Women's Lacrosse to Face First Ranked Opponent

Sunday, March 26

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1 p.m.

Xavier University

No. 15 Michigan

Women's Lacrosse to Face First Ranked Opponent

03.25.23 | Women's Lacrosse

Live Stats Watch (B1G+)Game Notes

Xavier will face No. 15 Michigan on Sunday, March 26 with first draw set for 1 p.m.

By: Dianna Lewis, Xavier Athletic Communications

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Xavier women's lacrosse will face their first ranked opponent in program history on Sunday. Michigan moved up two slots to No. 15 in this week's IWLCA Division I poll.

The Musketeers are looking to earn their fifth win of the inaugural season.

THE MATCHUP VS No. 15 MICHIGAN

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (4-3) vs MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (8-4)
Game Info - Sunday, March 26 - 1 p.m. ET - UM Lacrosse Stadium
Live Video (B1G+) - http://bit.ly/42BLCm7
Live Stats - http://bit.ly/3lu83ZM

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

2023 Record: 8-4 (2-1 B1G)
2022 Record: 11-7 (2-4 B1G)
2022 Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
Series History: First Meeting

NOTABLES

• Xavier leads the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game (10.71), while ranking 10th in the NCAA. The Musketeers also currently lead the BIG EAST in ground balls per game (18.57) and shooting percentage (.475).

• With a free position percentage of .571, the Musketeers rank 12th in the NCAA with 24 free position goals off of 42 free position shots.

• Lola Mancuso leads the BIG EAST in goals per game (3.86), ranking 10th in the NCAA, and in free position goals per game (1.14), ranking sixth in the NCAA. The freshman attacker ranks third in the BIG EAST in points per game (4.43) and second in shots per game (7.14) while also ranking third in the NCAA in free position percentage (.889).

• Marina Piszczor ranks first in the BIG EAST in saves per game (11.57), while ranking sixth in save percentage (.482). The freshman goalkeeper ranks third in the NCAA in saves per game (11.57) and fifth in total saves (81).

LAST TIME OUT

• The Musketeers are coming off an 11-10 home victory against Eastern Michigan on Sunday, March 12.

• Four different players scored in the game, paced by Lola Mancuso who scored five goals and earned her fifth hat trick of the season. Riley Halloran, Sawyer Walker, and Kiera Armitage each posted two.

• Marina Piszczor made 12 saves in 60 minutes of action in goal.

BIG EAST HONOREES

• Lola Mancuso was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on Monday, March 13. The Plantation, Florida native earned the accolade for the second time this season.

2023 HONOREES
Feb. 27 - Lola Mancuso - Freshman of the Week
Mar. 6 - Riley Halloran - Honor Roll
Mar. 13 - Lola Mancuso - Freshman of the Week

SCHEDULE NOTES

• The inaugural spring schedule consists of five home games and nine road games. Xavier opens its six-game BIG EAST schedule on Saturday, April 1 at Butler.

• Xavier will play teams from five different conferences this season: BIG EAST, Big Ten, PAC-12, Big South, and Mid-American.

• The Musketeers competed against another first-year program in Eastern Michigan. The two squads faced each other on Mar. 12 where the Musketeers defeated the Eagles 11-10.

• Xavier will participate in BIG EAST regular-season play, but is ineligible for the conference tournament. The Musketeers will be eligible for the conference tournament in 2024.

PROGRAM NOTES

• Head coach Meg Decker was hired to lead the Xavier program in July of 2021. She was previously the head coach at Hartford from 2016-21. Prior to Hartford, she was an assistant coach at VCU (2014-16). Decker played collegiately at Navy (2008) and Loyola University Maryland (2010-11).

• Grace Beshlian was hired as an assistant coach in July of 2022 after spending the 2021 season as an assistant coach at William and Mary. The two-time All-BIG EAST performer played collegiately at UConn from 2016-20.

• Xavier's inaugural squad consists of three graduate students, four juniors, two sophomores and 20 freshmen.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers are back in action on Saturday, April 1 at Butler. First draw is set for 1 p.m. in Indianapolis, Ind.