Bulldogs Open 2005 Home Slate Wednesday Against Bellarmine

March 29, 2005

HOME SWEET HOME: After starting the season with five contests on the road or at neutral locations, fans get their first look at the 2005 Bulldogs Wednesday afternoon when Butler (2-3) hosts first-year Division I program Bellarmine (6-0) in a non-conference contest. The 4 p.m. face-off is slated for the Butler Bowl.

Wednesday's game is the first of a three-game homestand for the Bulldogs, who will also host Robert Morris Saturday and Great Western Lacrosse League foe Ohio State April 9. Butler will then have just one remaining home contest, the season finale against Fairfield April 29.

SCOUTING BELLARMINE: The Knights enter Wednesday's contest with a 6-0 record after defeating St. Andrew's Presbyterian College, 14-11, over the weekend. Butler will be the first D1 opponent for the Knights, who are in the first year of their transition to Division I. Attackmen Shawn Evans and Garrett Kikot lead the Knights with 27 and 25 goals, respectively, as Bellarmine has out-scored opponents 103-49 so far this season. Jack McGetrick mans the sidelines for Bellarmine, a private school of 1,600 students located in Louisville, Ky.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Freshmen Cliff Smith and Grant Albertson share the team-lead with 12 points apiece entering Wednesday's game. Smith has a team-high 10 goals, including the overtime game-winner against Quinnipiac March 16. Rookies Jason Donati (eight points) and Nick Vosburgh (six points) hold down the fourth and fifth spots on Butler's points list.

Fourteen different Bulldogs have scored goals this season, but 28 of the team's 40 goals have been scored by newcomers.

BACK IN THE BOWL: The decision has been made to move Butler home contests from Varsity Field back to the Butler Bowl for the 2005 campaign. The Bowl will undergo several substantial upgrades over the next six months, as the university begins construction of a new student fitness center and upperclassman apartment-style housing complex on both sides of Hinkle Fieldhouse. Plans are in place for the field to be widened and artificial turf laid by October 1, converting the Bowl into the home for not only football, but also lacrosse and soccer on a permanent basis.

STAN THE MAN: Head coach Stan Ross is in his first year on the Butler sidelines, arriving in Indianapolis after six seasons as the top assistant at Towson. While at Towson, Ross helped to lead the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Ross was also a part of the coaching staff at Princeton when the team won the 1998 national championship. He is the third coach in Butler lacrosse history. Ross was a stand-out midfielder at Loyola (Md.) College and graduated in 1996.

SENIOR INFLUENCE: Senior Kyle Tietjen had a team-high three goals in Butler's last outing, a loss at GWLL opponent Notre Dame March 19. He leads the team with six assists. Classmates Anthony Crimmins and Mike Marrapese have seen extensive action in all five games. Crimmins is one of two captains on the 2005 roster. Sam Ashley has started all five games in goal for the Bulldogs and boasts a 9.26 GAA and .588 save percentage.

LOUISVILLE TIES: Freshman Mike Anderson hails from Louisville, Ky., so he's familiar with Bellarmine and a good portion of the Knights' roster, having suited up with two of Bellarmine's players at Trinity High School.

UP NEXT: Butler hosts Robert Morris in the second game of its three-game homestand Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Butler Bowl.

NEED MORE INFO?: Up-to-date statistics, recaps and an online version of the 2005 Butler Lacrosse Media Guide can be found on www.butlersports.com.