COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – A year removed from the most successful season in school history, the Ursinus College men's lacrosse team has its sights set even higher as it prepares to embark on its latest postseason journey.
Ursinus is back in the Centennial Conference playoffs after going 13-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play this spring, locking up the No. 2 seed for the second straight year and booking its first-ever return trip to the league championship tournament. The Bears, who will host third-seeded Franklin & Marshall Wednesday at 7 p.m. under the lights at Patterson Field, are aiming to add a few unprecedented lines to a postseason resume only now beginning to take shape.
Wednesday's game marks the Bears' third appearance in the CC playoffs, all of them coming within the last six years. Ursinus, ranked 17th in Division III, is hosting a semifinal contest for the second time in as many seasons, and last year's was certainly one for the books. The Bears trailed 5-3 late in the third before rattling off four straight goals to hold on against Dickinson, 8-6, for their first playoff win in program history. Ursinus took top-seeded Gettysburg down to the wire in a classic championship game, ultimately falling just short in an 11-10 thriller.
The Bears rebounded to edge Cabrini, 8-7, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament – the program's first NCAA playoff triumph – before dropping a double-overtime marathon to Gettysburg in the second round.
Last season's historic achievements now firmly in the rearview mirror, the men's lacrosse team is bracing to make a run at its first conference crown. The top-seeded Bullets - ranked 7th in Division III and set to host first-time playoff participant Swarthmore in the other semifinal - lurk in the distance, but Ursinus must first deal with a dangerous Diplomats squad to set up a rematch for the league title.
Scouting F&M: Franklin & Marshall, the CC runner-up in 2014, returns to the postseason fold for the third time in four seasons following a one-year hiatus. The Blue and White finished 12-4 overall and 6-2 in league play, its only losses coming at the hands of Gettysburg (13-5) and Ursinus (15-5). The Diplomats, ranked 9th in the most recent South Region poll, were effective in close games, edging McDaniel and Swarthmore by one goal and going 5-0 in CC games decided by three goals or less.
Franklin & Marshall boasts one of the conference's biggest starts in sophomore attach Sean Rogers, who leads the CC in goals (34) and points (28) and has recorded at least three points in 13 games this season. Senior attack Michael Bossidy ranks fourth in goals (30), while junior attack Mike Rama (25 goals) and sophomore midfielder Mike Wasik (21) also represent viable scoring options.
The Diplomats have had their share of defensive struggles, ranking last in the conference in save percentage (48.8) and seventh in goals-against average (9.11). Despite those numbers, Franklin & Marshall has been opportunistic; it leads the CC with 173 caused turnovers. Junior Anthony Dougherty is third in the conference with 31 and has combined with freshman Tommy O'Connor (26, 6th CC), senior Wes Rhudy (25, 7th), and junior Nick Zenobio (18, T-12th) for 100 takeaways.
Sophomore Thomas Moore has made 11 starts in goal, notching a save percentage of 47.4 and a goals-against average of 9.21. Freshman Scott Hatch (51.1, 8.74) has started four games and was effective in the first meeting, making eight saves to just three goals allowed after relieving Moore late in the first half.
Bear Report: Five Ursinus players recorded at least 30 points in the regular season, more than any other team in the conference. Sophomore Gerard Brown racked up a school-record 35 assists to go with 14 goals, and freshman Peter DeSimone (23 G, 18 A) led all CC rookies in points, goals, and assists. Senior Steve Mussoline (27 G, 5 A) was the Bears' leading goal-scorer, followed closely by sophomore Ian Desenberg (26 G, 6 A), and senior Logan Panaccione finished with 18 goals and 16 assists. Eight different Bears have tallied a hat-trick at least once this season.
Senior Patrick O'Donoghue has enjoyed a standout season anchoring the defense, pacing Ursinus with 29 caused turnovers and adding 47 ground balls, good for second on the team. Senior G.B. Harkins (21 GB, 8 CT) and junior Zach Jones (16 GB, 9 CT) join O'Donoghue to form a stingy back line in front of two-time All-American senior goalkeeper Brian Neff, who ranks 12th in the nation in goals-against average (6.81). Junior Matthew Cioeta (44 GB, 12 CT) and senior Anthony Torello (26 GB, 9 CT) are also key cogs in a defensive unit that ranks as one of the best in Division III.
First Meeting: For all of Rogers' prolific exploits, he was nearly invisible in the first meeting between the teams, a 15-5 Ursinus rout in Lancaster that came during a school-record eight-game winning streak. Rogers fired off nine shots, but none found the back of the cage, and he finished with a single assist. The Bears had no such issues, getting five goals from Mussoline, three from senior Mike Durst, and a goal and four assists out of DeSimone. Ursinus led 4-0 less than five minutes in and took a 12-2 bulge into halftime following a second quarter in which the Bears outscored the home side by a 5-0 count.
Key Trends: Ursinus' biggest advantages figure to rest with its balance between offensive and defensive prowess and in the faceoff circle. The Bears lead the CC in scoring offense (11.67) and are 17th in the nation in scoring defense (6.93). Additionally, Franklin & Marshall is second-to-last in man-up offense, converting at just an 18.4-percent clip; Ursinus, conversely, tops the CC and is tied for 21st in Division III at 42.1 percent.
The Bears won faceoffs at a 56.9-percent clip during the regular season, a relatively significant edge over the Diplomats' success rate of 49.9 percent. Indeed, senior specialist James Fairchild was 16-of-24 in the first meeting, helping Ursinus to a massive disparity in possession time.
Series History: Franklin & Marshall holds a 9-6 all-time edge in the series, though Ursinus has captured the last two meetings. This is the first playoff matchup between the two teams.
Home Cookin': Ursinus went undefeated at home during the regular season for the first time in school history, and the Bears have won 10 straight games at Patterson Field, including four in a row under the lights.
Centennial Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship
Wednesday, May 4 – Semifinals
No. 4 Swarthmore at No. 1 Gettysburg, 4:00 p.m.
No. 3 Franklin & Marshall at No. 2 Ursinus, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 - Championship
Semifinal winners, 1:00 p.m. (site of highest remaining seed)
