LAKEWOOD, NJ (April 17, 2023) - Today, there are two unbeaten teams left in the CACC. By tomorrow night there will be just one as the Lions and Griffins battle for first place.
Opponent
Chestnut Hill Griffins (8-2, 4-0 CACC)
Where
Lakewood, NJ - GCU Track and Field Complex
When
Tuesday, April 18 - 3:30 p.m.
How to Watch
• Tuesday's game is available to watch via a free-to-view broadcast on the Georgian Court portal of the CACC Digital Network powered by HUDL. Live stats are also available at gculions.com.
Previously vs. Chestnut Hill
• Chestnut Hill got the better of the Lions twice last year.
• The the regular season playing at home, the Griffins came away with a 20-10 win.
• They met again just eight days later in the CACC semifinals where No. 2 seed Chestnut Hill moved on with a 17-15 win.
• Georgian Court led by one at the half, 10-9, but a 6-3 third period gave the Griffins the lead for good.
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Devin Bell scored six times in that game.
Tallen Smith added five goals.
• These two teams are familiar foes. The Lions are 3-6 all-time against CHC. It's their most games against any opponent in program history.
• Two of the Lions three wins came in the CACC Tournament Championship.
Last Time Out
• Georgian Court never trailed in their 20-10 win over Caldwell.
• The Lions scored the first five goals and led 5-1 after one.
• The Cougars made it a two-goal game scoring three straight, but the Lions netted five straight of their own to grab control of the game back.
•
Vincent Giunta scored a team-high three goals.
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Michael Ventresca became the first Lion to ever score 100 career goals.
Individual Milestones
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Michael Ventresca is now the first Lion to score 100 career goals and each goal will continue to add to his record. One more game played and he'll be the third Lion to play in 70 games. He's also three shy of the all-time record for games.
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Daniel Burnham is also chasing 100 career goals. He's scored 93. He's also nine points shy of become the Lions all-time leader in points.
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Max Dennington needs one more caused turnover to become the fourth Lion to reach 30. His next game will also be his 30th.
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Joe Murphy needs one more caused turnover to get to 25. He's also about to play in game number 30.
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Justin Iannarone is one ground ball away from 250.
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Vincent Giunta is two goals shy of 25.
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Brett Bridges also needs two goals to hit 25 and one point for 40.
• With 17 saves
Vincent Burkhart will hit 200 this season.
• Two more goals will get
Ryan Rigby to 25. He's about to play in career game numer 40.
Who's Hot?
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Daniel Burnham has scored at least once in 11 straight games. He also has a ground ball in seven straight.
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Michael Ventresca has multiple goals in five straight games.
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Justin Iannarone has been a plus in the face-off battle in 10 straight games played.
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Tallen Smith has multiple points in eight straight games and has scored a goal in nine straight.
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Brett Bridges has 13 points in his last two games.
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Max Dennington has two or more ground balls in five straight.
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Jordan Frank has 10 ground balls in his last three games.
Lions in the CACC (statistic minimums set by NCAA)
• Georgian Court leads the league with 271 points and103 assists.
• The Lions 473 ground balls are tops in the conference as well.
• With 208 saves, GCU is also leading the CACC and is eighth in the nation.
• On special teams, GCU is first in the CACC stopping 72.2% of all man-up opportunities. They are second scoring 43.5% of the time with the man-advantage.
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Vincent Burkhart's .575 save percentage is second in the CACC and 11th nationally.
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Daniel Burnham's 1.75 assists per game rank fourth.
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Justin Iannarone is second in face-off percentage wining 61.2%.
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Joe Zerr has six man-up goals which is third in the CACC.
About the Opponent
Chestnut Hill Griffins
• The Griffins come to Lakewood winners of seven straight with an 8-2 overall record and 4-0 CACC mark to match the Lions.
• They were picked to finish first in the CACC Preseason Coaches Poll and have won the last two CACC Tournaments.
• Chestnut Hill is one of the best defensive teams in the country. They're allowing just 6.60 goals per game, second in the nation.
• The Griffins defense is also first in opponent clear percentage at .685.
• CHC is winning 63.2% of all face-offs, that leads the CACC and is seventh in D2.
• Offensively, CHC is scoring 11.6 goals per game.
• Noah Hammon leads the team with 27 goals and 36 points.
• Zachary Schultz is winning 64.5% of his face-offs which leads the CACC and is seventh in D2.
• Daniel Grubb and Chase Snyder each have more than 10 caused turnovers.
• In net, Austin Jones leads the country with a .629 save percentage and 6.74 goals against average.
