Men’s Lacrosse Takes Its Three-Game Winning Streak Against Hartford On Sunday

ALBANY, N.Y. – Winners of three in a row and six of the last seven, the University at Albany men’s lacrosse (7-3, 1-0 America East) hosts the Hartford Hawks (4-4, 1-0 America East) on Sunday, April 7 at John Fallon Field at 2 p.m. Scouting the HawksHartford, after starting the year 0-3, has won four of its last five games to even out its overall record at 4-4. Prior to suffering a 13-11 loss to UMass last month, the Hawks reeled off a season-best three-game win streak with victories over Siena, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart. In its first three games of the year, Hartford averaged just 5.7 goals per game. Since that winning rally, the offense has started to click as the Hawks are now averaging 9.8 goals per game. Player To WatchRookie Jack Bobzien has started to hit his stride since the Siena win. He averaged 2.33 points per game to start the year but in his last five outings, he has averaged just below five points per game (4.8 ppg). Overall, Bobzien is fourth in the conference with 3.88 points per game. All-Time SeriesSunday’s contest will mark the 16th time between UAlbany and Hartford. The Great Danes hold the advantage, 11-4, and have won the last eight of nine. UAlbany’s current seniors have experienced a tight game against Hartford in the three previous meetings. The three previous games have been decided by one goal, including a 12-11 overtime thriller won by UAlbany at Alumni Stadium in West Hartford, Conn. Road WarriorsFollowing a tough 20-19 loss to Drexel on the road earlier in the season, the Great Danes have won five straight games on the road to improve their record to 6-1 away from John Fallon Field. UAlbany became just the second team in men’s lacrosse history to defeat both Syracuse in the Dome and Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field in the same season (Virginia was the first team in 2009). Fearless Freshman GoalieIn just his first nine games of his short career, Blaze Riorden has notably taken down two storied men’s lacrosse programs, Syracuse and Johns Hopkins. In the season-opening16-15 overtime win against the Orange, Riorden denied 13 of 28 shots. The freshman goalie followed up that performance with a career day of 20 saves against 10th-ranked Johns Hopkins to lock up the 10-9 win. Streaking ThompsonsCousins’ Miles and Ty Thompsons are battling between each other to see who can extend their point streak longer. Of the two, Miles is in the lead, having recorded at least one point in 32 straight games with Ty right behind him with 31 games of recording at least one point. Having scored twice against John Hopkins, Ty expanded his goal streak to 22 straight games of at least one goal.