ST. BONAVENTURE (5-4) vs. BELLARMINE (5-5)
Saturday, March 15 – 12 p.m.
Louisville, KY
TV: ESPN+
 
OPENING FACEOFF
The St. Bonaventure men's lacrosse team will take its longest road trip of the season on Saturday, traveling to Owsley B. Fraizer Stadium in Louisville, Ky. to face Bellarmine. The Bonnies enter with a 5-4 record and are hot off a thrilling, last-minute comeback victory over Little Three rival Canisius. They look to grab their fourth win in 10 days. Bellarmine enters at an even 5-5, riding momentum from a decisive 19-6 win over Hampton.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Bellarmine leads the all-time series between the programs, taking three out of four since the first meeting in 2020. Most recently, the Bonnies fell to the Knights last season, 13-9.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies added an exclamation point to an already successful week last time out, coming back from what was a 5-1 Canisius lead midway through the third quarter to win in the final seconds. Sophomore Patrick Shanahan found the back of the net off an assist from classmate Blayze Becker as the final buzzer sounded, sending the Bona sideline into a frenzy and earning a 7-6 victory. The win also brought the lead in the all-time series back to SBU, 4-3.
 
BACK-TO-BACK
Bonaventure has now captured Western New York supremacy for the second straight season by beating Little Three rival Canisius. SBU has also enjoyed hat-tricks in consecutive games, as seniors Drew Kenney and Conor Murphy found the back of the net three times each, against Cleveland State (3/8) and Canisius (3/11), respectively.
 
DISRUPTIVE DEFENSE
The Bona defense has allowed 10.1 goals per game this season, ranking 28th nationally. Through the past seven contests, however, the team is allowing just 7.1 goals per game, a figure that would rank fourth nationally if it encompassed the full season.
 
STREAKY SEASON
Bonaventure's three-game win streak is the longest since the 2022 season when the team went 11-4 and won six straight across just over a month's time. That year's squad made an appearance in the MAAC Championship game.
 
OPPONENTS IN COMMON
The Knights and the Bonnies have faced similar competition this season, as both programs have already encountered Mercyhurst, Cleveland State, Canisius, and Robert Morris. Bonaventure has gone 3-1 with a combined goal differential of +4 against these teams, while Bellarmine has compiled the same record with a +12 differential. Bellarmine's loss came at Cleveland State while the Bonnies dropped a road contest at Robert Morris.
 
FRESHMAN FACEOFF
Rookie Lad Harper continues to impress at the faceoff dot, totaling 73 wins for a 51 percent win rate. He has taken 73 percent of the team's faceoffs and has additionally scooped 40 groundballs for the team lead.
 
BETWEEN THE POSTS
Freshman goalie Isaac Farmer continued his streak of success against Canisius, making nine saves as the reigning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week. He has totaled 81 saves on the year, averaging nine per contest.
 
ABOUT BELLARMINE

• The Knights are coached by Andrew Whitley in his sixth season at the helm. He has a 36-48 record with the program in his tenure and put together an 11-win season in 2023. Under his leadership, the program has reached the ASUN Tournament in three straight seasons, which had never been done before in school history.
• Preseason All-ASUN selection and junior John Alie leads the team with 52 points (34G-18A). His goal and assist totals also pace the group. His brother, freshman Joe Alie, ranks second with 21 goals.
• Sophomore defenseman Matt Kirton is effective on ball, leading the team with 13 caused turnovers, and preseason All-ASUN selection Christopher Reynolds ranks second with eight.
• Senior Aidan Fearn takes the majority of the Bellarmine faceoffs, and he has won 70 faceoffs for a 53 percent win percentage.
• Rookie goalie Nolan Hudnut has made 121 saves in 10 appearances, starting in all but one of those contests.

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