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Will Costello

Men’s Lacrosse Heads to Union to Open NCAA Tournament

Jake Peluso celebrates following a goal from earlier this season.
The #5 Middlebury men's lacrosse team will begin its quest for its fourth national title when the Panthers travel to Schenectady, New York for an NCAA Regional hosted by Union. Middlebury plays the winner of a first-round game featuring St. Mary's (Md.) and the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, May 13. 
 
ABOUT MIDDLEBURY
  • Middlebury holds a 16-2 overall record and finished as the NESCAC Tournament runner-up, falling to #1 Tufts in the championship game. 
  • The Panthers are making their 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the first since 2016.
  • Middlebury has reached the national final on six occasions. The Panthers have finished as runner-up three times, while also claiming three-consecutive national titles from 2000-2002. 
  • The Panthers own a 33-14 all-time record in NCAA Tournament play.
  • This season, Middlebury has the fourth-best clearing percentage in the nation (.900), while holding opponents to just a 72.8 percent success rate on the clear. The Panthers also rank second in the NESCAC in caused turnovers (208) and ground balls (682). 
PANTHERS TO WATCH
  • Billy Curtis is the Panther points leader, tallying 61 on the year (23G, 38A). The attacker registered 11 points during the NESCAC Tournament, including two goals and five assists during the quarterfinal win against Hamilton. 
  • Aiding the attack are Russell Thorndike and William Ryan. The attackers are both tied for the team lead in goals with 39, while Thorndike is second on the squad in points (60) and Ryan leads the blue and white in player-up goals with seven. 
  • Tom Conley has been a key part of Middlebury's midfield this season. An All-NESCAC First-Team selection, Conley has tallied 22 goals and 16 assists.
  • Defensively, Luke Simpson has caused 40 turnovers which is second in the NESCAC and ranks second on the team in ground balls, picking up 63 this year. 
  • Hayden Kern has raked up 1,020 minutes in goal this year, starting all 18 contests. The first-year goalie has registered double-digit saves on 10 occasions, including a career-high 17 in his collegiate debut against Bowdoin.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
  • Saint Mary's (Md.) finished the regular season with a 14-5 record and went undefeated during United East conference play. The Hawks reached the NCAA Tournament by downing SUNY Morrisville in the league final 17-10.
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy finished the regular season with a 10-6 overall mark and a 6-1 record in Skyline Conference action. The Mariners upset top-seeded SUNY Maritime 15-7 in the conference title tilt to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
  • Middlebury has never faced either Saint Mary's (Md.) or USMMA in its history in men's lacrosse. 
TOURNAMENT INFO
  • The winner of the second-round game advances to the third round, where the victors will play the winner between Union and Western New England on Sunday, May 14.
  • NCAA Championship Central
  • Full Bracket
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