Top Individual Performances (Week 11)

0 Comment April 15, 2019

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

#1 – Michael Sowers (Princeton) – 9.89 goals added

Apr 9 vs Siena Opp ELO: 1348

Michael Sowers game against Siena can be best understood as a story of the best player on the team saying: “ok guys, I’m just gonna go ahead and handle this one.”

He accounted for 10.5% of the teams recorded plays in the play-by-play (a season high) and he scored 6 unassisted goals (a season high) on the way to an 11-point day (a season high).

I like looking at play shares because it adds some nuance to the story of a stat-line. For a player like Sowers who has been the best option, maximizing play shares is probably a good thing.

Caveat: it was Siena.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
6	5	11 (7)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
2	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
0	0	0

#2 – Gerard Arceri (Penn State) – 7.78 goals added

Apr 13 vs Michigan Opp ELO: 1394

Arceri’s play this year can be split into two halves.

When he has been up against a top FOGO, he has mostly held his own (except against Yale). Against OSU’s Inacio, he was at 47%. Against CSU’s Tesler, he won 51%. Against Penn, he was 53%.

But when he’s faced a lesser tier FOGO, he has been a big part of Penn State’s offensive dominance. It was no different in this one. And it’s all part of the story of Penn State: you have to have just about everything go right to play with them.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
1	0	1 (1)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
21	22	81%
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
2	0	0

#3 – TD Ierlan (Yale) – 7.77 goals added

Apr 13 vs Brown Opp ELO: 1486

Another game, another TD Ierlan win-rate above 70%. He’s hit that mark in 8 of Yale’s 10 games this year.

Yale certainly falls into “unheralded” bucket as far as defending champions go. But if the Bulldogs are able to make a run this year, Ierlan is going to be the rising ride that lifts their offensive game.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
1	1	2 (1)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
16	22	78%
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
1	0	0

#4 – Asher Nolting (High Point) – 6.71 goals added

Apr 13 vs Mercer Opp ELO: 1191

The High Point season, as a whole, has certainly descended from the early heights. Where the Panthers were once talked about as a potential first-round host, their tournament hopes now hinge entirely on winning the SoCon tournament.

But Asher Nolting’s season has been less volatile. This marks the 5th straight game that he has led the team in EGA (and 9th time out of 12 games).

And that may be a good sign for High Point. His 11.8% play share in this one was the highest of the season, barely edging out his line from the High Point win over Duke.

You like a team that is able to spread it around and get everyone involved, but it may be that for High Point to maximize the success of this year’s squad, they just need to keep it in his cross.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
5	0	13 (6)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
2	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
3	0	2

#5 – Jimmeh Koita (Drexel) – 6.54 goals added

Apr 13 vs Fairfield Opp ELO: 1226

The Dragon’s FOGO had a day against Fairfield. To be fair, it was partly thanks to the Drexel offense putting up 21 goals and giving him lots of chances to win face-offs. But still, 79% is 79%.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
1	0	2 (2)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
10	24	82%
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
0	0	0

#6 – Keenan Cook (Siena) – 6.53 goals added

Apr 13 vs NJIT Opp ELO: 1030

First time I can remember a Siena Saint showing up this high on our list. Keenan Cook stepped out in this one, to a tune of 8 points. It was part of a fairly cohesive offensive performance (7 of his 8 points involved an assist either by him or on one of his assisted goals).

But it had to feel good for Cook, who has not always been the marquee cog in this offense. Against Manhattan, for example, he only accounted for 5.8% of the play shares. He’s been under 8% in 6 of their contests.

But in this one, he was the centerpiece, amassing 9.7% of the play shares and leading the team in EGA and points.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
4	4	10 (5)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
5	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
1	0	1

#7 – Conor Gaffney (Lehigh) – 6.49 goals added

Apr 10 vs Robert Morris Opp ELO: 1542

Vintage FOGO day here. against Robert Morris, in a game that Lehigh lost 13 – 12. He also threw in 16 ground balls and 24 faceoff wins for good measure. And zero turnovers! Coach has to love that.

Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Robert Morris was the #-11 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
0	0	0 (0)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
16	24	82%
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
0	0	0

#8 – James Reilly (Georgetown) – 6.42 goals added

Apr 14 vs Villanova Opp ELO: 1596

One of the few players to make this list without scoring any goals, he did drive the offense, chipping in 2 assists against Villanova in a game that Georgetown won 16 – 13. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 12 ground balls and 22 faceoff wins.

Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1596, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
0	2	1 (0)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
12	22	68%
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
2	0	0

#9 – Chris Gray (Boston U) – 6.31 goals added

Apr 13 vs Loyola MD Opp ELO: 1821

On the day, he tallied 4 goals and 4 assists against Loyola MD in a game that Boston U won 18 – 11. He also threw in 5 ground balls for good measure.

Throw in Loyola MD’s ELO rating of 1821, and these stats take on whole new meaning.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
4	4	10 (6)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
5	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
2	1	1

#10 – Aidan Olmstead (Loyola MD) – 6.23 goals added

Apr 9 vs Georgetown Opp ELO: 1685

On the day, he tallied 2 goals and 5 assists against Georgetown, in a game that Loyola MD won 16 – 14. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 3 ground balls.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
2	5	12 (7)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
3	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
1	0	0

#11 – Kevin Lindley (Loyola MD) – 6.17 goals added

Apr 9 vs Georgetown Opp ELO: 1685

On the day, he tallied 6 goals and 1 assist against Georgetown in a game that Loyola MD won 16 – 14. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 3 ground balls. But perhaps the most impressive thing was accomplishing all of that while committing exactly zero turnovers.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
6	1	13 (9)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
3	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
0	0	0

#12 – Charlie Kitchen (Delaware) – 6.08 goals added

Apr 13 vs Hofstra Opp ELO: 1443

On the day, he tallied 4 goals and 5 assists in a game that Delaware won 13 – 7 over Hofstra. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 1 ground ball.

Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1443, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
4	5	8 (5)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
1	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
3	0	0

#13 – James Burr (Boston U) – 6.07 goals added

Apr 13 vs Loyola MD Opp ELO: 1821

He paced the team with 9 total points (5 goals; 4 assists) against Loyola MD, in a game that Boston U won 18 – 11. Add in 2 ground balls and you’ve got a pretty full stat sheet. No trillion-club here.

Plus, when you factor in that Loyola MD was the #3 strongest opponent on this list, these stats look even better.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
5	4	13 (6)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
2	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
1	1	0

#14 – Sam Handley (Penn) – 5.90 goals added

Apr 13 vs Harvard Opp ELO: 1497

If the defense doesn’t stop you, just keep shooting, right? He gladly obliged, racking up 6 goals against Harvard in a game that Penn won 26 – 13. It was a somewhat one-dimensional day with no GBs or faceoffs, but come on: 6 total points.

Now, the obligatory dose of reality: Harvard was the #-18 weakest opponent on this list. Factor that in.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
6	0	6 (6)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
0	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
2	0	0

#15 – Jake Carraway (Georgetown) – 5.79 goals added

Apr 14 vs Villanova Opp ELO: 1596

On the day, he tallied 5 goals and 2 assists against Villanova, in a game that Georgetown won 16 – 13. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 2 ground balls.

Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1596, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
5	2	11 (10)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
2	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
1	0	0

#16 – Brendan Sunday (Towson) – 5.78 goals added

Apr 13 vs Massachusetts Opp ELO: 1673

In this one, he scored 4 goals and added 1 assist against Massachusetts, in a game that Towson lost 14 – 10. He also threw in 2 ground balls for good measure.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
4	1	9 (4)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
2	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
2	0	1

#17 – Brian Herber (Hofstra) – 5.76 goals added

Apr 13 vs Delaware Opp ELO: 1713

Vintage FOGO day here. against Delaware in a game that Hofstra lost 13 – 7. Add in 16 ground balls and 20 faceoff wins and you’ve got a pretty full stat sheet. No trillion-club here.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
0	0	1 (1)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
16	20	86%
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
1	0	0

#18 – Brendan McKenna (Jacksonville) – 5.67 goals added

Apr 13 vs VMI Opp ELO: 1167

On the day, he tallied 2 goals and 7 assists against VMI in a game that Jacksonville won 19 – 9. As if that wasn’t enough, don’t forget the 4 ground balls. And zero turnovers! Coach has to love that.

Not to diminish this game too much, but with an opponent ELO rating of 1167, it’s not as if this performance came against a world-beater.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
2	7	4 (2)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
4	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
0	0	0

#19 – Jimmy Perkins (Utah) – 5.62 goals added

Apr 13 vs Hartford Opp ELO: 1263

If the defense doesn’t stop you, just keep shooting, right? He gladly obliged, racking up 6 goals in a game that Utah lost 14 – 12 to Hartford. He also threw in 3 ground balls 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.

Repeat this against a team stronger than Hartford, and he’ll really get people talking.

Goals	Assists	Shots (OG)
6	0	12 (11)
GBs	FO Won	FO Pct
3	0	N/A
Turnovers	Penalties	Caused TO
0	0	0

#20 – Ben Martin (Dartmouth) – 5.49 goals added

Apr 9 vs Hartford Opp ELO: 1245

On the day, he tallied 5 goals and 1 assist in a game that Dartmouth lost 12 – 11 to Hartford. Add in 2 ground balls and you’ve got a pretty full stat sheet. No trillion-club here.