Men's lacrosse to take on top-ranked Johns Hopkins this Saturday

After getting snubbed at last year’s NCAA Tournament, men’s lacrosse (1-1 overall, 0-0 Ivy) looks to make a statement this season. Led by senior captains Matt O’Connor, Austin deButts, Ryan Ambler and junior captain Bear Goldstein, the Tigers started the season with a victory. The Tigers played New Jersey Institute of Technology at home, the program’s second year, and defeated them by a score of 21-4. Junior Zach Currier had career highs in goals, assists and points, with four, three and seven, respectively. Additionally, eight of the twelve players who scored in the game recorded their first career goal, including electric sophomore midfielder Austin Sims and freshman Charlie Durbin.

After the convincing week one victory, the Tigers travelled to Long Island to face Hofstra University, who dismantled University of North Carolina just the week before, moving Hofstra from unranked to No. 12. The Tigers suffered a tough overtime loss after rallying from a 10-8 deficit in the fourth quarter thanks to goals from senior midfielderBobby Weaver and junior attacker Gavin McBride. Hofstra proceeded to win the overtime faceoff and buried a goal 14 seconds into the period. Sims extended his goal streak to two, while Currier had 11 ground balls and four forced turnovers while winning five of nine face-offs. Goldstein limited Sam Llinares, a Tewaaraton Watch List candidate, to only one goal and one assist.

This Saturday, the team travels to Baltimore to face Johns Hopkins (1-2) for their 86th meeting in their illustrious histories. The Tigers beat Hopkins last year in overtime in Baltimore 16-15, the fifth straight year the road team has won the matchup between the two teams. The path to victory this year will be more difficult, however, as Currier has been suspended for the game. In last year’s meeting, he had two goals, three assists, won six of his eight faceoffs and had eight groundballs. He, along with Ambler, is also on the Tewaaraton Watch List, the award given to the best lacrosse players of the season in the NCAA. During the season, Ambler has compiled four goals and seven assists and will be looked at more frequently with Currier on the bench. Hopkins, ranked 13th in the nation, is in the middle of a tough stretch for the Tigers in which they play three ranked Big 10 teams straight. Following this game, the Tigers will face off against No. 8 Maryland.