WHERE: @ Bucknell
WHEN: Saturday February, 8 @ 5:00
Delaware had the unique opportunity to get their feet wet this season by opening with a 10-3 victory of High Point last weekend in one of only two lacrosse games to be played. This week they will face a much tougher test in the Bucknell Bison who is coming off a 12-4 record and a disappointing end to their season after losing to Lehigh in the Patriot League Championship.
Both teams are picked to finish near the bottom of their respective conferences, however, both teams would like to use this game to get some early season momentum.
Bucknell Offense vs. Delaware Defense
Edge: Bucknell Offense
Last season, the Bucknell offense ranked 23rd overall in scoring offense, putting up 10.6 goals a game. Meanwhile, Delaware’s defense was ranked 28th overall in scoring defense by allowing an even 10 goals a game to the opposition.
If history is any indication, about Delaware’s defense, it is this: In 2012, they allowed 10 goals in their opening win at High Point. This year, they allowed three. Last year, they lose a one goal game to Bucknell by a score of 9-8. This year=???
Delaware brings back all four starters from last season and are very experienced down low. Sophomore goalie Connor Peaks did not play against Bucknell last season as he did not play until the last seven games of the season. This year, he started off with 15 saves against High Point.
Bucknell’s offense is dangerous this year and is strong all over the place. The Bison bring back eight of their top nine scorers including leading point man David Dickson who had 53 last season. Dickson teams up with sophomores Thomas Filbotte and Brock Ghelfi to form one of the top midfield units in the nation. Meanwhile, senior Todd Heritage and sophomore Sean Doyle team up at attack to even out the offense.
This offense could put up some really big numbers this year and Delaware’s defense is a good first test.
Bucknell Defense vs. Delaware Offense
Edge: Even
Last season, Bucknell had a stout defense led by goalie Kyle Feeney. With Feeney gone to graduation along with Mike Huffner, the defense has some big holes to fill. Not to mention in last year’s meeting Feeney was huge for the Bison as he had 11 saves in the win.
The defense that held teams to 8.4 goals a game, good for 11th in the nation, does return seniors Ben Kellar and Jackson Place. They should provide great experience for both the goalie that replaces Feeney and the defenseman who replaces Huffner.
Delaware was already one of the worst offenses in the nation and they lose their top two scorers in Nick Diachenko and Eric Smith. Both guys recorded 39 and 30 points respectively, thus leaving Connor McRoy and Brian Kormondy to bear the offensive load on their shoulders this season.
In their first game against High Point, McRoy and Kormondy did just that by combining for five points in a 10-3 victory. They will face a tougher task in Bucknell but it will be interesting to see which team is affected more by graduation.
Faceoffs
Edge: Delaware
Bucknell will be replacing the graduated Ryan Gutowski who won half his faceoffs last season. Replacing him will be junior Gavin Sullivan who took 75 faceoffs last year but only won 42.7 percent of his draws. On the other side, junior Tyler Barbarich has a clear advantage having won 56.9 percent of his draws last year for the Blue Hens, good for 16th in the nation.
Barbarich is one of the top faceoff men in the nation and could easily take control of this contest if Sullivan hasn’t improved in the offseason or the Bison can’t make the face off a 50/50 battle.
Prediction
Bucknell has the much better offense and the talent that is brought into the program is better than Delaware’s. Plus, I question where Delaware’s offense will come from if McRoy and Kormondy are nullified. Bucknell’s offense is really deep and experienced enough to keep the turnovers down and cash in on turnovers.
While Bucknell brings in the superior offense, I do expect the edge at faceoff to be a big factor in this game and could see this game winding up like last year’s matchup when Bucknell escaped with a one goal victory. Don’t be shocked if it happens again.
Bucknell 10, Delaware 9
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