WASHINGTON – Georgetown University's 14th-ranked men's lacrosse team hosts Drexel at Cooper Field on Saturday. The game is the last of eight-straight nonconference contests to open the season before beginning BIG EAST play next weekend.
Saturday's action is set for a noon opening faceoff. Live stats and video will be available at www.GUHoyas.com with Jeremy Huber calling the play-by-play and Early Brewer providing color commentary.
The Hoyas are coming off a 2-0 week with a pair of emphatic victories. Georgetown posted an 18-6 win at home over Furman in a midweek contest before defeating Fairfield 19-6 on the road. Sweeping BIG EAST Player of the Week honors,
Jake Carraway (Annapolis, Md. / St. Mary's) was named the BIG EAST Attack Player of the Week,
James Reilly (Berwyn, Pa. / Conestoga) was tabbed the Midfield Player of the Week,
Owen McElroy (Ridgewood, N.J. / Ridgewood [Avon Old Farms]) was selected the Defensive Player of the Week and
Declan McDermott (Pleasantville, N.Y. / Pleasantville) earned Freshman of the Week accolades.
Carraway posted 16 points (9G, 7A) on the week. He opened the week with five goals, including a pair of extra-man scores, and two assists to go with three ground balls against Furman. Carraway added a career-high nine points off of four goals and five assists at Fairfield. He was named to the USILA National Team of the Week as well.
Daniel Bucaro (East Setauket, N.Y. / Ward Melville) added 13 points (8G, 5A) on the week and
Robert Clark (Cooksville, Md. / McDonogh) chipped in eight points (4G, 4A). McDermott opened the week with a career day, scoring two goals to go with two assists for four points against Furman while scoring the game-winning goal and a man-up goal against the Paladins. He followed that up with a goal and an assist at Fairfield.
Reilly had a solid performance from the faceoff 'X'. He went 21-for-37 (.568) at the dot including going 11 for 17 on faceoffs against Furman to go with five ground balls. Reilly added another five ground balls at Fairfield and went 10 for 20 on faceoffs while scoring his first career goal against the Stags.
McElroy posted a 2-0 record between the pipes on the week, collecting 12 saves while allowing just nine goals. He opened the week with six saves to just three goals against versus Furman, holding the Paladins scoreless in the second quarter and for nearly 29 minutes of action. McElroy added six saves in a win at Fairfield, playing just three quarters, and held the Stags without a goal in the opening frame.
On the season, Bucaro (24G, 15A) and Carraway (22G, 17A) lead the Hoyas with 39 points each. Clark adds 22 points (14G, 8A),
Lucas Wittenberg (Kennesaw, Ga. / Harrison / Mercer) chips in 21 points (8G, 13A) and
Massimo Bucci (Ithaca, N.Y. / IMG Academy) rounds out the Hoyas in double figures with 11 points (7G, 4A).
Defensively, Smith leads the Blue & Gray with 38 ground balls and is tied with
Patrick Aslanian (Westfield, N.J. / Westfield) with 13 caused turnovers. In goal, McElroy has collected 66 saves on the season with a .532 save percentage and a 9.96 goals-against average.
Drexel (3-3) is coming off a 15-10 victory over then-No. 11 ranked Villanova and won both its games at the Philly 4 Lacrosse Classic. Marshal King leads the Dragons with 21 points (9G, 12A), Reid Bowering has 19 points (16G, 3A), Matthew Varian has 17 points (12G, 5A) and Collin Mailman posts 12 points (11G, 1 A) on the season. Sean Quinn is their top defensive threat with 15 caused turnovers and 20 ground balls. Jimmeh Koita has won 85 of 164 (.518) faceoffs and has hauled in a team-high 49 ground balls.
In goal, three different Dragons have started a game between the pipes this season. Ross Blumenthal has a 2-0 record with 19 saves, an 8.50 GAA and a .528 save percentage. John Roulston is 1-1 on the year with a team-high 24 saves.
Following Saturday's game, Georgetown remains home to host Marquette in the BIG EAST opener on Saturday, March 23 at Cooper Field.
