Bulldogs Welcome Fairfield to Varsity Field Friday for Season Finale

April 28, 2005

WINDING DOWN: The Bulldogs conclude the 2005 campaign by hosting Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) opponent Fairfield (9-3, 2-0 GWLL) Friday afternoon (April 29). The contest is the first home action for the Bulldogs since April 9. Prior to the game, Butler's four seniors will be honored as they suit up in a Butler uniform for the final time. Due to Butler Bowl renovations, Friday's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Varsity Field. Butler stands at 4-7 overall and 0-4 in GWLL action.

SENIOR SALUTE: Friday's game will be the last in a Butler uniform for the team's four seniors. Co-captain Anthony Crimmins, Sam Ashley, Mike Marrapese and Kyle Tietjen will be recognized prior to face-off.

LAST WEEK: Butler dropped a pair of GWLL contests in Colorado last weekend, but not without some strong individual showings. Freshman Nick Vosburgh netted a career-high five goals (and added an assist) in the team's 11-8 loss at Air Force. The game was tied at eight before the host Falcons scored the final three goals in the waning minutes. Junior Gary Gambarani had 10 ground balls. In the team's loss to Denver, rookie Grant Albertson netted three goals, while Phil Brauch and Ben Sultze each won more than 50 percent of their face-offs.

A LOOK AT THE STAGS: Fairfield is still in the hunt for the GWLL championship, bringing a 2-0 league mark into Friday's game. Fairfield is ranked No. 16 and 17, respectively, in the latest national polls. The Stags had their program-record seven-game winning streak snapped by No. 10 Maryland, 9-6, over the weekend. Greg Downing leads the Stags with 21 goals and 33 points. Head coach Ted Spencer is in his tenth season on the Fairfield sidelines.

THE SERIES: Fairfield owns a 3-2 all-time mark against Butler, with the teams splitting two contests in Indianapolis. In their previous meeting on April 4, 2004, Fairfield defeated Butler 15-12 behind four goals and three assists from Michael Bocklet (Katonah, N.Y.) and four tallies from Tom Werney (Granite Springs, N.Y.). Lawrence O'Toole netted five goals for the Bulldogs in a losing effort. The Bulldogs won 8-7, in 2003 in Indianapolis.

QUICK SHOTS: Four of Butler's top five scorers this season - Nick Vosburgh (25 points) Grant Albertson (24), Cliff Smith (22), and Jason Donati (18) - are newcomers...Butler has won the face-off battle in seven of the last nine games...Albertson is sixth in the GWLL with 1.73 goals per game...Vosburgh's 11 assists tie him for sixth in the conference...behind Sam Ashley and Ryan Kaiser, Butler's 12.1 saves per game as a team are third in the conference.

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.

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.