GAME INFORMATION:
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2020 | 7:00 p.m.
Location: Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium (Fairfield, Conn.)
Live Stats: FairfieldStags.com
Live Video: Lax Sports Network
THE OPENING FACE-OFF:
- Tuesday's matchup with the Stags will be the first-ever meeting between the two squads.
- The 7:00 start will mark the first night game for LIU since taking on top-ranked Adelphi at Motamed Field on March 20, 2019.
- In the last 15 years, LIU is 7-5 in night games, outscoring opponents 133-94.
- First year head coach Andrew Baxter has led Fairfield to a 3-1 start in 2020 with quality wins against Quinnipiac, Merrimack, and Stony Brook. The lone Stag setback came against No. 14 Georgetown.
- The Sharks begin a stretch of four games in 12 games on Tuesday, rounding out nonconference play with matchups against Fairfield, Quinnipiac, and Umass before opening NEC play against NJIT on March 14.
- 11 different Sharks have scored this season, with Will Snelders, Alex Russell, and Richie LaCalandra leading the way with six goals each.
- LIU has recorded an assist on 68-percent (28-of-41) of their goals this season, with Snelders dishing out a team-high eight helpers.
FAIRFIELD NOTES:
- A win on Tuesday would mark Fairfield's best five-game start since the 2012 team opened its campaign at 7-0. The 2012 squad was also the last Fairfield team to win its first four home games, which the 2020 Stags would match with a victory over the Sharks.
- Faced with an 11-6 halftime deficit on Saturday afternoon, Fairfield outscored visiting Quinnipiac, 13-4, in the second half to surge to a 19-15 victory. Dylan Beckwith led the attack with seven points, and Taylor Strough potted five goals for the Stags.
- Reigning CAA Rookie of the Week Bryce Ford continued the strong start to his collegiate career with a career-high four points consisting of two goals and two assists. Travis Ford also had a four-point day with two goals and two assists.
- In the cage, James Corasaniti made 14 saves, highlighted by six stops in the fourth quarter as the Stags surged ahead for good. The defense in front of him was highlighted by two caused turnovers and three ground balls for George Elmquist. The man-down unit ceded only one goal on four opportunities for Quinnipiac, including two saves for Corasaniti, a caused turnover for Tymon and a Dean Ford ground ball while a Stag was serving out a penalty.
SHARK BITES:
- Will Snelders has recorded a point in all 36 career games, a mark that stands as the 12th-longest mark among Division I players. During his sophomore campaign, Snelders tallied at least three points in every contest and ranked 15th in the nation with 4.69 points per game.
- Additionally, Snelders scored his 122nd career goal last weekend against Hofstra. Snelders now sits 28 away from an LIU program record held by Matty Beccaris '16.
- Through the first five weeks of the season, freshman goalie Will Mark ranks 13th in the nation with 15.0 saves per game. Mark made 18 saves in his collegiate debut against Siena, and has posted an average of 13.5 saves per game.
- The Sharks return over 90-percent of their scoring from 2019 to this season's squad. Seven point scorers left the program after 2019, with the highest point scorer coming in the form of Connor Farrell who tallied 14 points as a senior. The Sharks' top eight goal scorers return to the lineup (Snelders, Jake Gillis, Mike Kadnar, Alex Russell, Thomas Liantonio, Nick Grassa, Dan Foley, Dylan Villari) in 2020. That group combined for 204 goals and 301 total points last season, giving LIU one of the deepest attacks in the NEC this season.
- A win on Saturday would be the 22nd of head coach Eric Wolf's career and first at the Division I level. Wolf has compiled a 21-14 (.600) record, including two-consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins.
