CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Canisius (4-4, 1-0 MAAC) vs. No. 7 Virginia (7-2, 3-1 ACC)
Date: Wednesday March 28
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Charlottesville, Va. | Klöckner Stadium
TV/Webcast: ESPN3
LAST TIME OUT
• After trailing 8-5 with 17:06 left in regulation time, Canisius women’s lacrosse reeled off six-straight goals to upend Manhattan, 11-8 at the Demske Sports Complex last Saturday morning.
• It appeared as if Manhattan had taken control of the contest, as the squad scored three unanswered goals to end the first half, followed by three of the next four to open the second frame. The run helped the Jaspers increase its lead to 8-5 midway through the half.
• However the Griffs answered back just under three minutes later, as Jourdan Roemer took a Lauren Smolenksy pass and buried her 18th goal of the season to start the string.
• Offensively Allie Stewart matched a career-best with five goals, tallying a pair during the run, including the game-tying marker. Jen Reininger registered four points in the win, notching a hat trick and an assist.
• Also scoring goals for the Blue and Gold was Marissa Malvaso who finished with a goal, Roemer who tallied three points (one goal and two assists) and Bryar Cummings who notched a marker.
• The Griffs defense meanwhile, buckled down at the right time, holding the Jaspers to just three second-half goals, and none in the final 17 minutes.
• Leading the defensive unit was Nicole Nelson who came up with critical caused turnovers at the right times and finished with four in the game. She also tallied three ground balls.
• Rebecca VanLaeken got the start in net and finished with six saves and eight goals allowed for her fourth win of the season. She also led the team with four ground balls.
• It appeared as if Manhattan had taken control of the contest, as the squad scored three unanswered goals to end the first half, followed by three of the next four to open the second frame. The run helped the Jaspers increase its lead to 8-5 midway through the half.
• However the Griffs answered back just under three minutes later, as Jourdan Roemer took a Lauren Smolenksy pass and buried her 18th goal of the season to start the string.
• Offensively Allie Stewart matched a career-best with five goals, tallying a pair during the run, including the game-tying marker. Jen Reininger registered four points in the win, notching a hat trick and an assist.
• Also scoring goals for the Blue and Gold was Marissa Malvaso who finished with a goal, Roemer who tallied three points (one goal and two assists) and Bryar Cummings who notched a marker.
• The Griffs defense meanwhile, buckled down at the right time, holding the Jaspers to just three second-half goals, and none in the final 17 minutes.
• Leading the defensive unit was Nicole Nelson who came up with critical caused turnovers at the right times and finished with four in the game. She also tallied three ground balls.
• Rebecca VanLaeken got the start in net and finished with six saves and eight goals allowed for her fourth win of the season. She also led the team with four ground balls.
SCOUTING CANISIUS
• The Golden Griffins (4-4) concluded its home stand on Saturday, and now head back on the road for a brief spring break trip, heading to face No. 7 Virginia on Wednesday and wrapping up its travel with MAAC opponent Iona on Friday.
• The Blue and Gold made it three straight wins, as it earned its first conference victory against Manhattan.
• The month of March has been a strong one for the Griffs as the team has gone 3-1 so far.
• Canisius has been led offensively by Jourdan Roemer, who comes into the contest with 31 points (18 goals and 13 assists).
• Not far behind is the team’s leading goal scorer, Jen Reininger, who has 26 points with 22 goals and four assists.
• The Blue and Gold have also received goal scoring from Allie Stewart (12 goals), Lauren Smolenksy (four goals and seven assists) and Bryar Cummings (six goals and one assist)
• Marissa Malvaso and Miranda Malvaso have continued to get stronger with each game, as the freshmen have been strong complimentary pieces in their first year.
• Marissa Malvaso has tallied six goals and two assists, while Miranda Malvaso has tallied three goals.
• Reininger, aside from goal scoring, has been all over the stat sheet, leading the team in ground balls with 32, draw controls with 38 and caused turnovers with 14.
• Reininger is ranked fifth in the nation in ground balls with a 4.00 average.
• Rebecca VanLaeken has been one of the nation’s best goaltenders, ranking fourth in the country in saves per game with 11.63. She has a 4-4 record this season with a 11.54 goals against average and a .497 save percentage.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
• The Cavaliers come into the contest with a 7-2 record and a 3-1 mark in the ACC.
• Virginia is riding high after back-to-back wins over Notre Dame and Duke.
• UVA dropped a contest earlier in the year to an future Griffs opponent, as the Cavilers lost 13-9 to the UNC Tar Heels.
• Virginia is playing the first of two home games this week after three-straight on the road. The Cavaliers have won back-to-back road ACC games, most recently defeating then-No. 20 Duke, 12-8.
• UVA has five players ranked in the top-four individually among ACC players: Sophomore Sammy Mueller (Pelham, N.C.) is second in the ACC in free position goals per game (1.22).
• Senior Kasey Behr (Northport, N.Y.) is second in free position percentage (.778) and Mueller is third (.688).
• Junior Maggie Jackson (Alexandria, Va.) is second in the league in ground balls per game (2.89).
• Junior Kaitlin Luzik (Alexandria, Va.) is third in the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.67).
• Junior Avery Shoemaker (Wyndmoor, Pa.) ranks fourth in goals per game (3.13).
STEWART HEATING UP
• Senior Allie Stewart has been relied as one of the Griffs’ primary scorers and is coming off one of the best performances of her Canisius career against Manhattan.
• Stewart tallied a career-best five goals against the Jaspers, helping the Blue and Gold to a 11-8 victory to open MAAC play.
• Stewart currently has 13 points this season, including 12 goals.
• Stewart posted a career-high in goals last season tallying 33 for the season and 14 assists for 47 points.
• Senior Allie Stewart has been relied as one of the Griffs’ primary scorers and is coming off one of the best performances of her Canisius career against Manhattan.
• Stewart tallied a career-best five goals against the Jaspers, helping the Blue and Gold to a 11-8 victory to open MAAC play.
• Stewart currently has 13 points this season, including 12 goals.
• Stewart posted a career-high in goals last season tallying 33 for the season and 14 assists for 47 points.
SERIES HISTORY VS. VIRGINIA
• The two teams have never played before in the history of the two programs.
• Canisius hasn’t fared well against ACC opponents as the Blue and Gold have posted an 0-20 record all-time.
MAAC MASTERS
• The Blue and Gold have posted flawless 8-0 MAAC regular season records for the last three seasons, dating back to 2015.
• Canisius has continued its streak into the 2018 season as the team is now 1-0 in MAAC play, making it 25 straight conference wins.
• Prior to that the Griffs haven’t posted a sub-.500 win percentage in conference play in 10 years.
• The last time Canisius posted more losses than wins in MAAC action was in 2007 with a 2-5 mark.
• Canisius has posted flawless MAAC records four times total, with three 8-0 marks and posted a 6-0 record in 2013.
• Since 2008 the Griffs have compiled a 58-10 record in conference play, which amounts to an .852 win percentage.
