CU Men's Lacrosse Preview - at Ithaca (4/28)

It will feel like déjà vu for the Clarkson University Men's Lacrosse team on Saturday, but in reality the Golden Knights are in fact heading back to Ithaca to take on the Bombers in the first round of the Liberty League playoffs.

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The Series: Wednesday's game between the Golden Knights and Bombers, which Ithaca won 14-7 thanks in large part to a six-goal third quarter, was the first time the two teams met since 2000. Ithaca now owns a 25-8 record all-time against Clarkson.

Key Stats for Clarkson (6-8, 3-5 Liberty League): Sophomore Ryan Gabriel did what he could to slow the Ithaca offense on Wednesday, winning nine of his 14 draws at midfield, the 10th time in the last 11 games he has won the faceoff battle. Though he won "just" nine faceoffs, Gabriel is winning 76.5% of his tries in the last six games while averaging 8.00 groundballs in that span. Classmate Conor Bartlett notched a single assist on Wednesday to move his season total to 49 points, the most compiled by a Clarkson second-year player since Greg Gibbons scored 57 points (39-18-57) in the 2007 season. Peter Herrick (2-0-2) and Sam Groves (1-1-2) were the only Clarkson players to score more than one point against the Bombers in the midweek game.

Key Stats for Ithaca (13-2, 6-2 Liberty League): Whether by design or necessity, Ithaca employed various options on offense for its comeback win against the Knights on Wednesday. The Bombers top three scorers were held to just one assist combined, and even the team's fourth-leading scorer recorded just a pair of assists, and each of those four has tallied 35 points or more this season. Josh Della Puca, the team's leader in points per game, produced three goals and an assist, moving his season total to 32 points on 19 goals and 13 assists in just 10 games. Winston Wenham also had a big game, scooping up nine groundballs and causing five turnovers to move his season totals to 56 and 36, respectively, in those categories. Robby Atwood produced as previously advertised, allowing seven goals against the Knights, almost perfectly in line with the 7.01 goals against average he has posted in 15 games this year.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Sam Groves: A; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#6 Peter Herrick: A; 5' 11"; Freshman

#2 Conor Bartlett: A; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#21 Ryan Gabriel: M; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#9 Sam Groves
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: A

#6 Peter Herrick
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: A

#2 Conor Bartlett
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: A

#21 Ryan Gabriel
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: M