ST. BONAVENTURE (0-2) vs. ROBERT MORRIS (0-1)
Tuesday, Feb. 20 - 4:00 p.m.
Marra Athletics Complex
Radio: Bonnies Online Network

OPENING FACEOFF

• The St. Bonaventure men's lacrosse team returns home to host Robert Morris as the Colonials visit the Marra Athletics Complex for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
• The Bonnies suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime Saturday afternoon vs. Binghamton, 13-12. For the second straight year, Binghamton's Matthew Keegan tallied the game-winner in overtime - the Bearcats won last year's matchup, 12-11, at the Marra Athletics Complex. 
• There were certainly bright spots for the Bonnies in Saturday's game, however, led by the performance of some of their youngest players. Freshman Jake Kucinski tied the program record for goals in a single-game - and set a new benchmark for freshmen - as he scored six times. He matched the school record for goals in a game overall, becoming the third Bonaventure player to score six times in a game. Westley did it twice: Feb. 25, 2023 vs. VMI and April 24, 2021 vs. Siena while Jackson Rose also accomplished the feat May 5, 2022 in the MAAC semifinals vs. Siena. He also tallied the first natural hat trick by a Bonnies player since Sean Westley did so at Quinnipiac April 23, 2022. Kucinski is the only freshman in the country so far this year to score at least six goals in a single game.
• Fellow freshman Patrick Shanahan also had a breakout game, tallying four points (1G-3A). Faceoff specialist Grant Giunchi tallied his first career goal as well and fellow first-year Benny Carter registered his first career point with an assist on Saturday. 
• Five Bonnies freshmen have tallied their first career points so far - Kuchinski, Shanahan, Carter, Giunchi and Jake Argue.

KUCINSKI TAKES TOP A-10 ROOKIE HONORS: Jake Kucinski was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after his spectacular Saturday. Click here for more.

ON THE MARK: Kellen Pulera has been one of the most efficient players in the country so far with his shot selection. Pulera has eight goals on 10 shots (including having all four shots find the net vs. Bellarmine), which ranks tied for third in shot percentage nationally. Nine of his 10 shots have been on goal. He also stands eighth nationally in goals per game (4/gm). He is also the first Bonnies player to score four goals in each of his first two games with the program.

CANADIAN CONNECTION: It's no surprise, but again the Bonnies have tapped into their Canadian pipeline with 12 players hailing from north of the border on the roster in 2024. Among Division I squads, only Robert Morris has more Canadian natives (15).  It's a continued tradition under head coach and Canadian native Randy Mearns who has deep ties to the Canadian national team coaching staff, winning multiple World Championship medals with Team Canada. 

TURNOVER TALLIES: Junior Ryan Olan has been one of the top defenders in the Atlantic 10 in the early going. He's caused five turnovers from opponents this year, including three caused turnovers in the Binghamton game. He currently stands second in the A-10 and 18th nationally in CT per game.

RACKING UP SAVES: Freshman Cris Cucciuffo has made double-digit saves in each of the first two games this season. He leads the A-10 and is seventh in Division I with 15 saves per contest.

SERIES HISTORY: The Bonnies and Colonials are meeting for just the second time. The two teams squared off outside Pittsburgh last year with RMU scoring a 15-6 victory. Jake Rosa tallied a hat trick with three goals, and his younger brother Josh Rosa posted his first career collegiate goal as well. Anthony Cimino had a goal and an assist and Kyle Pepper also handed out an assist. 

ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS

• RMU has only played once thus far in 2024, suffering a 23-7 loss vs. Richmond on opening weekend. Nick Pelletier scored two goals in the opener while five players posted one goal each
• The Colonials returned their second-and-third-leading goal scorers from last year, David Burr (26 goals) and Liam Keane (19)
• Returning goalie Nate Randall posted 156 saves last season.
• Robert Morris was picked fifth out of 10 teams in the ASUN Preseason Poll. The Bonnies opened the year with fourth-ranked Bellarmine. The Colonials went 8-8 last season and 4-5 in ASUN play, upsetting Jacksonville in the first round of the ASUN Tournament before falling to Air Force in the semifinals.

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