Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
#15/- North Carolina
Bucknell Men's Lacrosse Travels to No. 15 North Carolina
3/11/2019 10:21:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
The Tar Heels will be the Bison's third ranked opponent of the 2019 campaign. Bucknell will look to ride the momentum from its 10-7 victory over Holy Cross on March 9 into its fifth ever meeting with North Carolina.
The complete game notes can be viewed here.
Bucknell (2-4, 1-1 Patriot League) vs. No. 15/- North Carolina (4-2, 0-0 ACC)
When: Tuesday, March 12 – 4 p.m.
Where: UNC Lacrosse Stadium – Chapel Hill, N.C.
Internet Video: WatchESPN ($)
Live Stats: GoHeels.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_MLAX
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are currently 2-4 (1-1 Patriot League) following their 10-7 victory over Holy Cross on March 9.
• In 2018, Bucknell finished 11-4 overall and captured a share of the Patriot League regular-season title by going 7-1 in conference action.
• The Bison reached the double digits in victories for the sixth time in Frank Fedorjaka's tenure as head coach and most notably knocked off eventual national champion Yale (9-8 OT) and then No. 6 Loyola (12-11) on the road. They rose as high as 10th in both the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll and Inside Lacrosse Maverik Media Listing, their best national ranking since the 2013 campaign.
• Bucknell's captains are seniors Ryan Durkin, Christian Klipstein, Reed Malas and Jarett Witzal. The four first-time captains will lead a team featuring 26 underclassmen.
• Malas represented the Bison on the 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team. A year ago, he finished second to Will Sands in assists (12) and fourth to the "Big Three" of Sands, Sean O'Brien and Connor O'Hara in points (34). The "Big Three" was lost to graduation.
• Klipstein is a three-year starter in the cage. An All-Patriot League Second Team goalie in 2017 and 2016, he needs 25 saves to become the seventh Bison with at least 500 in his career. He posted a goals against average south of 10 in 2016 (8.41) and 2018 (9.11), with his best single-season save percentage of .579 coming as a freshman.
• Witzal is the Bucknell record holder in career faceoff wins (526), single-season faceoff wins (171, 2016), single-game faceoff wins (22, 2016) and single-season faceoff percentage (.6173, 2016). At No. 11/10 Ohio State on Feb. 23, he became the first Bison to win his 500th career faceoff.
• The Bison have a grueling non-conference schedule in 2019. They opened their 52nd campaign on Feb. 2 at Maryland, which reached the NCAA title game three years in a row from 2015 to 2017, winning the 2017 edition. They also faced off against No. 11/10 Ohio State, the 2017 NCAA runner-up, on Feb. 23 and take on North Carolina, the 2016 NCAA champion, this Tuesday.
Inside the Holy Cross Box Score
• Bucknell scored three unanswered goals in the final seven minutes of regulation to down Holy Cross, 10-7, on March 9 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• After the Crusaders used a 4-1 run to tie the game at seven apiece with 7:55 left to play, the Bison answered with a 3-0 run to secure their first Patriot League win of the 2019 campaign. During that run, three different Bison found the back of the net, with Will Yorke registering two assists to finish with a game-best five points (2g-3a).
• Reed Malas added a hat trick and a helper while Ryan Durkin posted three points on two goals and an assist.
• A staggering 13 different Bison forced a turnover over the course of the contest, with Hunter Newman (3), Matt Fedorjaka (2), Tommy Sopko (2), Conor Shears (2) and Travis Talarico (2) causing multiple turnovers. Newman added three ground balls to pace the Bucknell defensive unit.
• In net, Christian Klipstein finished with seven saves and five ground balls. Jarett Witzal went 11-for-21 on faceoffs, also scooping up a game-best eight ground balls.
• Bucknell finished with advantages in shots (35-29), shots on goal (23-14) and ground balls (41-29). The Bison stymied the Crusader clearing game, holding Holy Cross to 17-for-28 on its attempts. They also forced the Crusaders into turning the ball over 22 times.
No. 15/- North Carolina at a Glance
• The Tar Heels were ranked 15th in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll and received votes in the Inside Lacrosse Media Listing this week. They will be the Bison's third ranked opponent of the 2019 campaign; they previously faced No. 3 Maryland (6-11) on Feb. 2 and No. 11/10 Ohio State (13-16) on Feb. 23 in road action.
• North Carolina is currently 4-2 (0-0 ACC) following a 17-5 rout of Marist on March 8. The Tar Heels' victory over the Red Foxes snapped a two-game losing skid during which they were edged by Johns Hopkins (10-11) and No. 8 Denver (10-12).
• The new UNC Lacrosse Stadium was debuted on March 2 against the Pioneers.
• A year ago, North Carolina failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006. The Tar Heels finished that campaign with a 7-7 (1-3 ACC) record, losing seven of their final eight games.
• The 2017 North Carolina team won the ACC Tournament title, the program's first since 2013. In 2016, North Carolina won its first NCAA crown since 1991 by downing Maryland, 14-13, in overtime on Chris Cloutier's golden goal.
• While the Tar Heels lost two-time All-American Cloutier to graduation at the end of the 2018 campaign, they returned their next six leading scorers from that season.
• Senior defender Jack Rowlet was named a 2019 Preseason Third Team All-American by Inside Lacrosse. Through six games, he has caused 11 turnovers and scooped up 18 ground balls.
The Bucknell/North Carolina Series
• This will be the fifth meeting between the Bison and Tar Heels. The teams last squared off during the 2014 campaign.
• At the time of their previous four tilts, North Carolina was nationally ranked. In 2014, the Tar Heels were slotted fifth in the country and cruised past Bucknell in Chapel Hill, 20-4.
• The Bison's lone victory came in their first ever contest. In 2001, they downed then No. 10 North Carolina, 9-4, in Baltimore.
• Bucknell's defense, led by senior Brian Treacher, held 2000 Third Team All-American Jeff Sonke to zero goals and assists on seven shots. Bison sophomore Justin Sussman was strong between the pipes, registering 17 saves.
Category Leaders
• Goals: Will Yorke (14)
• Assists: Reed Malas and Tom Smith (6)
• Points: Will Yorke (19)
• Shots: Reed Malas (51)
• Ground Balls: Jarett Witzal (49)
• Caused Turnovers: Conor Shears (10)
• Face-Off Wins: Jarett Witzal (71)
• Face-Off Percentage: Jarett Witzal (.500)
• Save Percentage: Christian Klipstein (.508)
• Goals Against Average: Christian Klipstein (11.04)
• Saves: Christian Klipstein (66)
School Record Holders on the 2019 Roster
• Jarett Witzal: Career Face-off Wins (526), Season Face-off Wins (171, 2016), Game Face-off Wins (22, 2016 vs. Lehigh), Season Face-off Winning Percentage (.6173, 2016), Career Face-off Attempts (839), Season Face-off Attempts (325, 18)
Career Milestone Watch
• Christian Klipstein: Needs 25 saves to become the seventh Bison with 500 in his career
• Reed Malas: Needs two goals to reach the 50-goal plateau
• Jarett Witzal: Needs 29 ground balls to move into second in school history with 258
Single-Season Milestone Watch
• Jarett Witzal: Needs 20 ground balls to crack Bucknell's top 10 for the second time with 69
Malas Candidate for Senior CLASS Award®
• Senior midfielder Reed Malas was selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate men's lacrosse.
• Malas was drafted by the Florida Launch in the seventh round, 56th overall, in the 2019 Major League Lacrosse Draft on March 9.
• Malas has been a key midfielder for the Bison since arriving in Lewisburg. Over the past three seasons, he has started all 34 of Bucknell's games. He currently boasts 78 points (48g-30a) in 46 career games.
• In 2018, Malas enjoyed a breakout year, placing fourth on the team with 34 points (22g-12a) while helping the Bison capture a share of the Patriot League regular-season title and achieve a top-10 national ranking. For his efforts, he earned All-Patriot League Second Team accolades for the first time in his career.
• Malas has excelled in the classroom during his time at Bucknell. A two-time Academic All-Patriot League Team honoree, he holds a cumulative grade point average of 3.96. Malas, who has made the Bucknell Dean's List every semester to date, is working towards a degree in accounting & financial management and is on pace to graduate in May 2019.
• Malas has interned for Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., CVCCredit Partners and Morgan Stanley. In his hometown of Mamaroneck, New York, he is heavily involved in the youth lacrosse community. Through the years, he has volunteered with multiple youth programs and given lessons.
Bison All-Patriot League Selections
• Bucknell returns two All-Patriot League players in goalie Christian Klipstein (2nd in '17 & '16) and midfielder Reed Malas (2nd in '18).
• The Bison lost five of their six 2018 all-league honorees: attacker Will Sands (1st), midfielder Sean O'Brien (1st), defenseman Benny Borgognone (2nd), defenseman Matt Gilray (2nd) and attacker Connor O'Hara (2nd).
• Sands and O'Brien were also recognized as USILA All-Americans, with Sands making the third team and O'Brien garnering honorable mention accolades. Sands joined David Dickson (2013, 3rd), Billy Eisenreich (2012, 3rd), Chris Cara (2005, 3rd), Peter von Hoffman (1979, 3rd), Lou Kissling (1970, 3rd), Ed Farver (1969, 1st) and Jim McKee (1969, 2nd) as Bison who were tabbed to USILA's All-America First, Second or Third Team. Five members of that group have been inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame.
Bucknell in the 2018 National Polls
• The Bison were ranked 16th in the final Inside Lacrosse Maverik Media Listing, and 17th in the final United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll, of the 2018 campaign.
• Fresh off of capturing a share of the 2018 Patriot League regular-season title, Bucknell entered the national top 10 for the first time since the 2013 campaign on April 23.
• The Bison, who wrapped up the regular season with an 11-3 (7-1 Patriot League) record, moved to 10th in both the USILA Coaches' Poll and the Inside Lacrosse Maverik Media Listing.
• Bucknell last appeared in the national top 10 on March 25, 2013 following thrilling road victories over then No. 2 Cornell (9-8) and No. 20 Albany (18-12). The Bison were listed sixth in that week's Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, which remains their highest ranking in program history, and seventh in the USILA Coaches' Poll.
Week USILA Inside Lacrosse
Feb. 26 20 -
Mar. 26 16 18
Apr. 2 14 14
Apr. 9 12 11
Apr. 16 11 12
Apr. 23 10 10
Apr. 30 14 15
Final 17 16
Bucknell Captures Ninth Patriot League Regular-Season Title
• In 2018, Bucknell captured its ninth Patriot League regular-season crown.
• The Bison previously won the regular-season title in 1996 (5-0), 2000 (5-1), 2001 (6-0), 2002 (5-1), 2003 (5-1), 2005 (5-1), 2009 (6-0) and 2011 (6-0). It was the fifth time they shared the crown; they claimed it outright with their undefeated league records in 1996, 2001, 2009 and 2011.
• Bucknell's seven Patriot League wins represent its highest total in program history. With the additions of Loyola and Boston University, the league's regular season expanded to eight games in 2014. Before the 2018 campaign, the Bison had never won more than five Patriot League games since those squads joined the league.
Head Coach Frank Fedorjaka
• Frank Fedorjaka took over as the Bucknell head men's lacrosse coach in 2006 when he succeeded longtime mentor Sid Jamieson. Now in his 14th season at the helm of the program, he has fashioned a stellar 124-78 (.614) record, including a 58-32 (.644) Patriot League ledger.
• At the end of the 2018 regular season, Fedorjaka was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. He was previously named the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2011. In 2009, the Bison won the Patriot League regular-season crown with a 6-0 record; the 2011 squad captured both the regular-season and tournament titles, advancing to Bucknell's second NCAA Tournament in program history.
• The Bison have won nine or more games in nine of Fedorjaka's 13 seasons, including a program-record 14 in 2011, 12 in 2013 and 11 in 2018.
• Including a five-year stint as head coach at Franklin & Marshall from 1994 to 1998, Fedorjaka has a 163-109 (.599) lifetime record.
Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament
• Bucknell has appeared in 12 of the past 14 Patriot League Tournaments, including 10 in a row from 2007 to 2016.
• After suffering championship-game losses in 2008 and 2009, the Bison won their first Patriot League Tournament title in 2011 behind convincing victories over Lehigh and Colgate.
• In 2013, the Bison again advanced to the Patriot League championship game, where they fell to top-seeded Lehigh.
• Bucknell is 7-12 all-time in the Patriot League Tournament.
• Because of the goal differential between the three co-champions, the Bison were seeded third in the 2018 Patriot League Tournament; on April 25, they were upset in the quarterfinals by sixth-seeded Boston University, 12-11, at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Bucknell in the NCAA Tournament
• The Bison appeared in the 2001 and 2011 NCAA Tournaments after securing an automatic bid as the Patriot League champion.
• In 2001, Bucknell played fifth-seeded Notre Dame in its first NCAA Tournament game at Army West Point's Michie Stadium. The Fighting Irish used a 6-0 run to turn a 2-2 deadlock into an 8-2 advantage 39 seconds into the third quarter and never looked back, ultimately winning by 12-7 margin.
• In 2011, the Bison were minutes away from their first NCAA Tournament win in program history, but seventh-seeded Virginia scored twice in the final 2:32 of regulation to force overtime. Then, Matt White found the back of the net 1:27 into the extra frame to lift the host Cavaliers to a stunning 13-12 verdict at a rainy Klockner Stadium.
• Against Virginia, Bucknell finished with a 47-30 shot advantage, went 18-for-19 on clears, won 15 of 29 face-offs and committed only eight turnovers. Billy Eisenreich and Ryan Klipstein, the older brother of current Bison goalkeeper Christian Klipstein, each posted four points (2g-2a) while Charlie Streep and Todd Heritage added hat tricks.
A Look Ahead
• Bucknell resumes Patriot League play at Boston University on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m.
• Last year, the Terriers knocked off the Bison, then ranked 10th nationally, in the Patriot League quarterfinals, 12-11.
