STAFF REPORTS
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BUFFALO – Canisius men’s lacrosse closes out the month of March Tuesday as it hosts non-conference foe Binghamton in a 4 p.m. contest at the Demske Sports Complex.
The Griffs (4-4) and Bearcats (6-1) are meeting on the field for the seventh consecutive season. Binghamton defeated Canisius, 13-12, at home last April.
Canisius (4-4) heads into Tuesday’s matchup with Binghamton looking to build upon its 12-10 victory at MAAC foe Manhattan last Saturday. Junior Connor Kearnan continues to lead the Griffs attack as the Courtice, Ontario product leads the team in goals (21), assists (16) and points (37). Kearnan ranks in the top 20 nationally in points (13th), assists (17th) and goals (20th) per game. Senior Jeff Edwards (11g, 12a) is second on the team with 23 points. Edwards tallied four goals, including the insurance marker late in the fourth quarter, and added two assists in the Griffs’ 12-10 victory at Manhattan on Saturday. Junior Liam Ganzhorn has started all eight games in goal for the Griffs. He sports a .476 save percentage and a 11.49 goals against average in those contests. Canisius has made the most of its shot attempts this season as it leads the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and ranks 10th nationally in shooting percentage (.332).
Canisius scored six unanswered goals in the third quarter to take the lead and held off a late rally to defeat Manhattan, 12-10, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men’s lacrosse action March 25 at Gaelic Park. Senior Jeff Edwards tallied four goals and chipped in two assists while classmate Lewis Vaccaro chipped in three goals and two assists to pace the Griffs (4-4, 2-2 MAAC). Junior Connor Kearnan finished with three goals and one assist while junior Steven Coss and junior Kieran O’Hagan also scored for Canisius. Edwards recorded his second hat trick of the season and the fifth of his career with his four-goal effort on Saturday. Kearnan posted his sixth hat trick of the season and fourth in as many contests with his three-goal performance against the Jaspers. Vaccaro tallied his first hat trick of the season with his three-goal effort on Saturday. Junior Liam Ganzhorn recorded double-digit saves in a game for the fourth time this season and the 11th time in his career with his 11-save performance against the Jaspers. Junior Ryan McKee and freshman Reece Eddy paced the Griffs with five ground balls apiece.
Binghamton enters Tuesday’s matchup looking to extend a winning streak that reached five games with an 8-5 victory over America East foe Vermont on Saturday. Tom Moore leads the Bearcats attack, posting team highs in goals (22), assists (16) and points (38). Moore ranks fifth in the nation in goals (3.14) and points (5.43) per game. Thomas McAndrew is second on the squad in goals (10), assists (10) and points (20). McAndrew was held without a point for the first time this season during Saturday’s contest with Vermont. Tanner Cosens has started all seven games in goal for the Bearcats. Cosens is sixth in the nation in goals against average (7.35) and ranks 14th in save percentage (.560).
The two New York schools are meeting for a seventh-consecutive season with Binghamton winning five of the previous six games. Binghamton has won each of the last three meetings, including an 13-12 victory in Binghamton last April despite a Canisius comeback that saw the Griffs score four of the final five goals of the contest. Canisius won its only game in the series in 2013 with a 12-11 victory at the Demske Sports Complex.
Canisius returns to action April 8 when it travels to Michigan for a noon contest against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Detroit Mercy.
