MATCH-UP:
Rollins (4-1) vs. New York Institute of
Technology (NYIT) (2-0)
WHERE:
Barker Family Stadium & Cahall Sandspur Field | Winter Park,
Fla.
WHEN:
Sunday, March 5, 2017 | 1:00 P.M.
COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: TarsStats.com
VIDEO: Free
Video on the Geico Tars Sports Network
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Clark Sprinkel
SET-UP:
The Tars will square up against their second nationally-ranked
opponent this season when they welcome fifth-ranked NYIT to Barker
Family Stadium and Cahall-Sandspur Field on Sunday afternoon.
Rollins enters into Sunday's showdown with a record of 4-1 after
back-to-back come from behind wins against UIndy and Wheeling
Jesuit. Most recently against the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals,
Rollins scored five straight and held the Cardinals off the board
for the last 23 minutes en route to their second straight win.
Trailing by four, 9-5, with 8:54 to play in the third quarter,
Rollins locked down on defense and turned up the intensity on
attack, holding WJU scoreless for the remainder of the game while
netting five straight, including the game tying goal by Greg
Taicher with 48 second to go, and the game-winner by Diamond with
34 ticks on the clock to earn the 10-9 win.
NYIT enters into Sunday's matchup with a record of 2-0 on their
young season after defeating Bentley in their season opener on
February 25 by a score of 13-9. The Bears are coming off of a 10-7
win over Florida Southern on Friday in Lakeland, which saw them
holding a 7-3 lead over the Moccasins at the half before closing
out the game for their second straight win to open their 2017
campaign.
Of late, the Bears are known to be a perennial powerhouse within
Division II and the North Region. NYIT closed out their 2016
season ranked seventh on the DII Poll, finishing with an overall
record of 13-5 and advancing to the NCAA DII Quarterfinal round
where they lost in overtime to eventual 2016 National Champion
LeMoyne by a final score of 8-7. They have won four National
Championships in program history, and have made six NCAA Tournament
appearances, including last season.
TRACKING THE TARS:
The Tars are led by Justin Diamond, who has notched a team high
14 goals so far this season, while adding three assists good for a
team second best 17 points overall. Greg Taicher leads the team in
overall points, with a team high nine assists and nine goals for 18
points so far this season. Connor Ashton is quickly climbing the
scoring ranks, having notched six goals and two assists for eight
points. Lucas Brush leads the team in ground balls with 17 in five
games played, followed by Andrew Matthews with 13, and TreLaPorta
with 11. Laporta leads the team at the faceoff-x with a .593 win
percentage, having won 54-of-91, while Brett Portera has won
6-of-12. Brush leads the team in caused turnovers with five,
followed by Austin Jackson and Roy Hansen with four each. In goal,
Jake Hogan has played the last four games, facing a total of 122
shots and earning 36 saves for a save percentage of .493. Hogan
has allowed 37 goals so far this year, averaging 9.14.
TRACKING THE BEARS:
Entering into Sunday's game, George Schultz leads the team with
seven goals, followed by Will Kistinger with five. Schultz and
Matthew Chanenchuk lead the team in overall points, with Schultz
adding an assist, and Chanenchuk tallying a team high seven assists
and one goal for each to add up to a team high eight points. Leroy
Halftown is close behind with seven points, having contributed
three goals and four assists. Ian Prate leads the team in ground
balls with 11, followed by Shlomo Amar with eight. Defensively,
Prate holds onto a team high six caused turnovers. The Bears'
faceoff specialist, Amar, has taken all of the faceoffs for NYIT
this season, winning 18-of-47 attempts. In goal, Alex Seltzer has
played the entire contest in the Bears' last two games. Seltzer
has earned 28 saves and has compiled a save percentage of .636,
while allowing 16 goals for a goals against average of 10.67 so far
this year.
NOTES:
- Sunday's matchup will mark the first time Rollins and NYIT have
met in official competition.
- Justin Diamond has scored three of the Tars' four game-winning
goals so far this season, including the last two in the Tars'
thrilling consecutive come-from-behind wins.
- With a 4-1 record to open their season, Rollins matches a
previous program record set in their 2016 campaign. If the Tars
can hit 5-1 with an upset victory over NYIT, it will mark the best
season opening record in program history.
NEXT:
The Tars return to action on Sunday, March 12, when they travel
back to Savannah, Ga. to Daffin Park for the second time this
season. Rollins will square off against Mount Olive, with game
time set for 1 p.m.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Rollins
men's lacrosse team, fans can visit RollinsSports.com. Fans can
also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnation news by following
Rollins Sports on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram.
