No. 6 Yale Hosts No. 9 Cornell in Ivy Opener Saturday

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 6 Yale University men’s lacrosse team, off to its best start since 1990, hosts No. 9 Cornell in the Ivy League opener. Fox College Sports will televise the game, which is set for a 12:30 p.m. face-off.

All-Time Vs. Cornell

Yale is 23-49-1 all-time versus the Big Red

• Last Meeting: 2014, Cornell won 11-9 in Ithaca.

• Last Yale Win: 2012, 14-10, Ivy League Tournament

• First Meeting: 1916, Cornell won 5-1

Last Time Out

Eric Scott scored 2:59 into the extra period as the No. 6 Yale University men’s lacrosse team defeated Fairfield 9-8. The second consecutive overtime victory moved the Bulldogs to 5-0 for the first time since 1990.

Ben Reeves, Scott and Michael Bonacci, who assisted on the game-winner, each scored twice in the win.

Yale and Fairfield went to overtime for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Stags won 12-11 at Fairfield.

Natale Scores

In the second quarter of the Fairfield game Yale goalie Eric Natale took advantage of a sleeping Stags’ defense and scored from downtown to give Yale a 4-1 lead.

Streak Broken

Fairfield held Conrad Oberbeck out of the goal column for the first time since April 2, 2013. The 28-straight games with a goal was the second active longest streak in the NCAA.

Poll Position

The Elis are ranked in both national polls.

• No. 6 in Cascade/Maverik Media

• No. 6 in USILA Coaches
Moving On Up

Conrad Oberbeck currently ranks tied for 10th on the career scoring charts with 138 points. The senior currently has 108 goals and 30 assists.

7. Mike Babcock 54-91-145 1986-1989

7. Jason O’Neill 44-91-145 1987-1990

9. Brendan Gibson 95-46-141 2007-2010

10. Conrad Oberbeck 108-30-138 2012-Pres.

10. Tyler Casertano 54-84-138 2005-2008

11. Mike Scaglione 95-42-137 2000-2003

About Cornell

• Last Game: Lost to No. 7/8 Virginia 15-14 on March 7.

• Road Warriors: The Big Red have racked up some frequent flyer miles thus far. All of their first six contests have been away from Ithaca.

• Ivy Covered: Since 2003, Cornell has won 11 Ivy League titles.

• Top Ten Trio: Yale will be the third consecutive top ten program the Big Red have faced on March 14. Cornell defeated No. 8 Albany 16-9 on Feb. 28 before falling to No. 7 Virigina 15-14 on March 7.

Chasing Reese

With his hat trick in the win over St. John’s on March 3, Conrad Oberbeck moved into second place on the Career Scoring List. The senior moved into third place with a hat trick in the win over Maryland on Feb. 21. on the Career Goal Scoring list.

1. Jon Reese 162 1987-1990

2. Conrad Oberbeck 108 2012-Present

3. Adam Puritz 106 1985-1988

4. Tom Zaccagnino 100 1994-1996

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Natale Saves

Eric Natale made seven saves in the Fairfield game to pass Chris Swanenburg, ’90 for 11th all-time on the career saves chart. Next on the list is Bing Gordon, ’72 with 326.

9. Craig Hornig 354 1977-1980

10. Bing Gordon 326 1970-1972

11. Eric Natale 319 2012-Present

12. Chris Swanenburg 318 1987-1990

GAA

As of March 9, Eric Natale ranks eighth in the NCAA in goals against average at 7.47. The senior currently paces the Ivy League in GAA as well.

NEILA Poll

Yale occupies the No. 2 spot in the latest (March 9) New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Poll.

Senior CLASS

Conrad Oberbeck was one of 20 student-athletes selected as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award on March 4.

Tewaaraton

Conrad Oberbeck was one of 50 players named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List on Feb. 26.

Home Cooking

After going 4-2 at Reese Stadium in 2014, Yale is currently 4-0 at home this season.

Snow ‘Dogs

Jeff Cimbalista scored 14 seconds into overtime as the No. 6 Yale University men’s lacrosse team remained undefeated, beating St. John’s 11-10 on a snowy March 3 afternoon.

The Bulldogs, who last started 4-0 in 2011, received three goals from Conrad Oberbeck, now second all-time with 108 career goals. Cimbalista and Michael Keasey scored twice in the victory.

Balance Beats Bryant

Six players recorded three or more points as the No. 7/8 Yale University men’s lacrosse team moved 3-0 on the season defeating Bryant 16-9.

Ben Reeves led the victors with three goals and two assists. The freshman was one of four Bulldogs, Conrad Oberbeck, Jeff Cimbalista and Eric Scott to score three goals on the afternoon. Michael Bonacci led Yale with four assists.

Weekly Ivy Honors

For the second-consecutive week, Ben Reeves earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors on Feb. 24. The attackman scored twice in the Bulldogs 10-6 victory over then-No. 7 Maryland on Feb. 21.

As of Feb. 27, the Palmyra Macedon High School product was second on the team with eight points (four goals, four assists).

Historic Win

The No. 14 Yale University men’s lacrosse team broke open a back and forth battle with four goals in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 7 Maryland 10-6.

Conrad Oberbeck led the Bulldogs with three goals and two assists as Yale defeated Maryland for the first time since 1925. Ben Reeves and Jeff Cimbalista added two goals each, while Michael Keasey recorded three points for the victors.

A key going into the non-conference game was winning the face-off against the Terps’ All-American Charlie Raffa. Both Conor Mackie and Jonathan Reese did their part in the X, winning 72% (13-for-18) of the draws against a trio of Maryland face-off men. The duo won all eight of the second half face-offs.

Season Opener

Fifteen different players recorded points in the 19-4 victory over UMass-Lowell on Feb. 14.

The Bulldogs were led by Conrad Oberbeck and Ben Reeves with six points each. Oberbeck had five goals and one assist while Reeves scored twice and had four helpers in his first collegiate game.

Yale scored a dozen unanswered goals, six in each of the first two quarters, to take a 12-1 lead at the half on the River Hawks, playing in their first Division I contest.

Preseason NEILA

Five members of the Yale University men’s lacrosse program were selected to the 2015 All-New England Preseason teams by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA).

• Attackman Conrad Oberbeck and defenseman Michael Quinn were named to the first team.

• Bulldogs tabbed for the second team were senior midfielders Colin Flaherty and Harry Kucharczyk and short stick defenseman Mark Glicini.

Preseason All-Americans

Inside Lacrosse magazine named junior defenseman Michael Quinn a second team preseason All-American, while senior attackman Conrad Oberbeck received an honorable mention.

Ivy League

The Bulldogs, one of five Ivy League programs in the preseason national rankings, are looking to make their sixth straight post-season appearance in 2015.

MLL Draft

Conrad Oberbeck was drafted by the New York Lizards in the sixth round of the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft.

Coach Shay

Andy Shay, who completed his 11th season of his first collegiate head coaching job in 2014, has engineered a 52-23 mark over the last five seasons and had four consecutive 10-plus win seasons. He also directed the Bulldogs to five straight Ivy League Tournament appearances, two-consecutive Ivy Tournament Titles, a 2010 regular-season Ivy League Championship and two-straight (school record) NCAA appearances, including Yale’s first in 20 years.

The Class of 2015

Entering the 2015 season, the 11 seniors on the roster have an overall record of 32-15, including consecutive Ivy League Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. The most wins by a Yale lacrosse class is 46 by the 1991 and 1992 groups.

Philly

The 2015 NCAA® Men’s Lacrosse Championships returns to Philadelphia May 23- 25 hosted by Drexel University. For three days, watch the nation’s best compete at Lincoln Financial Field. 3 days, 3 championships, it’s the ultimate lacrosse experience! Get your affordable tickets today, visit NCAA.com/Lacrosse!

On Deck

Yale has its first Ivy League road game of the season when it visits Princeton on March 21. The opening face-off is set for 1:00 p.m..

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