D-II Round 1: Stonehill at Kennesaw

KENNESAW, Ga. – Welcome to a damp suburb of Atlanta for the first-round clash between top-seeded Kennesaw State and No. 32 Stonehill out of Easton, Mass.

This is Stonehill’s second trip to the Southeast this spring as the Skyhawks split a meeting with Wake Forest (lost, 11-3) and Davidson (won, 17-6).

Joe McDonough’s crew is looking at a challenge much like its game with Division I Connecticut on Feb. 19 – a game they lost 21-6.

Kennesaw has high-end players at every level of the field. Senior goalie Jay Molander (71.2 save percentage) is a difference-maker for the Owls while senior attackman Vinny Magro (16g, 12a) is a two-time All-American who was eyeing a first team slot this year.

D-II Virtual Tournament First Round: #32 Stonehill at #1 Kennesaw State | https://t.co/3ypfeTWuc7

Who wins?
— MCLA Tournament '20 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 14, 2020

Ben Mostellar has emerged as one of the premium long-stick midfielders in the country for Kennesaw.

“We learned a lot last year and our players are hungry,” said virtual Kennesaw coach Alex Gavilla*. “Stonehill has some quality players, but our depth will be problematic for anyone we play.”

The Skyhawks will go as far as senior FOGO Christian Marquis takes them. The Goffstown, N.H., product is putting together another dominant season at the dot, winning 76.1 percent of his draws while also scoring five goals and dishing out 11 dimes.

Junior Jack Visiglio is Stonehill’s biggest threat with 18 goals on the season, but he’ll be challenged to find time and room against the stout Kennesaw backline.

“We’re underdogs, but we’ve always been underdogs,” said virtual McDonough*. “We were underdogs when we knocked off Bridgewater State last year in the CLC tournament. Time will tell whether we win, but Kennesaw will know we were here.”

[*- These coaches didn’t really say this. This is all made up. It’s fake]