Griffins Begin 2018 on the Road

The Westminster men's lacrosse team begins the 2018 season on the road, this weekend, against Notre Dame de Namur and Whittier College.  Face-off against Notre Dame is scheduled for 2 p.m. PST on Friday.  Saturday's game against Whittier is scheduled for 1 p.m. PST.  Friday's game will be broadcast online.
 
About the Griffins

Westminster received one first-place vote, 12 total votes, and was picked to finish second in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, ahead of Rockhurst and just behind Colorado Mesa.  The Griffins were the only team, besides Colorado Mesa, to earn any first-place votes.  They finished the 2017 season 6-4 in RMAC play and 8-7 overall.
 
Westminster returns 26 players from last season's squad that finished third in the RMAC regular season and made it to the RMAC Championship final.  They finished 8-7 overall and 6-4 in conference play. 
 
The group of returners includes six seniors, 11 juniors, and nine sophomores.  The team attempted 39.50 shots per game, averaging 12.86 goals per game and 19.79 points per game.  They converted 27.5 percent of man-up chances, scoring 11 goals.
 
Thomas Sarjeant returns for his senior season after leading the Griffins with 31 goals, shooting 36.9 percent, and 50 points.  He added 29 assists and has scored a goal in the last 13 games.  Sarjeant ranked fourth in the conference for goals and points per game, and fifth in assists.
 
Nick Marcy was second on the team in points with 40.  He scored 18 goals and lead the team with 22 assists.  He ranked third in the conference in assists and eight in points per game.
Troy Vance was the Griffin's second leading scorer with 29 goals, shooting 38.7 percent.  He also recorded four assists and totaled 33 points. 
 
Grant Phillips and Braden Pelly both return to the Griffin defense.  They each recorded 15 caused turnovers last season.  They were tied and ranked seventh in the conference, averaging 1.00 caused turnovers per game.
 
Westminster won 44.8 percent of face-offs and had an 85.6 clearing percentage.  They picked up 27.1 ground balls and caused 7.67 turnovers per game.
 
Conner McFarlane returns in front of the goal.  He started in all of the games last season, logging 759:44 minutes.  McFarlane faced 503 shots and average 10.9 saves per game.

Phillips and Sarjeant were named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team.

Opponent Info: Notre Dame de Namur

• The Argonauts have played two games, recording a 21-6 win against UC Santa Cruz and a 2-22 loss to Colorado Mesa.
• NDNU returns 14 players from last year's team.
• Alex Campbell, Andrew Kofoed, and Nicholas Wameling led the team in goals and points last season.  They combined for 60 points, scoring 45 goals and 15 assists.

 
Opponent Info: Whittier College

• Whittier finished 2017 with an 8-6 overall record and averaged 11.50 goals per game
• The Poets return 19 players from last year's team.
• Chris Burly, Jackson Draper, and Nate Heritage combined for 80 of the team's points last season, scoring 44 points and 36 assists.

 
Looking Ahead

Westminster returns to Dumke field for its home opener, against conference foe Rockhurst University, on March 3 at 11 a.m. MST.  University of Tampa will be the first DII team, from the east coast, to play in Salt Lake City.  They will face-off with the Griffins on March 3 at 3:30 p.m. MST.
 
Both home games will be broadcast on the RMAC Network and be available online through live stats.