BOSTON – After a strong finish to the regular season, the Emmanuel Saints men's lacrosse program is back in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Playoffs, keeping a streak of consecutive postseason appearances alive, a feat that dates to 2012. After a 6-9 overall record, including 5-5 in the GNAC, the Saints have earned the No. 6 seed for the GNAC Quarterfinals. In their way is the No. 3 seed Rivier University Raiders, who claimed the third spot in the playoffs following a 13-3 season and 8-2 record in conference play. Emmanuel heads for Rivier on Saturday, April 30 for a 4:00 p.m. faceoff at Joanne Merrill Field.
OVERVIEW
The winner of Saturday's game heads to the GNAC Semifinal Round on Wednesday, May 4, where they meet the winner of a playoff match between the No. 2 Lasell University Lasers and the No. 7 University of Saint Joseph Blue Jays.
On the other side of the bracket, the No. 1 seed Norwich University Cadets host the No. 8 Saint Joseph's College Monks on Friday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. The No. 4 Dean Bulldogs get the No. 5 Johnson & Wales University Wildcats in the quarterfinals on Saturday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m.
SEASON AT A GLANCE
Emmanuel:
- The Saints did plenty of damage in conference play this season in earning the No. 6 seed for Saturday's game. In 10 GNAC games, EC scored the fifth-most goals (119) to go along with the third-most assists (70).
- Defensively in the 10 conference games, Emmanuel led the GNAC in successful clears (223) while ranking third in successful clear percentage at 85.4.
- The Saints have been gathering momentum over the last month, winning five of their last six games, dating back to April 9. The six total wins this season are the most wins for the program since 2017, while the five conference wins are the most since 2016.
- In a three-game winning streak to end the year, EC outscored their opponents 47-10 to earn their No. 6 seeding for the playoffs.
Rivier:
- The Raiders enter the playoffs as only one of two GNAC teams to score over 200 goals this season. Rivier ranks second in goals scoring (207) while averaging the third-most goals per game (12.94).
- In addition to the strong offense, the Raiders defense surrendered the second-fewest goals against average (7.89) in the conference. Rivier goalies combined to lead the GNAC in save percentage at 61.2 percent.
- Another team riding momentum, the Raiders are 7-1 in April, including a four-game winning streak going into Saturday's play. Included in that four-game winning streak are three wins by one goal and a pair of overtime victories.
- RU is no stranger to close games in 2022. Their 13-3 overall record includes a 5-2 record in one-goal games and a 2-1 record in games decided in overtime.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emmanuel:
- Junior Ryan Castle (Boxford, Mass.) led the team in goals this season with 39. He added 13 assists for 52 points, all stats that proved to be career-highs. Ryan Castle is approaching the 100 career point mark, just four shy of the plateau to become the fifth player in program history to reach that mark.
- Sophomore Thomas Quigley (Marblehead, Mass.) was the Saints highest point scorer this year following a career-season of 25 goals and 31 assists for 56 points. In addition to the team-high 56 points, the 31 helpers also led the team.
- Senior Colin Dickinson (Barre, Vt.) rounds out the trio of 20-goal scorers for EC. Dickinson scored 22 in the regular season and added a career-high 11 assists for a new career-best 33 points.
- Senior Samuel Burghardt (Gorham, Maine) is one of many contributors on defense for Emmanuel. Burghardt led the team with 29 caused turnovers and ranked fourth on the squad with 36 ground balls. First-year Evan Decker (Milwaukee, Wis.) is off to a strong start to his career for EC after finishing the season with 39 ground balls, second-most on the team.
- The netminder for Saturday's Quarterfinal will be a tight call for the Saints. Junior Randy Castle (Boxford, Mass.) finished the season 3-5 with a 10.42 GAA and 56.6 save percentage. Sophomore Eric Anderson (Sparta, N.J.) also went 3-5 this season, adding an 11.20 GAA and 56.9 save percentage.
Rivier:
- Sophomore Michael Ference (Salem, N.H.) is far and away the biggest threat for the Raiders. A career-year for the attackman, Ference ranked second in the conference this season with 80 points while also ranking third in the GNAC with 46 goals and fourth in the conference with 34 assists. In two seasons with Rivier, Ference is already over the 100-point plateau, sitting at 122 career points in just 25 career games.
- Not just a force on the offensive end, Ference led the Raiders in caused turnovers (19) while ranking fourth among his teammates in ground balls (35).
- Junior Jeffery Potter (North Bennington, Vt.) and first-year Chris Heitmiller (Nashua, N.H.) tied for second on the team in goals, each netting 26 on the year. Sophomores Connor Eck (Franklin, Mass.) and Coby Mercier (Boscawen, N.H.) round out the 20-goal scorers for Rivier, following season totals for 25 and 24 goals, respectively.
- The defensive pairing of sophomore Adam Hailey (Salem, N.H.) and first-year Parker Williams (Limington, Maine) enjoyed similar campaigns. Hailey and Williams finished the season recording 43 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers apiece.
- In goal will likely be sophomore Sawyer Gagnon (Gorham, Maine). The full-time starter, Gagnon started 15 games for RU, amassing a 12-3 record with an 8.20 GAA and 59.9 save percentage. His 12 wins were most in the GNAC while his GAA puts him third in the conference.
COACHES CORNER
Trevor Craven – Emmanuel – 5th Season
Craven is in his fifth season as head coach for the Saints, making his fourth GNAC Playoff appearance. The Saints six total wins are the most with Craven as head coach, as are the five wins against conference opponents.
James DeLanoy – Rivier – 11th Season
DeLanoy has spent his entire 11-year coaching career with the Raiders, compiling an 87-71 record since taking over in 2012. The Raiders 13-win season is the most under DeLanoy and set a new program mark for wins in a year.
LAST TIME WE MET
In one of the many one-goal games for Rivier, the Raiders held off a surging Saints second half offense to claim a 10-9 win on March 23. The Raiders led 10-5 with 12:07 remaining in the third quarter and would be held scoreless in the final 27:07 to hang on for the win.
Emmanuel added four goals to pull to within a one at 10-9, but a pair of Saints penalties in the final minute of the game allowed space and time for Rivier to run out the clock and hang on to win.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
The Saints and Raiders are split, 6-6, in 12 all-time meetings, with both teams' victories coming via six-game winning streaks. EC began the rivalry at 6-0 through six meetings, but RU has claimed wins in the last six games, including three victories during the 2021 year.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
Saturday's GNAC Quarterfinal is a familiar match for both, as the Saints and Raiders one all-time meeting in the postseason came last year in Nashua. Rivier advanced to the GNAC Semifinals after defeating Emmanuel, 11-8.
In postseason history for both teams, the Saints hold the advantage with an 8-5 all-time mark while the Raiders are just 2-9. However, with the last Saints playoff win coming in 2016, the Raiders have the more recent success after wins in the GNAC Quarterfinals in 2019 and 2021.
COVERAGE
Saturday's GNAC Quarterfinal Game between the No. 3 Rivier Raiders and No. 6 Emmanuel Saints can be followed by using the "Live Video Stream" and "Live Stats" links below.
LIVE VIDEO STREAM
LIVE STATS
