LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The last time the Bellarmine University lacrosse team filed into Owsley B. Frazier Stadium on game day, the Knights notched a signature victory over then-No. 13 Marquette.
Building off that success on its home turf Saturday against Jacksonville in Southern Conference action will be just as important. The Knights (3-6, 1-2 SoCon) will welcome the Dolphins (4-5, 1-2) for a 1 p.m. (ET) face-off.
Bellarmine followed its rousing 9-3 upset victory Tuesday over the Golden Eagles — marking a SoCon team's first win against a ranked opponent — by falling 11-8 to Air Force on Saturday at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas. The Falcons also gave Jacksonville a hard way to go, defeating the Dolphins 18-5 on March 28.
That was the second in a current three-game losing streak for Jacksonville. Before the skid, the Dolphins won four of five games, including a 14-8 drilling of Michigan. The one loss in that span was a competitive 12-10 setback to Marquette. However, the ensuing rough patch has also included losses to conference rivals Richmond (17-8 final score) and High Point (9-6).
Jacksonville's Tom Moore is one of the Southern Conference's most dangerous playmakers. The junior attack leads the league in points per game (4.38) through proficient distribution and goal scoring. He's the SoCon's leader in assists per game at 2.5 (20 overall) and ranks sixth in goals per game at 1.88 (15 overall).
His brother, Rob Moore, is also an impact player for Jacksonville. The senior attack is second on the team in points with 18 behind a combination of 11 assists and seven goals. That assist total — 1.38 per game — ranks him fourth in the conference and he's ninth in points per outing (2.25).
Matching Tom Moore for the team lead in goals with 15 is sophomore attack Chase McIntyre. Junior Bass Barfield has started all nine games in goal for the Dolphins, posting a 12.54 goals-against average with a 49.3 save percentage. Sophomore Sam Rosengarden ranks second in the SoCon with a 58.1 face-off percentage and is fourth in ground balls with a 3.78 per game.
Buoyed by its upset victory over Marquette, Bellarmine had a banner week as far as individual awards. Sophomore attack
Austin Shanks not only received Offensive Player of the Week accolades from the Southern Conference, he garnered national honors from NCAA.com as well. Senior defender
Colin Hart was recognized for his body of work in March, earning Defensive Player of the Month notice from the SoCon.
In the two contests against Marquette and Air Force, Shanks amassed seven goals and four assists. He's now compiled 24 scores this season and is second in the Southern Conference at 2.67 goals per game along with being fourth in points per game at 3.33. He extended his goal-scoring streak to 21 games, currently the third-longest stretch in the nation.
Hart has registered a team-best 13 caused turnovers and collected 28 ground balls. Freshman
Connor Harryman is third in the conference in ground balls (4.25 per game) and fourth in face-off percentage (54.1), while freshman goalkeeper
Drew Goethals ranks third in goals-against average at 9.44.
Jacksonville (4-5, 1-2 SoCon) at Bellarmine (3-6, 1-2 SoCon) Date: Saturday, April 11
Opening face-off: 1 p.m. (ET)
Location: Owsley B. Frazier Stadium
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