RINDGE, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team will play at Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

The No. 17-ranked team in NCAA Division II, according to the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association poll released to start the week, owns a 2-0 record after defeating Southern New Hampshire and Bentley to begin the 2021 season.

Franklin Pierce is 0-2 on the season, having lost to Southern New Hampshire and Saint Michael's. The Ravens are receiving votes in the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches' Poll while the Hawks have earned all six first-place votes as the top-ranked team in New England.

Off-campus spectators of any kind are not permitted on the Franklin Pierce campus.

Live Stats and Live Video of the contest will be provided on the NE10 Now Network.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS

• The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team was ranked fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference, according to the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Led by sixth-year Head Coach Michael Sciamanna, the Hawks are presently ranked 17th in the latest United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association/Dynamic Division II National Coaches Poll.
• The Hawks opened the 2021 season ranked atop the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches' poll. Saint Anselm earned all six first-place votes and did so again in the most recent Week 2 poll released on Monday.
• Senior co-captain Matt Ward (Shrewsbury, Mass.) of the nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College men's lacrosse team was named the conference's Player of the Week on Monday. In just two games this season, Ward has scored 11 goals while reeling in five ground balls with three caused turnovers as part of his team's 2-0 start.
• Against Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday, Ward scored five goals before tallying six against Bentley on Saturday. With four consecutive goals as part of a 10-goal scoring streak, Ward helped to power the Hawks past a Bentley squad that was receiving votes in the national poll.
• Ward is his team's first Player of the Week selection since Craig Yannone (Lynnfield, Mass.) was named both NE10 Player and Rookie of the Week on Mar. 17, 2020.
• Ward owns an active 13-game point scoring streak, notching 36 goals and seven assists for 43 points (36-7=43) since Apr. 2, 2019 against Merrimack.
• Against Bentley last time out, the Hawks trailed by two goals near the start of the third quarter, but a 10-0 scoring spurt pushed the hosts to a 16-10 victory.
• Ward and Ryan Richards (Mendon, Mass.) led Saint Anselm with six points apiece versus the Falcons, the former extending his point scoring streak to 13 games with six tallies against Bentley. Richards racked up a career-high four goals and two assists, adding three ground balls as well. Sophomore Jack Andrews (Cumberland, R.I.) cashed in four goals on the day.
• Saint Anselm finished the shortened 2020 season with a 3-0 record, picking up two victories over nationally-regarded programs. Saint Anselm logged a season-opening win over No. 18-ranked New York Tech to crack the USILA national coaches' poll.
• Last month, Ward and Thomas Mapstone (Andover, Mass.) earned Honorable Mention Preseason All-America honors from the USILA. In early January, Ward and Shoemaker were named captains of the squad.
• Saint Anselm has posted a 23-12 record since the start of the 2018 season and has made the last four NE10 postseason tournaments.

REVIEWING THE RAVENS

• Franklin Pierce has begun the 2021 season with an 0-2 record. The team jumped out to a 2-0 record in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, defeating Dominican (N.Y.) and Post in the early goings. In the team's most recent full season of 2019, Franklin Pierce logged a 5-8 overall record.
• Last time out, Franklin Pierce freshman Conor Rooney (Wilmington, Mass.) logged a hat trick in his team's 7-6 loss to Saint Michael's. The Ravens took what was their fourth lead of the game shortly after halftime, but the Purple Knights rallied for the victory.
• Franklin Pierce had an attempt to tie the game in the waning seconds, but a Ravens shot was blocked by the defense as the Purple Knights held onto the victory. Freshman James Heitmiller, a Nashua, N.H. native, made 13 saves against 20 shots in the tough-luck loss.
• The Ravens are coached by Rick Senatore, who led the Saint Anselm men's lacrosse program from 2007-09 and posted a record of 22 wins and 22 losses (.500). At Franklin Pierce, Senatore has won 79 games in 11 seasons.

ALL-TIME vs. FRANKLIN PIERCE

• The Hawks are 19-3 all-time against Franklin Pierce dating back to the very first meeting on Apr. 9, 1998. Saint Anselm enjoyed a 14-game winning streak against the Ravens to open the all-time series.
• Saint Anselm has won each of the last four match-ups with Franklin Pierce, winning each of the last two games by exactly six goals. The largest margin of victory came on Apr. 17, 2002, a 25-1 victory for Saint Anselm in a game played at home.