PHOTO CREDIT: IAN NEADLE
The NCAA season is continuing to wind down as the NCAA Tournament has claimed eight victims and eight winners this weekend in the opening round. How did the players who were drafted by their respective MLL teams do over the weekend? Here is a quick recap.
Mike Chanenchuk, M, Maryland—The future Charlotte Hound was his normal self for Maryland after being in question all of this past week heading into the Cornell game. Thankfully, he showed up big time for the Terps as he scored with two seconds left on the clock to help Maryland move onto the NCAA quarterfinals. He scored two goals and handed out two assists as well.
Niko Amato, G, Maryland—Amato anchored a defense that held Cornell to seven goals in their exciting victory over Cornell. He only had eight saves but is ranks seventh in the nation in save percentage.
Stephen O’Hara, D, Notre Dame—O’Hara and the Fighting Irish seem to be getting hot at the right moment. O’Hara and the defense held Harvard’s offense to five goals and he helped hold the Crimson’s top attackman to just one goal.
Justin Ward, A, Loyola—Ward finished a fantastic season with two goals in the Greyhounds loss to the Great Danes of Albany. He finishes the year with 74 points and second in the nation in assists.
Pat Laconi, M, Loyola—Laconi had two goals for Loyola in trying to get them back into the game against Albany. Unfortunately, they could not use the momentum and fell at home in the first round. Laconi had an impresive season as he had 30-plus caused turnovers, 11 goals and three assists, all as a defensive midfielder.
Joe Fletcher, D, Loyola—Fletcher did not have the finale that he wanted for his college career. Fletcher was abused by Lyle Thompson for eight points as the Hounds lost in the first round of the tournament. It puts a damper on an otherwise great season for him.
Jeremy Noble, M, Denver—Noble continues to be a do-it-all midfielder for the Pioneers as he had two points, six ground balls and two caused turnovers in the team’s win over UNC. Noble will look to help shut down Drexel in the team’s quarterfinal matchup in Delaware this weekend.
Colin Dunster, M, Bryant—Dunster scored two goals for the Bulldogs in their upset win over the Syracuse Orange and will look to continue to be a threat from the outside against the strong defense of Maryland.
Alex Zomerfeld, M, Bryant—Zomerfeld also added two goals in Bryant’s upset over the Orange and will be key in working in tandem with Dunster to provide the firepower from up top.
Mark Cockerton, A, Virginia—Cockerton scored two goals and added an assist in Virginia’s opening round loss to Johns Hopkins. The senior ends his season with 63 points, tied with Wells Stanwick for 11th in the nation.
Brandon Benn, A, Johns Hopkins—Benn added four goals to his scoring total in the Blue Jays opening round victory over the Virginia Cavaliers. He now has 44 points on the season and will look to put the ball in the back of the net against another tough opponent in the Duke Blue Devils.
Jordan Wolf, A, Duke—Wolf continues his strong play as he recorded another hat trick and added an assist as well. He ranks third in the nation in points with 84 and will look to improve upon that total against a tough Hopkins defense.
Ben McIntosh, M, Drexel—McIntosh continues his hot play as he added a hat trick in the high schoring affair that Drexel had with their crosstown rivals. He now has 13 points in his last three games and will look to continue his hot streak against Denver this weekend.
Josh Dionne, A, Duke—Dionne had two goals in a blowout victory over Air Force in the opening round and now has 44 goals on the season. He also ranks third on the team in points as he has 51 on the season.
