Cobras Continue Playoff Push in Critical Game Against Indians

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker men's lacrosse team will continue its push for a birth in the conference tournament when it takes on the Catawba College Indians in a critical South Atlantic Conference matchup on Saturday (Apr. 5). The Cobras (3-2 SAC) enter the game in a two-way tie for fourth place with Mars Hill University and a win Saturday would set up a one-game playoff with the Lions in the final game of the season.

The Navy and Yellow come into the game averaging 20.82 points per game, which ranks ninth in NCAA Division II. The high-powered Cobra offense hands out a nation's fifth best 8.09 assists per game and nets an 11^th best 12.73 goals per game. Leading the offensive charge is senior Ryan Maurer and sophomore Mike Martiello. Maurer has compiled 40 points on 13 goals and a team-high 27 assists and ranks second in Division II with his 2.45 assists per game average. Mike Martiello leads the team with 49 points on a team-high 30 goals and 19 assists. Martiello's 4.45 points per game and 30 goals rank sixth and seventh, respectively, amongst all other players in the country.

Defensively, Coker is led by junior goalie Tim Ryan who has made 137 saves on the season and averages 12.45 saves per game. Ryan's save total and saves per game average ranks fourth and eighth, respectively, in the nation.

Catawba comes to Hartsville with a 6-5 overall record and 4-1 SAC mark. The Indians are led offensively by John Scheich's 35 points on 19 goals and 16 assists, while Davis Hughes has registered 22 points on 12 goals and 10 assists. Gage Mason leads Catawba defensively with 17 caused turnovers and Pete Wesselman has made 113 stops in 547 minutes of action between the pipes for the Indians.

The game is set to begin at 4 p.m. at Byerly Park in Hartsville. Live coverage of the game will be available at www.cokercobras.com.

Release written by sports information graduate assistant Sharod Williams.