LAKEWOOD, NJ (Feb. 17, 2023) - Georgian Court Men's Lacrosse kicks off the 2023 season this weekend when they head north to Massachusetts. 

Opponent (2022 Record)
No. 17 Bentley Falcons (8-6, 6-4 NE10)

Where
Walthom, Mass.

When
Saturday, Feb. 18 - 12 p.m.

How to Watch
• Saturday's game will be available to watch via a free-to-view broadcast via the NE10 Network. Live stats are also available at GCULions.com.

Previously vs. Bentley
• This is the second straight season the Lions open the season with Bentley. The Falcons got the win in Lakewood last year, 13-4.
• Bentley outscored the Lions 6-2 in the opening period despite GCU scoring the first goal of the game courtesy of Joe Zerr.
• Tallen Smith scored twice for GCU.
• Sebastian Farah made 15 saves in goal. 

Last Time Out
• The 2022 campaign ended in the CACC semifinals. As the number three seed, the Lions lost to No. 2 Chestnut Hill 17-15. 
• Georgian Court held a 10-9 advantage at halftime, but were outscored 6-3 in the third period before each team scored twice in the fourth. 
• Tallen Smith and Devin Bell did most of the damage scoring 11 of the Lions 15 goals, five for Smith and six for Bell.
• Michael Ventresca and Daniel Burnham each scored twice. 
• Andrew Candino was in net making 16 saves. 

Individual Milestones
• Andrew Candino will hit 100 saves with 13 more.
• Ten points will get Michael Ventresca to 100.
• Vincent Guinta is three groundballs away from 25.
• With three points James Sanford will get to 25. 
• Daniel Burnham's next game played will be his 50th. He'll also reach 150 shots on goal with two more and two more groundballs will get him to 100. He can move into the GCU all-time top three in goals scored with two more.
• One more assist and Tallen Smith will become the eighth Lion to ever record 30 in a career. 
• With three more points, Michael Ventresca will enter the GCU top-five all-time. 
• Justin Iannarone will become the second Lion to ever take 500 faceoffs with four more. 

Who's Back
• The Lions top-three point scorers all return in 2023. Daniel Burnham led GCU with 63 points a season ago.
• Michael Ventresca scored a team-best 40 goals. Tallen Smith tallied 31 goals and 24 assists.
• Of the seven Lions to reach 20 points in 22, six return. In addition to the three above are Joe Zerr (23), James Sanford (22) and Ryan Rigby (21).
• Andrew Candino saw the most time in net last year of all the goalkeepers on the 2023 roster. He played 350 of the Lions 1013 minutes.

New Faces
• Of the 48 on the Lions roster, one-third, 16 were not a part of the 2022 team.
• Georgian Court brought in 14 true freshman, 10 at the attack and midfield positions.
• GCU also has two transfers. Junior Casey Segda from NJIT and DeAundrey Bethea from Tompkins-Cortland Community College. 

The Schedule
• Georgian Court has an 16-game schedule.
• Following the road game at Bentley, Georgian Court is home for four straight nonconference games.
• CACC action gets underway April 1 at home against Post.
• The CACC schedule now features seven games with the addition of an eighth team, Bridgeport

Preseason Rankings
• Georgian Court was picked to finish third in this year's CACC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Lions were 40-15 overall and 21-3 in the league winning the regular season and postseason tournament.
• GCU garnered 134 total points in the poll and two first-place votes.
• Wilmington was picked to finish first with six first-place votes. Caldwell slid into second in the poll. 
• Following the regular season, the top-five teams will advance to the CACC Tournament. The #4/#5 teams will meet Monday, May 1 at the site of the number four seed. That winner will then go on to the semifinals, hosted by Post Friday, May 5 with the finals Sunday, May 7. 

About the Opponent
Bentley Falcons
• Last season Bentley went 8-6 overall and 6-4 in the Northeast-10. 
• The Falcons advanced to the NE10 semifinals, where their season ended with a 15-10 loss to Adelphi. 
• In the Northeast 10 preseason poll, Bentley was picked to finish fifth in the 11-team league. 
• To start the season, Bentley is ranked 17th in the USILA Preseason Poll. They were also tabbed 14th by USA Lacrosse Magazine and 16th by Inside Lacrosse. 
• Senior attacker Luke Jaber made the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American Second Team member. Junior faceoff specialist Cam Bartolomeo and sophomore long stick midfielder Alex Pelton were All-American Honorable Mention. 
• Jaber led the team last year with 32 goals scored and 51 points. 
• Bentley will have a new look in net. Only Jackson Tinsley who played all of 14 minutes last season has any experience between the pipes for the Falcons.