MOUNT ST. MARY'S (1-3) at FURMAN (1-4)
Saturday, March 7, 2015, 2 p.m.
Paladin Stadium, Greenville, S.C.
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
OPENING FACE-OFF: The Mount fell to Georgetown, 11-5, on Wednesday at Waldron Family Stadium. After Georgetown took an early 1-0 lead, the Mount scored the next three goals to lead 3-1 early in the second quarter. The Hoyas, however, scored the next five goals to take a 6-3 lead at the break. The Mount cut the deficit to 7-4 with 4:45 left in the third quarter, but would get no closer the rest of the way. Mike Moynihan, Evan Gormley, Tommy Lyons, Robert Jones and Mikey Ripa provide the Mount goals in the game while Bubba Johnson had a pair of assists. Freshman goalkeeper Matt Vierheller made 12 saves in the contest.
ABOUT FURMAN: Furman lost to Air Force, 6-4, in their last outing to fall to 1-4 on the season. Robbie Betchley III led the Paladins with a pair of goals. Goalie Reilly McDermott made six saves in the game. Kenny Meinsen leads Furman in goals (11) while being tied for the team lead in points (12). Jonah Moore also has 12 points (6g, 6a) while Betchley III has seven goals. McDermott has started four of the five games, posting a 9.40 goals against average and a .523 save percentage on the season.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Mount and Furman.
IN THE CAGE: Freshman Matt Vierheller has started three of the Mount's four games in goal this year, posting an 8.67 goals against average and a .606 save percentage. Vierheller has recorded double figure save totals in each of his three starts, including a season-high 17 in the Mount's 7-4 loss to No. 15 Towson.
BALANCED SCORING: Eleven different players have scored for the Mount this season, with nine scoring two or more goals. Spencer Smith leads the team with five goals while Bubba Johnson, Mike Moynihan and Evan Gormely each have four.
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.
SMITH HAS CAREER DAY: Sophomore attack Spencer Smith scored a career-high four goals in the Mount's 11-10 loss to Delaware. Smith, who had not had a multiple-goal game in his career, leads the Mountaineers with seven points on five goals and two assists this year.
EXPERIENCE ON DEFENSE: The Mount defense returns three starters in Nick Firman, Kyle O'Brien and Alex Stefkovich. The trio combined for 90 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers last season. This season, Firman is tied for the team lead with 10 ground balls, O'Brien leads the team with seven caused turnovers, and Stefkovich has five caused turnovers and eight ground balls.
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 host Richmond on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. at Waldron Family Stadium on campus.
