#13 MLAX Opens Philly 4 Action at Villanova on Saturday

nPHILADELPHIA – The nationally ranked University of Pennsylvania men's lacrosse team rounds out its three-game road trip at Villanova on Saturday afternoon. The Philly 4 Lacrosse is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Villanova Stadium.

#13 Penn (3-2, 0-0 Ivy League) at Villanova (3-2, 0-0 Big East)
Saturday, March 9 | 1 p.m.
Villanova, Pa. | Villanova Stadium
Watch on FloSports | Live Stats

Last Time Out
#13 Penn split last weekend on the Tobacco Road, toppling #1 Duke 14-12 last Friday before dropping a 13-9 defensive battle to #18 North Carolina this past Sunday. In the clash with the Tar Heels, defender Brendan Lavelle picked up where he left off from the win against Duke, as he tallied five ground balls and two caused turnovers. On the other end of the field, Gabe Furey netted three goals in the first half to account for his first hat trick of the season. North Carolina native Jame Shipley scored a pair late in the fourth to try and rally a comeback, while Cam Rubin, Ben Smith, Griffin Scane, and Tynan Walsh all contributed one to the score sheet to account for the Red and Blue's goals against North Carolina.

Leading the Ivies
Senior Emmet Carroll currently leads all Ivy League goalkeepers in saves per game, averaging 14 saves per game.

Ivy League DPOTW & USILA TOTW
Lavelle was named Ivy League Defense Player of the Week and landed a spot on the USILA Team of the Week earlier this week after having a stellar outing on the Tobacco Road last weekend, recording 11 ground balls and four caused turnovers between battles with #1 Duke and #18 North Carolina.

The senior was a dominant force in Penn's victory in Durham, as he totaled six ground balls and two caused turnovers while holding the reigning Tewaaraton Award winner Brennan O'Neill to just one goal on eight shots as the Quakers handed the Blue Devils their first loss of the year.

Lavelle is on the Tewaaraton Watch List
The first round of Tewaaraton Watch List additions came out on Thursday afternoon, with fourth-year Lavelle making the cut. The defenseman has been having a standout senior campaign to start 2024, leading Penn in groundballs (17) and caused turnovers (6). The Rye, N.Y. native joins teammate goalkeeper Carroll, who was named to the initial round of the 2024 Tewaaraton Watch List.

The Series with Villanova
*Penn holds the all-time advantage in the series with Villanova, leading the series 20-13.

*The Quakers are 9-7 on the road against the Wildcats, claiming the latest road bout in 2022 with an 8-7 victory.

*Villanova holds the last win between the two teams, leaving University City last year with a win.

Last Time We Met
*Last season's Philly 4 Lacrosse meeting was in the City of Brotherly and was a relatively low-scoring game, with neither team hitting double-figures.

*The Quakers went on a five-goal run between the third and fourth quarters, but a late run from the then #14 Wildcats secured a close 9-8 Philly 4 win for Villanova.

*Sam Handley, Hugh Mullane, and Smith netted a pair of goals each to account for most of the offense in the battle.

*Keeper Carroll recorded a career-high 21 saves in the game, a tally that still stands strong heading into this weekend's meeting.

Scouting the Wildcats
*Villanova is bringing a two-overtime 13-12 victory over Drexel into Saturday's matchup.

*Colin Michener leads the offense with 14 goals, and Matt Licata has tallied a team-high 21 points, while Mason Reale has dished out 11 goals.

*Justin Coppola has scooped up 37 groundballs to lead the Wildcats. Defensively, Stephen Zupicich has caused a team-high 12 turnovers.

*Goalkeeper Anthony Wilson has started in net all five games for Villanova, saving 48 of 108 shots faced while holding a .444 save percentage.

#ILPL
#FightOnPenn

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Players Mentioned

#26 Sam Handley: M; 6' 5"; Senior

#22 Emmet Carroll: GK; 6' 3"; Senior

#9 Gabe Furey: M; 6' 5"; Senior

#46 Brendan Lavelle: D; 6' 0"; Senior

#32 Hugh Mullane: M; 6' 2"; Junior

#12 Cam Rubin: A; 5' 9"; Senior

#23 Griffin Scane: M; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#24 Ben Smith: A; 5' 11"; Junior

#60 Tynan Walsh: A; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#26 Sam Handley
: 6' 5"; Senior
: M

#22 Emmet Carroll
: 6' 3"; Senior
: GK

#9 Gabe Furey
: 6' 5"; Senior
: M

#46 Brendan Lavelle
: 6' 0"; Senior
: D

#32 Hugh Mullane
: 6' 2"; Junior
: M

#12 Cam Rubin
: 5' 9"; Senior
: A

#23 Griffin Scane
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: M

#24 Ben Smith
: 5' 11"; Junior
: A

#60 Tynan Walsh
: 5' 10"; Junior
: A