MEDFORD, Mass. – The Emmanuel College men's lacrosse program is set to face No. 1 Tufts University in Second Round action of the 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse tournament on Saturday, May 12 at Bello Field. The Saints captured the program's first NCAA Tourney win over Maine Maritime Academy, 12-7, to advance in the field and set the stage for Saturday's match-up with the Jumbos.
SEASON AT A GLANCE:
Emmanuel:
- The Saints closed the regular-season ranked first in the GNAC with a 6.01 goals against average in conference play and has 296 saves on the year to rank seventh among NCAA D-III programs.
- Emmanuel ranks first in the conference and second in the nation in caused turnovers with 291 on the year, only behind Lake Forest who has 297.
- Offensively, the Saints have scored 249 goals to currently share the conference lead with Saint Joseph's College (ME).
- EC only netted 17 man-up goals this year during regular-season action; ranking seventh of 11 teams in the league but scored eight man-up goals during the GNAC tournament, converting at over 57% en route to the Championship.
Tufts:
- The Jumbos lead the nation averaging almost 21 goals per game (20.83 gpg) and have outscored their opponents by a combined 187 goals on the year to give them an average winning margin of over 10.39 goals per game, second in D-III only behind Stevens at 11.26.
- In 80 extra-man opportunities, Tufts has scored 33 goals for a .413 conversion rate to rank 37th nationally in EMO scoring percentage and tied for 14th overall in EMO goals.
- Tufts is not afraid to share the ball, ranking fifth nationally in assists with 221, marking the second straight game for the Saints against a Top-5 assisting team as MMA still leads the nation with 241 helpers.
- Defensively, the Jumbos have allowed 10 or fewer goals 10 times this season but their goalkeepers have been forced to make 10 or more saves in 16 or 18 games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Emmanuel:
- Senior attack Ryan Castle (Boxford, Mass.) tops the EC offense with a single-season program record 77 points on 53 goals and 24 assists. He recently set the single-game points record with 10 in the regular-season finale vs. NEC and also holds the single-game goals record (7). He earned GNAC Second Team All-Conference honors at attack.
- Junior attack Thomas Quigley (Marblehead, Mass.) became the Saints all-time leader in assists in the GNAC Quarterfinal win over Norwich and now has 72 career helpers. He's enjoying a strong campaign with 67 points on 36 goals and 31 assists and broke his own single-season assists record in the GNAC Championship game. He earned Third Team All-Conference honors at attack.
- First year middie Cole Cloney (Medfield, Mass.) was named the GNAC Rookie of the Week three times during the regular-season and shares the EC team-lead with Castle while ranking tied for second in the GNAC with 53 goals, a new EC single-season record. He earned First Team All-Conference and All-Rookie Team accolades as a midfielder.
Tufts:
- Senior Jack Boyden (Toronto, Ontario) leads the nation in points (139), points per game (7.72) and assists (79) to go along with 60 goals. He had 13 games on the year with five or more points and seven games this season with 10+ points. He was named the 2023 NESCAC Player of the Year and a First Team attacker.
- Senior attack Tommy Swank (Madison, Conn.) shares the team-lead in goals at 60 and leads the Jumbos with 10 man-up scores this year. He enters the tourney with 79 points and scored in all 18 games this year.
- Senior middie Mason Kohn (San Diego, Calif.) has won 207 of 290 faceoffs this year for a remarkable .714 winning percentage in the center circle which would rank third nationally while his 147 groundballs lead the NESCAC. He was named a First Team All-NESCAC Faceoff Midfielder.
BETWEEN THE PIPES:
EC senior goalie Randy Castle (Boxford, Mass.) is enjoying one of the best statistical seasons in net in the program's history. He currently boasts a 65.1 save percentage to lead the GNAC and rank second in the nation and has made 257 saves to top the GNAC and is a new EC single-season saves record. He's now 16-3 on the year, setting the single-season victories mark and was named the 2023 GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year while being honored on the All-Conference First Team.
Junior Conner Garzone (Malverne, N.Y.) boasts a 17-0 record on the year over 875 minutes of action. He's made 185 save to go along with a .551 save percentage and has 11 games with 10+ saves including a 20-save outing back on March 11 vs. Amherst.
COACHES' CORNER:
Trevor Craven - Emmanuel College
In his 11th overall season at Emmanuel and sixth as Head Coach, Craven has been an integral part of the programs growth. He came on board as an assistant coach under the inaugural coach Brendan McWilliams and took over the helm in 2017 after leaving for one season to serve as the Head Coach at Becker. Craven is enjoying his best year as a Head Coach with a 16-5 record this season including a 9-1 mark in the GNAC and was named the 2023 GNAC Coach of the Year. The 16 wins is a new single-season program-record and his last victory over MMA marked the program's first-ever NCAA tournament victory. He is 23-22 all-time in GNAC regular-season action with Emmanuel.
Casey D'Annolfo – Tufts University
D'Annolfo was voted the NESCAC Coach of the Year by his peers for the first time in his seven years at the helm of the Jumbos. D'Annolfo directed the Jumbos, to the No. 1 seed for the eighth time in program history with a perfect 10-0 record this season in NESCAC play and captured their fifth straight NESCAC title. Tufts is the only unbeaten team in Division III (18-0) and the Jumbos' unbeaten regular-season record marked the sixth time since 2001 a team has gone unbeaten in NESCAC play. D'Annolfo owns a career record of 100-14, including a 48-7 mark in conference play, on the Tufts sideline and Tufts players have received a total of 47 All-American honors during Coach D'Annolfo's six seasons.
THE LAST TIME WE MET:
The Jumbos posted a 25-5 win in the Opening Round of the 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament in Medford, Mass. The hosts jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead before Emmanuel All-American Chris Curtis '16 scored back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 5-2 midway through the first.
Following the Curtis scores, the two-time defending NCAA National Champs rattled off 12 unanswered goals to pull away for the 25-5 win.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Tufts is 3-0 all-time vs. Emmanuel with all three previous meetings coming in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament. The squads met in three straight tournament fields back in 2014, 2015 & 2016, with all three meetings coming at Bello Field on the Medford, Mass. campus.
The Saints fell to the Jumbos 24-2 in their tourney debut in 2014, followed by a 21-6 loss in 2015 and a 25-5 setback in 2015.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
Emmanuel makes its fourth NCAA tournament appearance following their fourth GNAC Championship. EC is now 4-0 all-time in GNAC Championship games. The Saints are 1-3 all-time in the big dance following their first win on the national stage on Wednesday vs. Maine Maritime Academy.
Tufts University makes its 15th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament this weekend, and its 14th consecutive trip into the playoffs as a program. Tufts has won three national championships and has been an NCAA finalist five times
COVERAGE
Saturday's NCAA Tournament game will be streamed live on the web with LiveStats available. To tune into the live action, click on one of the links below:
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS
NCAA Interactive Bracket
TICKETING & SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Adults will be charged $10.00 and senior citizens, students and children ages 3-1 2 will be charged $5.00. Children under the age of 2 will be free. Tickets are available on site via both cash and credit card payment.
Artificial noisemakers are prohibited by the NCAA.
Items that can be held by one individual, reflect good sportsmanship and do not block the view of other ticketed patrons are permitted. No flags or banners are permitted. No signs, flags or banners may be affixed to the facility.
NCAA Digital Program
DIRECTIONS
https://admissions.tufts.edu/visit/parking-and-directions/
