Men's Lacrosse 2/12/2018 11:57:00 AM Chris Myers

Cardinals Set to Make Noise in Inaugural G-MAC Season

2018 Roster
2018 Schedule
2017 Final Stats
WHEELING, W.Va. – After spending last spring as an independent, Wheeling Jesuit is set to make some noise in its inaugural Great Midwest Athletic Conference men's lacrosse season this spring.

The Cardinals aim to improve upon its strong end to the 2017 season and performance against their new official G-MAC counterparts. WJU (6-8) rattled off five victories in its final six matches last season and posted a 5-2 record versus G-MAC members, which would have qualified the team for the Conference playoffs.

Third-year head coach Landon DelPrince possesses the team firepower to challenge for the Cardinals first G-MAC title. WJU heads into the spring campaign rated fourth in the league's Preseason Coaches Poll behind the two ranked members of No. 9 Seton Hill and No. 13 Mercyhurst and Lake Erie College.

Along with matches against the two ranked G-MAC opponents, WJU has an extremely rugged full schedule. The 2018 WJU docket includes a season-opening home tilt with RV Rollins on Sunday, Feb. 18, at noon. A Midwest road swing against Rockhurst (12-5), No. 17 Lindenwood (10-4) and Maryville (Mo.). DelPrince's squad also travels to No. 15 Indianapolis and a New York pair of matches against No. 8 NY Tech (14-3) and RV Molloy (9-5).

Scotty Gwyn

DelPrince, though, has quite the arsenal ready to take the field. The Cardinals return their top four scorers on the offensive end in seniors Dereck Downs and Matt Lee and junior brothers Jordan Getz and Travis Getz. The four combined for 104 goals and 48 assists over last year's 14 matches.

Downs and Lee have been an offensive attack duo since the two Toronto, Ontario natives became part of the WJU men's lacrosse program. For their careers, Downs put the ball in the goal 115 times and assisted on 39 other Cardinal scores, while Lee is in line to join him in the century scoring mark with 85 goals to go with 30 assists. Downs found the back of the net a team-high 38 times last year with a squad-best 17 assists. Lee was second in both categories with 27 scores and 11 helpers.

Adding to the team's top two attackers, junior Jamison Smith was WJU's fifth-leading goal scorer back and fifth double-digit scorer with 11 goals a year ago to go with a pair of assists. Seniors Michael Jablonski and David Corral add two more attack position options. Jablonski had two scores and Corral attempted two shots.

The Getz are midfielders, but still were one goal apart of having identical numbers. Jordan scored 20 goals and Travis had 19 with both posted 10 assists. Senior MacLean Fitzmartin was one of the top assist leaders from his midfield position with 10, while he scored five times.

Mike Stillings, Nick Csenar and Connor Buzzelli bolster the midfield ranks with three more final-year Cardinals. Stillings fired home eight goals and assisted on two others a year ago. Csenar saw action in all 14 games and Buzzelli had one goal.

Jake Lilly and Nick Csenar

For the WJU defense, long stick man Scotty Gwyn and defender Xavier Sanchez return to the backline. Gwyn scooped a team-best 64 ground balls and caused a team-high 28 turnovers. Sanchez posted 14 ground balls and caused seven turnovers.

As the last line of defense, the Cardinals have returning stout goalie Jake Lilly. The two-year starter enters the year with a career goals against average of 10.48 over 1,546 minutes in net with 294 saves. The senior netminder logged 717 minutes in 2017, where he had a 10.80 goals against average with .533 save percentage and 147 saves.

Taking the faceoffs, junior Fernando Martinez won 70 of them a year and is back in the lineup.

DelPrince's veteran Cardinals will take their experience and time spent together the past few years to make their mark on the 2018 G-MAC scene.

-GoCards-

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Players Mentioned

#12 Jake Lilly: G; 5' 11"; Freshman

#14 Matt Lee: A; 5' 7"; Freshman

#19 Michael Jablonski: A; 6' 0"; Freshman

#21 Scotty Gwyn: LSM; 5' 9"; Freshman

#24 Dereck Downs: A; 6' 2"; Freshman

#41 David Corral: A; 5' 11"; Freshman

#42 Connor Buzzelli: D; 6' 2"; Freshman

#51 Fernando Martinez: M/FO; 6' 0"; Freshman

#55 Mike Stillings: M; 6' 2"; Freshman

#33 Nick Csenar: M; 6' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#12 Jake Lilly
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: G

#14 Matt Lee
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: A

#19 Michael Jablonski
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: A

#21 Scotty Gwyn
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: LSM

#24 Dereck Downs
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: A

#41 David Corral
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: A

#42 Connor Buzzelli
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: D

#51 Fernando Martinez
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: M/FO

#55 Mike Stillings
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: M

#33 Nick Csenar
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: M