Big Green Travel to Siena to Face Saints on Saturday

Saturday, March 2

Loudonville, N.Y.

11:00 AM

Dartmouth College

Siena

Photo by: Cayla Fernandes

Big Green Travel to Siena to Face Saints on Saturday

3/1/2024 3:35:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Game Notes (PDF)Watch on Siena All-Access (Free)Live Stats

Dartmouth is eyeing its second win of the season

By: Justin Lafleur

GAME 4
Dartmouth (1-2, 0-0 Ivy League) at Siena (2-2, 0-0 MAAC)
Dates: Saturday, March 1, 2024 – 11 a.m.
Location: Loudonville, N.Y. – Hickey Field
All-Time Series: Dartmouth, 2-0
Watch Live | Live Stats

Setting the Scene
After splitting its last two games, the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team hits the road on Saturday to face Siena. Opening faceoff is set for 11 a.m. on Siena All-Access. The Big Green are coming off a 14-8 home-opening win over Holy Cross last Saturday before falling against Lehigh on Monday, 11-6. Saturday's game, followed by another neutral site game, Tuesday vs. Stony Brook, will mark Dartmouth's final contests before a nine-day break for final exams.

Saturday's Holy Cross victory was highlighted by sophomore Hopper Zappitello, who posted eight points behind two goals and six assists. The six helpers were the most by a Dartmouth player since Ben Martin dished seven on Apr. 11, 2017 against UMass Lowell. Five of Zappitello's eight points came in the game's final 18:07. Zappitello was later recognized as one of 10 players nation-wide on the USILA National Team of the Week.

Junior Colin McGill also scored five goals, three of them assisted by Zappitello, all in the final 18:07 stretch. After Holy Cross began the fourth on a 3-0 run to pull within 11-8, Zappitello had a hand in each of the final three goals, all in the game's final 5:50, for the 14-8 win. One was a behind-the-back goal that was No. 10 on SportsCenter's Plays of the Day.

McGill went on to make SportsCenter Top 10 on Monday for his second-quarter goal against Lehigh, earning the No. 5 spot. That gave the Big Green a 5-3 lead, which proved to be the halftime score. However, the Mountain Hawks held an 8-1 edge in the second half to win, 11-6. Senior Henry Bonnie was the story offensively for Dartmouth with his first-career hat trick. The combination of fifth-year Andrew Johnston and junior Griffin O'Neil combined for seven caused turnovers with four and three, respectively.

Another story from the past two games has been first-year Ryan Williamson, who stopped 15-of-23 shots sent his way against the Crusaders. He tallied double-figure stops against Lehigh as well, making 10 saves, including 7-of-10 in the first half.

Siena will be Dartmouth's first opponent that's not from the Patriot League. The Big Green are 2-0 all-time against the Saints. Last season, Siena advanced to the MAAC Championship Game.

With A Win...
- Dartmouth would improve to 3-0 all-time against Siena.
- The Big Green would win a nonleague game for the 11th time in their last 16 tries dating back to the 2021 season.
- Dartmouth would win its first road game of the season.

Last Time Out
HARTFORD, Conn. (2/26/24) — A strong start saw the Big Green leading 5-3 at the half, but Lehigh went on to score eight of the nine second-half goals to defeat the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team, 11-6, on Monday evening. Senior Henry Bonnie led the offense with three goals for his first-career hat trick. Fifth-year Andrew Johnston and junior Griffin O'Neil combined for seven caused turnovers to lead the defense. Monday's neutral-site contest was played at Trinity College.

All-Time vs. Siena
Dartmouth has won each of the previous two meetings with Siena. The sides first met on Apr. 16, 2005, a 17-9 victory in Hanover. Last season, the Big Green beat the Saints at home via an 11-8 final. Emmett Paradine scored a game-high four goals, as Dartmouth scored the final three goals of the contest, which proved to be the difference.

Scouting Siena
Last season, Siena finished 5-4 in the MAAC, beating Sacred Heart and top-seeded Manhattan in the conference tournament before falling to Marist in the finals. So far this season, the Saints are 2-2. After slim losses at NJIT (16-15 in overtime) and Hofstra (14-12) to begin the season, Siena has won at UMass Lowell (13-8) and home vs. Le Moyne (11-8).

Caden Olmstead leads Siena with 14 points while his 11 goals is tied with Pratt Reynolds for first. Ryan McCarthy leads the team in assists (10). Trevor Marsala is tops on Siena in caused turnovers (10), to go with nine groundballs. Andrew Rooney's 11 groundballs lead the Saints. Three different players have taken at leads 28 faceoffs, with Dylan Pape's percentage of 42.9 (12-of-28) leading the way. Andrew Arcuri has played every minute in goal, recording an 11.68 goals against average and 49.5 save percentage.

Zappitello Named to USILA National Team of the Week
Sophomore attackman Hopper Zappitello was recognized on the USILA National Team of the Week following his stellar eight-point effort in the Feb. 24 win over Holy Cross. Zappitello scored two goals and dished six assists, the most by a Big Green player since Ben Martin dished seven on Apr. 11, 2017 against UMass Lowell. He was one of just 10 student-athlete recognized across the country and one of only two from the Ivy League.

Paradine Named NEILA Preseason All-New England
Sophomore midfielder Emmett Paradine was recognized by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association as a member of the preseason All-New England Second Team. Last season's Ivy League Rookie of the Year finished 2023 fourth on the Big Green in points with 27, tied for second in assists (9) and fourth in goals (18).

Johnston, Myers, Davis Named Captains
Dartmouth head men's lacrosse coach Sean Kirwan announced the Big Green captains in January, which included fifth years Andrew Johnston and Mitchell Myers, and senior Nate Davis. The captains were chosen by their peers.

Four Pick Up Postseason Honors
Following a strong season of progress, four members of the Dartmouth men's lacrosse team were recognized with postseason Ivy League awards. Emmett Paradine was named Rookie of the Year, the Big Green's first Ivy League major award winner since 2007. Senior Mitchell Myers and junior Nate Davis were both named second team All-Ivy while junior Peter Lapina was named Academic All-Ivy.

Paradine becomes Dartmouth's fifth all-time Ivy League major award winner, all being Rookies of the Year. The others were Ari Sussman (2007), Jamie Coffin (2003), Brian Merritt (1994) and Jenkins Marshall (1981).

This also marks the first time Dartmouth has had multiple players named first or second team All-Ivy in consecutive seasons since 2005-06. Myers was named to the first team and Daniel Hincks to the second team last season.

Follow Along
Saturday's game will be streamed Siena All-Access.

Next Up
After Saturday, the Big Green have a quick turnaround when they face Stony Brook in a neutral-site matchup at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. Gametime on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m.