TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (4-4) makes the short trip to Long Island to take on its third Top 10 opponent of the season, eighth-ranked Hofstra (5-3). The Jaspers are coming off perhaps their best performance of the season, a dominating 15-6 win over VMI at Gaelic Park on Saturday. Hofstra, meanwhile, dropped a 13-11 decision at No. 11 Drexel on Saturday. Tonight's game will be broadcast on tape delay by Verizon FiOS 1, with Ralph Bednarczyk and Rich Donovan on the call.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
After playing three straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contests, the Jaspers (4-4) take a break from MAAC play for a matchup with Hofstra. Manhattan is coming off a 15-6 win over VMI on Saturday afternoon. Offensively, the Jaspers are led by senior attack James Synowiez, last season's MAAC Offensive Player of the Year. Synowiez paces the team in goals (21), assists (12) and points (33), and has recorded at least two points in every game this season. Junior attack Justin Jensen has 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists), while senior attack Joe Variano is second on the team with 14 goals. Freshman midfielder Chace Calkin, Manhattan's primary face-off man, boasts a team-best 24 ground balls. Sophomore defenseman Kyle Moeller has collected 21 ground balls and leads teh Jaspers with 15 caused turnovers. Junior Jon Fiorillo has seen a majority of the time in goal. Fiorillo is 4-2 with a 9.23 goals against average and a save percentage of .573.
ABOUT HOFSTRA
Hofstra (5-3) is currently ranked eighth in both the USILA Coaches Poll and the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, but has dropped two of its last three games, including a 13-11 loss to conference rival No. 11 Drexel on Saturday. Junior attack Jamie Lincoln paces the Pride in goals (24), assists (17) and points (41). Junior attack/midfielder Stephen Bentz has scored 19 goals, while junior attack Jay Card has registered 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists). Sophomore midfielder Brad Loizeaux ranks fourth on the team with 11 goals. Junior midfielder Steve DiNapoli leads the Pride with 30 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Freshman midfielder John Antonaides is 109-83 on faceoffs and has collected 21 ground balls. Freshman goalkeeper Rob Bellairs boasts a 5-3 record and an impressive 8.82 goals against average. He has also corralled 11 ground balls and has a save percentage of .400. The Pride are a perfect 4-0 at home this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Despite being separated by a mere 30 miles (which is closer than Hofstra is to Stony Brook), this is the first all-time meeting between the Jaspers and the Pride. Manhattan is 0-5 all-time against teams that are currently members of the Colonial Athletic Association. Hofstra is Manhattan's third Top 10 opponent this season. The Jaspers lost 14-3 at No. 5 Johns Hopkins on Feb. 19 and dropped a 13-8 decision against No. 6 Princeton at Gaelic Park on March 9. The game against the Blue Jays was Manhattan's first-ever meeting with Johns Hopkins.