Colorado Heads to St. Louis
For Immediate Release—University of Colorado Lacrosse
March 10, 2010
COLORADO RETURNS TO TURF IN ST. LOUIS
The University of Colorado will travel to St. Louis this weekend to face back to back games versus No. 16 Lindenwood (4-3, GRLC 0-0) March 12 at 8 p.m. followed by Miami (FL) (4-2, SELC 1-2) March 13 at 4 p.m. Both games will be played on the Lions’ home field.
BUFFS SEEK TO END WEEKEND AT 3-1
CU opened the season with a heartbreaking loss to the University of New Hampshire, falling 9-8 March 5. With redemption on its mind, CU pulled off a monster upset of No. 3 Simon Fraser two days later by a final of 17-7. Lindenwood, meanwhile, is looking to increase its current three-game win streak to five this weekend at home against the Buffs and the ‘Canes. The Lions are coming off wins against Texas A&M, Tennessee and Texas. After losing to conference rival Florida State 17-7, Miami is currently on a two-game win streak after beating Florida International and Florida Gulf Coast.
LET THE RECORD SHOW
As of the 2006 season, Colorado is 10-7 in conference games and 34-17 in non-conference contests. Lindenwood has dominated its conference since ’06, losing only one game while compiling a 24-1 record. In non-conference play, the Lions are 28-23. Thus far in the 2010 season, Miami is 1-2 in conference and 3-0 non-conference. *
HEAD TO HEAD
The Buffaloes’ previous and very first matchup with the Lions came out in their favor in the form of a 9-4 win at home April 9, 2009. This weekend will be the first meeting between the Buffs and Miami.
STATISTICS
Colorado dropped this week from No. 7 to No. 11 in the MCLA The Lax Mag poll, while Lindenwood rose from No. 17 to No. 16. The Hurricanes remain unranked in the Top 23, but still will not be underestimated by CU head coach Pete Stevenson and his squad. Miami averages 11 points per game in the regular season while giving up 9.83 goals per contest. Meanwhile, Lindenwood bolsters a 9.43 points per game and a 9.86 goals against average. And Colorado? 12.5 goal average versus eight goals against.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Junior James Blackburn (6 goals, 3 assists) and freshman Doug Lilburne (5 goals) lead Colorado’s offense. That’s 4.5 points per game for Blackburn and 2.5 for Lilburne. Miami’s scoring is led by junior attackman Keith Ryan (22 goals, 9 assists), who averages just over five points per game alone. Another notable ‘Cane is Chris Fitzgerald—also a junior on attack—who averages four points per game with 16 goals and eight assists. For Lindenwood, it is senior midfielder Samuel Spallitta (16 goals, 4 assists), who is averaging just under three points per game in seven games. Tyler Davis (10 goals, 3 assists), the Lions’ junior attackman, holds a 1.85 points per game average.
Defensively, Colorado seniors Martin Taffet and Mike Geocaris, alongside freshman Ben Litwak, make quite the formidable trio. They have helped the Buffs maintain pressure on the opponent’s offense and improved clearing-wise—something that has plagued the defense since the preseason. For the Lions, it’s a combined effort of Julian Barnes, Jessie Stone and Daniel Strike on the defensive end. All three have contributed to Lindenwood’s low goals against average so far and all are able to scoop the ground ball consistently and cause turnovers. They are also able to stay out of the penalty box very often; only six-and-a -half minutes of combined penalty time has come from the Lions’ defense (that’s just over 55 seconds of man down situations caused by the long poles in seven games). Look for the senior leadership of Miami to cause problems for opposing offenses as well. Philip Davis, Tommy Holder and Matt LaPan are all in their final year, have played in all six games for the Hurricanes this season and are not afraid to use force to get their point across. Both Holder and Davis have four minutes in the box each and are known to intimidate the opposing shooters.
And how can we leave out the men between the pipes? All three of the teams’ starting goaltenders show impressive numbers so far this season. Colorado’s William Brown has started both games for Buffs and holds an averages of 10.5 saves per game, 6.5 goals against and a .618 save percentage. Lindenwood’s sophomore Danny Ashlock also has played in all the Lions’ matchups so far and shows 61 saves, but as let 54 past him, leaving him with a save percentage of just over 50 percent. For Miami, watch Tim Heacock. The senior is currently averaging 16.5 saves per game and has a .627 save percentage with an impressive 99 saves.
*Note: Miami schedules were not found before 2010 season
