ALAMOSA, Colo. – Adams State Men's Lacrosse is back in action this weekend as they take one their first RMAC opponent of the season.
OPPONENT
CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves (0-0)
WHEN
Saturday, March 2 - 6 p.m.
WHERE
Pueblo, Colo. – Art & Lorraine Gonzalez Lacrosse Stadium
Opening Faceoff
• Adams State hits the road for the second straight game as the team opens up RMAC play on Saturday.
• The Grizzlies will battle the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves for their first RMAC match of the year.
• Adams State is coming off a dominant win at Johnson & Wales (Colo.), 15-1. Eight different players scored in the road win.
• Following their road game, the Grizzlies will have some rest before they return to action at home on March 10.
Quick Hits
Last Time Out
• The Grizzlies dismantled the Wildcats in Denver by a final of 15-1 to secure their first win of the year.
• Eight different players scored in the Adams State win led
Kale Wilson (4g) and
Chase Rodine (3g, 1a).
•
Connor Johnson picked up the win in net to start the year 1-0.
Austin at the Helm
• Head Coach
Jerome Austin is off to a solid start in his coaching career with a 1-0 record.
• The Grizzlies win gives the team their first 1-0 start since the inaugural 2011 season.
Grizzlies to Keep an Eye On
• The Grizzlies had a number of offensive weapons in the season opening win so likely everyone.
•
Kale Wilson was the team leader a season ago in goals and points so look for him to continue that once more this season.
• The defensive success will hinder on the success of
Connor Johnson at goalkeeper. The senior was named the Preseason Co-Goalie of the year for the RMAC.
•
Roman Pepelyaev has already made it clear he is the physical force for the Grizzlies after going 8-13 in faceoffs in the season opener.
•
Chase Rodine and
Sawyer Robison will look to factors on the Grizzlies defense as both already have a pair of caused turnovers early on this year.
Category Leaders
• Right out the gate, two Grizzlies lead the team in scoring in
Kale Wilson and
Chase Rodine with four points apiece.
• Wilson has the most goals so far with four and is averaging .444 shot percentage and is .667 in shots on goal percentage.
• Wilson leads the team in shots and shots on goal with nine and six, respectively.
•
Kyle Butler has the most assists through one game with two so far. He is tied for third in points with
Tanner Beck at three.
•
Nick Selfridge leads the team in shot percentage with a .667. Rodine is not far behind at an even .600.
•
Sawyer Robison and Rodine lead the defense in caused turnover with two each.
• Ground ball cleanup is led by
Roman Pepelyaev with five on the year entering the weekend.
• Pepelyaev also leads the team in faceoffs with 13 total and has won eight of them for a percentage of .615.
• With four goalies seeing action last weekend, three have one save apiece in
Kyler Welch,
Michael Navarro, and
Brendan Williams.
Scouting CSU-Pueblo
• The ThunderWolves game against the Grizzlies will be their first official game of the 2019 season.
• CSU-Pueblo finished the 2018 campaign with a 6-9 overall record and were 2-6 against RMAC opponents.
• Entering 2019, the ThunderWolves are predicted to finish third in the RMAC.
• Preseason All-RMAC player Taylor Davis will look to guide the offense once again.
• Davis was tied for second in the RMAC last season in goals per game (2.67). He trailed only teammate, Blake Foerster in points per game with 3.93 ppg.
• Davis' 1.27 assists per game ranked fourth in the conference.
• The 2019 season will mark the start of the program's fifth year as a Division II program.
Up Next
• The Grizzlies will not be back on the field until March 10 when they return to Alamosa for the 2019 home opener.
• Adams State will battle Salve Regina on Sunday, March 10. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
