THE BASICS:

Score: Holy Cross 11, Boston University 7
Records: Holy Cross (4-10, 3-5 PL) Boston University (8-6, 3-5 PL)

Location: Worcester, Mass. (Kuzniewski Field)
Time: 7:05 p.m.

Date: Friday, April 22, 2016


The Lead: Senior captain Michael Ortlieb (Newport Beach, Calif.) led the Crusaders with 11 saves in front of a crowd of 2,218, as the Holy Cross men's lacrosse team defeated Boston University, 11-7 on Friday night. With the victory, the Crusaders advance to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time in program history. Holy Cross will be the No. 6 seed and play at No. 3 seed Bucknell on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. Tonight marked the dedication of Kuzniewski Field as Rev. Anthony Kuzniewski S.J. was honored at halftime for his many years of service to Holy Cross. The Crusaders also earned a point in the Turnpike Trophy series with the win versus the Terriers as Michael Ortlieb was named the game's MVP.

HOW IT HAPPENED:     

• The Crusaders jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a goal from senior Connor Sofield (Long Beach, N.Y.) at 12:31 of the first quarter.
• Boston University answered with a goal by Greg Farris at 6:14 to make it 1-1.
• The Crusaders then tallied back-to-back goals as junior Marc Buermann (West Caldwell, N.J.) and junior Jon Vogel (Chesterfield, Mo.) found the back of the net to make it 3-1 at 1:37 of the first quarter.
• BU then tallied two straight goals to equalize the score at 3-3 at 14:04 of the second quarter.
• The Crusaders scored the last two goals of the second quarter to take a 5-3 lead at the half. Buermann and senior Sean Wilkinson (Ridgefield, Conn.) each scored for the Crusaders.
• Junior Jack Ortlieb (Newport Beach, Calif.) netted the first goal of the third quarter to increase the Crusader lead to 6-3 at 13:52 of the third.
• The Terriers ended the Crusaders scoring streak with a goal at 10:27 of the third to make it 6-4.
• Holy Cross then tallied two quick goals to take an 8-4 lead with 5:57 remaining in the third. Wilkinson and Jack Ortlieb found the back of the net for the Crusaders.
• BU added a goal with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter to make it 8-5.
• Vogel and Jack Ortlieb added two more goals as the Crusaders jumped out to a 10-5 lead with 10:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• BU added back-to-back goals to cut the Crusaders' lead to 10-7 with 3:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Wilkinson added a goal with 1:19 remaining in regulation as the Crusaders secured the 11-7 victory over Boston University.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Michael Ortlieb made 11 saves and recorded a .611 save percentage to earn the win, while Christian Carson-Banister posted 12 saves for the Terriers.
• Holy Cross outshot BU, 41-25.
• The Crusaders picked up 18 ground balls and the Terriers secured 21.
• BU won 15 face-offs, while Holy Cross tallied six.
• The Terriers went 1-2 on extra-man opportunities, while the Crusaders went 1-5.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• This is the first time in program history that the Holy Cross men's lacrosse team has earned a Patriot League Tournament bid.
• Jack Ortlieb earned his second career game-winner and his first career hat-trick.
• Vogel has netted at least one goal in 16 consecutive games.
• Wilkinson has at least one point in 15 straight games.
• Wilkinson's hat-trick is his third of the season, and the seventh of his career.

UP NEXT:

• The No. 6 seed Crusaders will return to action on Tuesday, April 26, when they travel to Lewisburg, Pa. to face No. 3 seed Bucknell at 7:00 p.m. in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals.
• The Crusaders fell to Bucknell in this season's matchup 18-12 in Worcester on March 12.

KUZNIEWSKI FIELD DEDICATION:

• The Kuzniewski Field dedication took place at half time tonight as Fr. Kuzniewski was honored for his many years of dedication and service to Holy Cross.
• Go here to read more about the dedication.

THE TURNPIKE TROPHY:

• The game between the Crusaders and the Terriers is part of the inaugural Turnpike Trophy competition. Go here for the schedule and results of the Turnpike Trophy.
• Michael Ortlieb was named the MVP as he posted 11 saves and .611 save percentage.
• This athletic series between the in-state Patriot League rivals awards points for all head-to-head victories in both the regular season and postseason, with the Turnpike Trophy going to the school which accumulates the most points at the end of the academic year.
• After this game, the next Turnpike Trophy match-up will be the Patriot League Women's Golf Championship on April 22-24.

SENIOR NIGHT:

• The Crusaders honored their 10 seniors before the game.
• The senior class of Ryan Bringewatt (Summit, N.J.), Pat Coan (Towson, Md.), Alex Haavik (Singapore, Singapore), Blake Mulligan (Boca Raton, Fla.), captain Michael Ortlieb (Newport Beach, Calif.), Joe Reilly (Point Lookout, N.Y.), Brendan Sheehan (Lincolnshire, Ill.), Gillin Smith (North Bethesda, Md.), Connor Sofield (Long Beach, N.Y.) and captain Sean Wilkinson (Ridgefield, Conn.) have led the Crusaders to their most Patriot League wins during a four-year span in program history.
• Michael Ortlieb has played in 53 career games with 52 starts. Ortlieb has 527 career saves which rank fifth all-time in program history, while his 134 career ground balls are ninth all-time. Over his career he has been named the Patriot League Goalie of the Week, the Patriot League Rookie of the Week and the Crusader of the Week. As a freshman he won the team's Joseph M. Murphy Rookie of the Year Award. He has also earned Patriot League Academic Honor Roll accolades.
• Sean Wilkinson has played in 50 games with 41 starts. Wilkinson posted his 100th career point this season in the game versus Bucknell as he is the 22nd Crusader in program history to record 100 points. Wilkinson now has 63 goals and 56 assists for 119 career points. This season he was named a Senior CLASS Award candidate. As a junior he earned second team All-Patriot League honors, while he was also named to the Academic All-Patriot League team. During his career he has been named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, the Crusader of the Week and the Team's Most Improved Player. Wilkinson is also a two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
• Joe Reilly has played in 41 games. He has posted seven goals and one assist for eight points. Reilly has also picked up 58 career ground balls and has won 142 career face-offs. Reilly has been a member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy and was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.  
• Ryan Bringewatt scored his first collegiate goal versus Lehigh. He has also been strong in the classroom as he is a two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
• Pat Coan has played in 21 career games. He has two goals and four assists for six points. As a junior he was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
• Brendan Sheehan has played in 41 career games. This season he has started in all 14 games and is second on the team with 16 caused turnovers. For his career he has 57 ground balls. Sheehan is a three-time member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy and is a three-hundred-and-sixty leader as a senior. He has been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice.
• Blake Mulligan has played in 13 games. He has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As a junior he was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
• Gillin Smith is a three-year member of the Holy Cross Leadership Academy. As a senior, he has been a three-hundred and sixty leader.
• Connor Sofield has played in 23 games. He has started in all 14 games this season with nine goals and five assists for 14 points. Sofield has 13 goals and seven assists for 20 career points. He has also been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
• Alex Haavik has been a key contributor to the team. Haavik has been a strong teammate during his two years on the team.

KEEP CONNECTED:

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