Canisius Takes on Robert Morris in Opening Round of 2018 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Bracket | ESPN3 | Live Stats | Tickets | Conference Notes
BUFFALO, NY – Canisius College (8-8) is set to take on Robert Morris University (12-4) in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Opening Round on Wednesday, May 9, at 4 p.m., on
ESPN3. The opening round matchup takes place at the Demske Sports Complex in Buffalo, NY.
TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Canisius and No. 18 Robert Morris meet for the second time this season. The Griffs fell to the Colonials, 11-9, on April 10. Canisius and Robert Morris have gone head-to-head during the regular season in each of the last three seasons, with the Griffs going (0-3). The Colonials lead the all-time season series (6-5).
NCAA TOURNEY HISTORY
For the first time in program history Canisius will host a NCAA Championship game. The Griffs have played in two prior NCAA Tournament games (0-2), both contests were on the road. Canisius is going to be making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2012, when it took on Loyola. The Griffs are the third MAAC representative since 2015 to host the NCAA Championship opening round contest. MAAC teams are (2-14) all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
NCAA OPENING ROUND BROADCAST INFORMATION
The 2018 NCAA Men’s opening round game takes place on Wednesday, May 8, at 4 p.m., and will air on
ESPN3. Andy Helwig (Play-by-Play) and Shawn Sharman (Color) will have the call of the opening round matchup.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased online through TicketMaster.com, by calling the Canisius Ticket Office at (716) 888-TIXX, or by stopping by the ticket office in the main lobby of the Koessler Athletic Center between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Tickets will be sold at the ticket office on Wednesday from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. and will also be available at the gate.
GRIFFS IN THE 2018 MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 4 Canisius defeated No. 1 Quinnipiac University, 11-10, in overtime of the semifinals to advance to the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship game. Senior attack Ryan McKee scored the game-winning goal with 2:59 to play in the overtime period.
Canisius defeated No. 2 Detroit Mercy, 10-9, in overtime to secure the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship title. Sophomore attack Mathieu Boissonneault scored the game-winning goal just six seconds into the extra frame.
THREE’S COMPANY
The Griffs claimed their third MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship and first since 2012. The three MAAC Championships are tied with Siena, and former members Mount St. Mary’s, and Providence for the most in conference history. Canisius is now a perfect (3-0) in MAAC Championship games. They previously defeated Siena in 2012 by the same score, 10-9.
SUCCESS FROM THE NO. 4 SEED
The Griffs are the fourth No. 4 seed to claim the MAAC Championship and first since Detroit Mercy in 2013. The two other teams to win the championship from the No. 4 seed were former member Providence (2007) and Marist (2005). The 2018 Championship marked the first time since 2013 that the No. 1 seed in the championship did not win it all.
OT, OT
The 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship game marked the first to be decided in overtime.
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Since 2014 each of the four teams that competed in the MAAC championship have participated in at least two championships.
CHASING HISTORY
2018 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Canisius’ Connor Kearnan is two points away from tying the conference’s single-season record for points (82). Kearnan is also just one assist away from breaking the league’s single-season mark for assists (49).
ON TOP OF THE NATION
Canisius’ Connor Kearnan ranks seventh in the nation in points per game (5.00) and sixth in the nation in assists per game (3.06). Monmouth’s Noah Lode is ninth in the nation in save percentage (.571) and 18
th in goals-against average (8.93). Detroit Mercy’s Logan Shamblin ranks 15
th in save percentage (.544), while teammate Charlie Hayes is eighth in caused turnovers per game (2.13).
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
Quinnipiac secured the 2018 MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Regular Season title and a perfect record (6-0) in conference play with a win over Marist on April 26. The Bobcats were the No. 1 overall seed in the MAAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship for the second time in the last three seasons. It is also the second time over the course of the last three years that Quinnipiac has ran the table in conference play.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37
th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.