Top Individual Performances (Week 7 MLAX)
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 to 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? | |
A quick note: whenever you see the PRO logo (![]() ![]() |
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Top Single Game Scores of the week |
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#1 – Jake Naso (Duke) – 7.89 goals added
Mar 25 vs Syracuse Opp ELO: 1733
Adler made the save at the end to seal the victory, but the MVP for Duke was Jake Naso. Cuse won the efficiency battle, but Duke won the game because of the +8 possession advantage they enjoyed.
The Blue Devils won 57.5% of their faceoffs last year. This year, it’s 60.7%. Their offense was 36.5% last year. This year it’s 36.8%. They added quite a few names on offense, but just based on results, the addition of Naso may turn out to be the bigger deal. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
98th
Total EGA
80th
Faceoff EGA
87th
Excess Goals
96th
Shooting Percentage
99th
Faceoff Win%
92nd
Faceoff Elo
94th
Play Shares
97th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
1
0
1 (1)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
14
24
75%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
0
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
98th
Total EGA
80th
Faceoff EGA
87th
Excess Goals
96th
Shooting Percentage
99th
Faceoff Win%
92nd
Faceoff Elo
94th
Play Shares
97th
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#2 – Nathan Kapp (Jacksonville) – 7.69 goals added
Mar 27 vs VMI Opp ELO: 1014
2nd slot, 2nd FOGO. Nathan Kapp’s game against VMI can certainly be excused based on the opponent. VMI is the worst opp-adjusted FO unit in the country.
You can’t ignore Kapp’s progress though. His win percentage is up almost 17 percentage points since last year, and he’s currently 8th in the faceoff Elo ratings. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
95th
Total EGA
82nd
Faceoff EGA
88th
Excess Goals
38th
Shooting Percentage
61st
Faceoff Win%
81st
Faceoff Elo
98th
Play Shares
95th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
0
1
1 (0)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
18
26
89%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
4
1
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
95th
Total EGA
82nd
Faceoff EGA
88th
Excess Goals
38th
Shooting Percentage
61st
Faceoff Win%
81st
Faceoff Elo
98th
Play Shares
95th
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#3 – Zach Cole (Saint Joseph’s) – 7.26 goals added
Mar 27 vs Mount St Marys Opp ELO: 1302
Zach Cole is our 3rd FOGO to head this week’s list after a 20 win day against MSM on Saturday. Cole hasn’t quite regained his stature from last season, but the tide continues to turn for the Hawks’ star.
He did record his 1st goal of the year in this one, helping the EGA total up to season-high levels. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
99th
Total EGA
95th
Faceoff EGA
96th
Excess Goals
7th
Shooting Percentage
42nd
Faceoff Win%
93rd
Faceoff Elo
97th
Play Shares
99th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
1
0
4 (3)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
14
20
64%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
99th
Total EGA
95th
Faceoff EGA
96th
Excess Goals
7th
Shooting Percentage
42nd
Faceoff Win%
93rd
Faceoff Elo
97th
Play Shares
99th
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#4 – Jimmeh Koita (Drexel) – 6.83 goals added
Mar 27 vs Robert Morris Opp ELO: 1518
Jimmeh Koita had a bit of a down year in the shortened 2020 season. His 46.1% win rate was his lowest total since his freshman season in 2017.
He has bounced back in 2021, posting a 55.1% win rate that is only behind his breakout 57% mark in 2019. It does help the EGA figures that this was the fastest paced, highest scoring game that the Dragons have played all season. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
95th
Total EGA
98th
Faceoff EGA
99th
Excess Goals
19th
Shooting Percentage
50th
Faceoff Win%
78th
Faceoff Elo
89th
Play Shares
97th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
0
1
0 (0)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
13
23
67%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
95th
Total EGA
98th
Faceoff EGA
99th
Excess Goals
19th
Shooting Percentage
50th
Faceoff Win%
78th
Faceoff Elo
89th
Play Shares
97th
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#5 – Ryan Tierney (Hofstra) – 6.17 goals added
Mar 26 vs Fairfield Opp ELO: 1388
Finally, a non-FOGO. Tierney strikes again after a more-than-3 week absence because of COVID issues. The big difference in this game is that he was more of a one-man-show. In previous outings, a lot of his goals were assisted. In this one, he was able to generate his own offense.
I believe that team level assist rates are overrated; sometimes you just need that guy who can go get a goal. Tierney showing off that skill bodes well for the remainder of the Pride’s season. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
98th
Total EGA
99th
Offensive EGA
99th
Excess Goals
1st
eGoals/Shot
71st
Shooting Percentage
67th
Shot-on-Goal Rate
54th
Play Shares
99th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
5
1
15 (11)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
2
0
N/A
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
1
2
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
98th
Total EGA
99th
Offensive EGA
99th
Excess Goals
1st
eGoals/Shot
71st
Shooting Percentage
67th
Shot-on-Goal Rate
54th
Play Shares
99th
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#6 – Tommy Burke (Vermont) – 6.09 goals added
Mar 27 vs Hartford Opp ELO: 1287
Only our #2 player this week, Nathan Kapp, has seen a larger rise in his faceoff Elo rating than Burke this year. Of note, Burke’s 2021 win rate is 22 percentage points better than his mark from last year (68.5% vs 46.4%). As a result he’s jumped up to the number 5 slot in the faceoff Elo ratings.
If you are trying to make a list of the biggest improvements, whether from the new rules or just organic player development, Burke has to be near or at the top of that list. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
96th
Total EGA
78th
Faceoff EGA
85th
Excess Goals
39th
Shooting Percentage
42nd
Faceoff Win%
90th
Faceoff Elo
99th
Play Shares
92nd
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
1
0
1 (1)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
10
19
73%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
96th
Total EGA
78th
Faceoff EGA
85th
Excess Goals
39th
Shooting Percentage
42nd
Faceoff Win%
90th
Faceoff Elo
99th
Play Shares
92nd
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#7 – Ethan Walker (Denver) – 5.82 goals added
Mar 27 vs Providence Opp ELO: 1572
Ethan Walker and the Pios cruised to a 19-11 victory, thanks in part to a +15 possession margin bestowed upon them by the best FO unit in the country.
The big difference for Walker in this matchup (compared to the first game against the Friars) was opportunity. He only took 2 shots the first time around, compared to 9 attempts in this one. The other big difference was his activity in the groundball game. His 4 GBs made this a well-rounded effort. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
97th
Total EGA
99th
Offensive EGA
99th
Excess Goals
7th
eGoals/Shot
80th
Shooting Percentage
81st
Shot-on-Goal Rate
73rd
Play Shares
97th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
4
2
9 (6)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
4
0
N/A
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
97th
Total EGA
99th
Offensive EGA
99th
Excess Goals
7th
eGoals/Shot
80th
Shooting Percentage
81st
Shot-on-Goal Rate
73rd
Play Shares
97th
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#8 – Owen Corry (NJIT) – 5.67 goals added
Mar 27 vs UMass-Lowell Opp ELO: 1242
I was happy to see that a Highlander made this week’s list. The game on Saturday was the first AEC win for the program and so represents a pretty big milestone in the life of a newer program. Combine that with the success LIU has had this year, and the prospects for new entrants in D1 is looking up.
Owen Corry had a breakout game in this one with 56% shooting mark that was a season-high. He’s been much improved this year, with career highs in basically every statistical category. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
83rd
Total EGA
63rd
Offensive EGA
71st
Excess Goals
17th
eGoals/Shot
39th
Shooting Percentage
30th
Shot-on-Goal Rate
14th
Play Shares
96th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
5
2
9 (6)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
1
0
N/A
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
83rd
Total EGA
63rd
Offensive EGA
71st
Excess Goals
17th
eGoals/Shot
39th
Shooting Percentage
30th
Shot-on-Goal Rate
14th
Play Shares
96th
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#9 – Brian Herber (Hofstra) – 5.48 goals added
Mar 26 vs Fairfield Opp ELO: 1388
Tierney gets the highlights, but Herber has been as important to the Pride’s 4-1 start as anyone. Take just one example, Hofstra has had a +8.6 possession advantage average this year. Last year, that figure was a respectable +4.9. Given the struggles on defense (55th rated on an opp-adjusted basis), the possession edge has been crucial.
In the 4 wins, they’ve been +9, +9, +10, +13. In their lone loss, they were basically even on possessionns (+1 against SJU). Herber has won 66.7% this year, up from 62.9% last year. Take a few possessions away here and there, and Hofstra could easily have more than the 1 loss. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
96th
Total EGA
94th
Faceoff EGA
96th
Excess Goals
52nd
Shooting Percentage
79th
Faceoff Win%
88th
Faceoff Elo
96th
Play Shares
95th
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
0
0
2 (1)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
12
18
75%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
1
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
96th
Total EGA
94th
Faceoff EGA
96th
Excess Goals
52nd
Shooting Percentage
79th
Faceoff Win%
88th
Faceoff Elo
96th
Play Shares
95th
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#10 – Anthony DiMatteo (LIU) – 5.46 goals added
Mar 27 vs Wagner Opp ELO: 1008
Two weeks in a row that LIU has placed a player on this list. Last week it was LaCalandra; this week it’s DiMatteo after a 16 FO win / 13 GB day against Wagner.
It’s a hidden stat most of the time, so it doesn’t get the attention I think it deserves, but a big part of what has driven the Sharks’ success this year is possessions. Last year, they averaged 5.1 fewer possessions than their opponents. This year, they are averaging 3.5 more possessions. The only game where they did not have an advantage on possessions was against Hobart. Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
94th
Total EGA
40th
Faceoff EGA
60th
Excess Goals
73rd
Shooting Percentage
31st
Faceoff Win%
90th
Faceoff Elo
77th
Play Shares
63rd
Box Score Stats
Goals
Assists
Shots (OG)
0
0
1 (0)
GBs
FO Won
FO Pct
13
16
57%
Turnovers
Penalties
Caused TO
0
0
0
Career Stat
Percentile
EGA/game
94th
Total EGA
40th
Faceoff EGA
60th
Excess Goals
73rd
Shooting Percentage
31st
Faceoff Win%
90th
Faceoff Elo
77th
Play Shares
63rd
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