime. The Orange’s last Garber Field win was also a one-goal affair with SU emerging victorious, 9-8, in 2001.
Saturday's game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. Live streaming audio of the contest can be found on SUathletics.com via Orange All Access and fans can also tune in to the Syracuse ISP Sports Network radio broadcast on WNSS (1260 AM).
HATS OFF TO NIEWIEROSKI
Sophomore Greg Niewieroski registered his third consecutive hat trick against second-ranked Albany on April 20 and the Watertown, N.Y. native has 11 goals in the Orange’s last three contests. He scored a personal-best five goals off the bench against Cornell on April 10, and put up three goals in starting roles versus Rutgers and Albany. Niewieroski is just the second SU player this season to tally at least three goals in three straight games, joining junior Steven Brooks, who achieved the feat in consecutive outings against Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and Binghamton back in March.
Niewieroski is tied for fourth on the team with 17 goals and is one of six players with at least 20 points on the year.
NIMS LENDS A HELPING HAND
Sophomore attackman Kenny Nims dished out four assists to help lead the Orange past Albany on April 20. His four helpers represented a career high and was the most assists for an SU player in a game this season. Three of his assists resulted in goals by junior Mike Leveille. Ten of the Orange’s 17 goals scored against the Great Danes were assisted, which was tied for the most this year. SU also had 10 assists versus Rutgers.
Nims ranks second on the team with 12 assists. He has two of the top three assist games by an SU player this season. Nims tallied three helpers against Loyola on March 31. The only other Orange player to notch three assists in a game in 2007 is Leveille (Johns Hopkins).
DYNAMIC DUO
The Orange is the only team in Division I lacrosse to have two players ranked in the tolp 20 nationally in face-off winning percentage. Senior Jon Jerome ranks sixth in the country at .624 (103-165). Classmate Danny Brennan ranks 16th in the category. Brennan has won 74 of 125 draws (.592) and recorded a 21-for-29 showing in SU’s win against Albany. Brennan tallied 21 of the Orange’s 22 team face-off wins versus the Great Danes.
SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
Without All-Americans Sean Morris, Jack Reid, and Jake Deane, 2006 NCAA runner-up got off to a rocky start this year, losing four of its first five games. The Minutemen have performed better of late, recording victories in four of its last five contests. It’s only loss in that span came against nationally-ranked Georgetown on April 21, 8-7, at Garber Field. After its match with Syracuse, Massachusetts has just one remaining game, a road date with ECAC rival Rutgers.
The Minutemen have had trouble scoring this season. They have reached double-digit goals just five times in 2007. Coach Greg Cannella’s club has made up for that with solid defense. The Minutemen have allowed just 7.9 goals per game through 12 contests. Earlier this year, they held high-scoring Albany to 10 goals, the Great Danes’ lowest-scoring output of the year to date. Jim Connolly is the team’s leading scorer with 31 points, including a club-best 24 goals. Brett Garber is second with 23 goals scored. Brian Jacovina, who tallied four assists against the Orange in 2006, leads Massachusetts with 16 helpers on the year.
Goaltender Doc Schneider guided the Minutemen to the national championship game as a rookie last year. This season he owns a 7.93 goals against average and has 133 saves. He and defender Dan Whipple, who leads the team in ground balls (44), have been the pillars of the Massachusetts defense.
Cannella is in his 13th season at Massachusetts. He has led the Minutemen to six NCAA Tournament appearances in his tenure, including the NCAA title game in 2006. Cannella is 116-68 in his career and ranks 10th among active coaches in career winning percentage. He earned two letters in lacrosse under legendary head coach Dick Garber, for whom Garber Field is named. Prior to taking over at his alma mater, Cannella was an assistant coach at Stony Brook for John Espey.
THE SERIES VERSUS MASSACHUSETTS
Syracuse holds the advantage in the all-time series, 26-7, and the Orange posted 22 consecutive victories against Massachusetts from 1982-2002. The Minutemen have won back-to-back games against the Orange just once (2005). SU ended Massachusett’s bid for a third straight victory with a 12-7 triumph at the Dome in 2006.
Both Syracuse and Massachusetts have scored at least 10 goals in the five of the last six meetings.
