| Each week, we will look back at the games that were to see which players had the largest individual performances. I say largest because the contributions that we can measure (from play by play) tend to be things that are easy to count. This includes, goals, shots, assists, turnovers, penalties, etc. We can’t measure a defender who shuts down an opposing player so completely that he doesn’t even touch the ball. Still, it is interesting to be able to identify the players that really filled it up each weekend and give them a shout out here. |
| For a bit of background, in order to rank single game performances, we needed a way to condense box score stats into a single number for each player. In order to do this, we relied on our expected goal values methodology, which assigns a goal value to each type of play depending on how often it leads to a goal in the next 60 seconds. By adding up all the expected goals added for each player, we can get to that single number and these rankings. |
| We have also tagged each performance with the opponent’s ELO rating. The higher the number, the stronger the opponent. This should help to give some context for each performance. Did the player feast on the dregs of D1 or did they put up these numbers against a quality opponent? |
Top Single Game Scores of the week
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#1 – Aaron Forster (NJIT) – 7.95 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Quinnipiac Opp ELO: 1450 |
| I do believe that this is the first time that a Highlander has topped our list of weekly player rankings. Always nice to see a new first around here. But about that stat line: 9 goals on 16 shots. 81% of his shots were on goal. He also had 2 assists and 2 ground balls. 3 TOs were the only thing preventing him from racking up an 8-point EGA day. And really, this isn’t an anomaly. Forster has ranked first or second on the team in all but one of the games they’ve played. The difference in this one is the fact that the NJIT offense was really clicking. Of his 9 goals, 6 were assisted. In his previous 4 games, he only had 4 goals that were assisted. It says Aaron Forster at the top of this entry, but it was as much a team effort as an individually brilliant game. |
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2 |
16 (13) |
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0 |
N/A |
| 3 |
0 |
0 |
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#2 – Jake Tomsik (Quinnipiac) – 7.88 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs NJIT Opp ELO: 1205 |
| One thing that I find interesting when looking at a player’s performance is the percentage of their goals that come assisted vs unassisted. I tend to look at unassisted goals with a bit more favor because it indicates that a player has the ability to break down an offense on their own. A lot of assists indicates good team offense. But a player that can get goals on their own is sometimes needed to jump-start an offense. That has been Tomsik this year. So far, on the season, 54.5% of his total value-created has come from unassisted goals. In this game, the number was a staggering 78%. Granted, this was not exactly a defensive battle, but it was certainly a game when Tomsik took it upon himself to drive the offense. |
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#3 – Pat Spencer (Loyola MD) – 7.38 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Holy Cross Opp ELO: 1372 |
| What else can you really say about Spencer this year. He’s been on this weekly ranking list 3 out of 5 weeks so far this year. One thing that stood out relates to Spencer’s ability to adapt to how defense have attacked him. In the first three games of the year, his most valuable contributions all came from unassisted goals. In the past two games however, his predominant contribution has come from assists. To the point that now, for the entire season, 43% of his total value has come from unassisted goals and 32% has come from assists. That is a remarkable number. |
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#4 – Jack Dolan (Jacksonville) – 6.98 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Drexel Opp ELO: 1440 |
| In this one, he scored 4 goals and added 4 assists in a game that Jacksonville won 19 – 12 over Drexel. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 1 ground ball. Given the importance of possession, he’s probably most proud that he had as many turnovers in the game as you did. Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Drexel was the #-29 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in. |
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#5 – Matthew Vangalen (Detroit) – 6.33 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Bellarmine Opp ELO: 1370 |
| On the day, he tallied 3 goals and 6 assists in a game that Detroit won 15 – 14 over Bellarmine. He also threw in 3 ground balls for good measure. Repeat this against a team stronger than Bellarmine, and he’ll really get people talking. |
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6 |
14 (10) |
| 3 |
0 |
N/A |
| 4 |
0 |
1 |
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#6 – Christian Daniel (Navy) – 5.90 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Bucknell Opp ELO: 1546 |
| On the day, he tallied 4 goals and 3 assists against Bucknell, in a game that Navy won 14 – 8. He also threw in 9 ground balls for good measure. Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1546, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater. |
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#7 – August Johnson (Air Force) – 5.85 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Canisius Opp ELO: 1451 |
| On the day, he tallied 4 goals and 2 assists against Canisius in a game that Air Force won 13 – 7. He also threw in 3 ground balls for good measure. Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Canisius was the #-32 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in. |
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#8 – Riley Seay (Bellarmine) – 5.74 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Detroit Opp ELO: 1500 |
| He paced the team with 7 total points (5 goals; 2 assists) against Detroit in a game that Bellarmine lost 15 – 14. Granted, there wasn’t a lot there besides the scoring, but it’s good enough to land a spot on the list since, hey, you win by scoring. And zero turnovers! Coach has to love that. Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Detroit was the #-19 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in. |
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#9 – Brendan KEARNS (Providence) – 5.70 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Sacred Heart Opp ELO: 1411 |
| He paced the team with 8 total points (5 goals; 3 assists) against Sacred Heart, in a game that Providence lost 17 – 16. He also threw in 1 ground ball for good measure. Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1411, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater. |
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#10 – Jake CARRAWAY (Georgetown) – 5.47 goals added
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| Feb 26 vs Mount St Marys Opp ELO: 1378 |
| He paced the team with 6 total points (4 goals; 2 assists) against Mount St Marys in a game that Georgetown won 13 – 11. Add in 3 ground balls and you’ve got a pretty full stat sheet. No trillion-club here. Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1378, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater. |
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#11 – Joe Saggese (Sacred Heart) – 5.38 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Providence Opp ELO: 1541 |
| On the day, he tallied 4 goals and 3 assists against Providence in a game that Sacred Heart won 17 – 16. Add in 3 ground balls and you’ve got a pretty full stat sheet. No trillion-club here. Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1541, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater. |
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#12 – Matt Campbell (Villanova) – 5.36 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Delaware Opp ELO: 1592 |
| This was a day to take advantage of the defense, and he delivered with 6 goals against Delaware in a game that Villanova won 17 – 9. He also threw in 1 ground ball for good measure. Given the importance of possession, he’s probably most proud that he had as many turnovers in the game as you did. |
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#13 – Tye Kurtz (Delaware) – 5.30 goals added
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| Feb 26 vs Saint Joseph’s Opp ELO: 1563 |
| He paced the team with 8 total points (5 goals; 3 assists) against Saint Joseph’s, in a game that Delaware won 14 – 6. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 5 ground balls. But perhaps the most impressive thing was accomplishing all of that while committing exactly zero turnovers. Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Saint Joseph’s was the #-1 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in. |
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#14 – Michael Kraus (Virginia) – 5.30 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Syracuse Opp ELO: 1607 |
| On the day, he tallied 3 goals and 3 assists against Syracuse in a game that Virginia won 15 – 14. He also threw in 1 ground ball for good measure. And zero turnovers! Coach has to love that. Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Syracuse was the #-1 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in. |
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#15 – Will Spangenberg (Holy Cross) – 5.17 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Loyola MD Opp ELO: 1804 |
| In this one, he scored 3 goals and added 3 assists against Loyola MD, in a game that Holy Cross lost 19 – 15. He also threw in 1 ground ball for good measure. But perhaps the most impressive thing was accomplishing all of that while committing exactly zero turnovers. Plus, when you factor in that Loyola MD was the #2 strongest opponent on this list, these stats look even better. |
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#16 – Tim HINRICHS (Providence) – 5.17 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Sacred Heart Opp ELO: 1411 |
| He paced the team with 6 total points (1 goal; 5 assists) against Sacred Heart in a game that Providence lost 17 – 16. He also threw in 6 ground balls for good measure. Repeat this against a team stronger than Sacred Heart, and he’ll really get people talking. |
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#17 – Brendan Sunday (Towson) – 5.17 goals added
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| Feb 27 vs Loyola MD Opp ELO: 1776 |
| He paced the team with 5 total points (4 goals; 1 assist) against Loyola MD in a game that Towson won 12 – 10. It was a somewhat one-dimensional day with no GBs or faceoffs, but come on: 5 total points. Plus, when you factor in that Loyola MD was the #2 strongest opponent on this list, these stats look even better. |
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#18 – Luke Hanson (Manhattan) – 5.06 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Bryant Opp ELO: 1580 |
| In this one, he scored 1 goal and added 4 assists in a game that Manhattan won 9 – 8 over Bryant. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 7 ground balls. Given the importance of possession, he’s probably most proud that he had as many turnovers in the game as you did. Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Bryant was the #-12 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in. |
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#19 – Brendan Gleason (Notre Dame) – 4.98 goals added
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| Mar 3 vs Maryland Opp ELO: 1753 |
| He paced the team with 5 total points (4 goals; 1 assist) against Maryland, in a game that Notre Dame won 14 – 13. He also threw in 3 ground balls for good measure. Plus, when you factor in that Maryland was the #3 strongest opponent on this list, these stats look even better. |
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#20 – Jakob PATTERSON (Albany) – 4.97 goals added
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| Mar 2 vs Cornell Opp ELO: 1679 |
| In this one, he scored 3 goals and added 3 assists against Cornell in a game that Albany lost 17 – 16. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 2 ground balls. |
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