MOUNT ST. MARY'S (2-4, 0-0 NEC) at WAGNER (2-4, 0-0 NEC)
Saturday, March 21, 2015, 1:00 p.m.
Hameline Field, Staten Island, N.Y.
VIDEO: NEC Front Row
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS
MOUNT UPDATE: The Mountaineers have been off since an 8-7 loss to Richmond on March 11 at Waldron Family Stadium. Mark Hojnoski had two goals and an assist while Justin Gosnell added a pair of goals in the loss to Richmond. The Mount held a 32-to-25 edge in shots while Nick Haley won 15-of-19 face-offs in the game. The Mount had 17 turnovers while Richmond goalkeeper Benny Pugh made 15 saves to preserve the win. Mountaineer goalie Matt Vierheller made nine saves in the game. Bubba Johnson leads a balanced offensive attack with six goals and four assists for 10 points.
ABOUT WAGNER: Wagner downed VMI, 12-4, at home on Tuesday to improve to 2-4 on the season. Andrew Streilein recorded a hat trick while Billy Battaglia and Patrick McMenamin each had two goals and an assist in the victory. Wagner owns wins over VMI and UMass-Lowell (14-6) this year while falling to Lafayette (10-5), Rutgers (13-10), Monmouth (7-3) and Dartmouth (11-10). Streilein leads the Seahawks with 11 goals and 17 points while Battaglia has four goals and a team-high nine assists for 13 points. McMenamin and Paul DeVita each have nine goals on the year. Anthony Peruso has started all six games in goal, posting an 8.28 goals against average and a .505 save percentage.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Mountaineers hold a 14-0 lead in the all-time series with Wagner. Last season, the Mount posted a 9-5 win over the Seahawks at Waldron Family Stadium. The Mountaineers are 7-0 all-time on the road against Wagner, including a 14-7 win the last time they played on Staten Island in 2013.
IN THE CAGE: Freshman Matt Vierheller continues to shine in his first season for the Mountaineers. Vierheller leads the Northeast Conference in goals against average (8.00), save percentage (.612) and saves per game (12.60). He has recorded double figures in saves four of five starts, including a season-best 17 saves in the Mount's 7-4 loss to No. 15 Towson. Vierheller made 14 saves while allowing just six goals in the Mount's win over Furman.
BALANCED SCORING: Thirteen different players have scored for the Mount this season, with 10 scoring two or more goals. A quartet of Mountaineers (Bubba Johnson, Spencer Smith, Justin Gosnell and Evan Gormley) are tied for the team lead with six goals each. The Mount offense, however, is averaging just 5.75 goals over the past four games.
GOSNELL CONTRIBUTING: Junior Justin Gosnell, in his first season with the Mountaineers, has acclimated himself to the Mount lineup, posting six goals and an assist over the past four games. Gosnell has recorded a pair of goals in each of the Mount's past two games.
HOJNOSKI RETURNS TO STARTING LINEUP: Mark Hojnoski returned to the starting lineup against Richmond, recording two goals and an assist in the 8-7 loss. Hojnoski had 12 goals and six assists for the Mountaineers in 2014.
HALEY HAS BANNER DAY ON FACE-OFFS: Nick Haley won 15-of-19 face-offs in the Mount's 8-7 loss to Richmond. The senior won all eight face-offs in the second half, while matching a career-high with 10 ground balls. Haley's 15 face-off wins were a career high as well.
MOYNIHAN NAMED NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Mount St. Mary's freshman Mike Moynihan started the season off with a bang, recording a hat trick in the Mount's 11-8 season-opening win at VMI. Moynihan was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, becoming the first Mountaineer to earn the honor since Braedon Graham on Feb. 27, 2012.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Mike Daly, Nick Firman and Braedon Graham will serve as team captains for the Mountaineers this season.
EXPERIENCE ON DEFENSE: The Mount's trio of senior starters on defense includes Nick Firman, Kyle O'Brien and Alex Stefkovich. The trio combined for 90 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers last season. This season, O'Brien leads the Mount with 11 caused turnovers, Firman has 13 ground balls, and Stefkovich nine ground balls. The three have combined for 31 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers in the Mount's six games this season.
PRESEASON POLLS: Mount St. Mary's has been picked to finish in sixth place in the annual Northeast Conference preseason coaches' poll, released Tuesday. Three-time defending NEC Tournament champion Bryant was picked to finish in first place, followed by Saint Joseph's, Hobart, Sacred Heart, Robert Morris, the Mount and Wagner.
UP NEXT: The Mountaineers visit UMBC on Tuesday, March 24, for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.
