Here’s a numerical look at men’s City 6 college lacrosse teams

Men’s college lacrosse among Division I teams in Philadelphia has been impressive this season, with two teams leading their respective conferences and three sitting above .500.

As of Monday, No. 14 Villanova (9-3, 2-1 Big East) and St. Joseph’s (8-4, 3-0 Atlantic 10) were well-positioned for postseason runs, while Drexel (7-4, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) has to overcome the favorite, Delaware, to make it to the national tournament. No. 10 Penn (5-5, 3-2 Ivy League) has gotten off to a slow start but has been known to make unlikely comebacks.

Here are some of the numbers that showcase what’s been working well for each of these teams:

Not only are almost half of Donnelly’s shots on target, but they rattle the cage as well. For context, only seven D-1 players have a higher shot percentage. This isn’t for lack of trying, either. Donnelly is Drexel’s top goal scorer, racking up 2.6 goals and 3.4 points per game.

Faceoff specialist Zach Cole is a big reason the Hawks have such a good rhythm throughout games. Cole also is a ground ball machine, averaging 11.8 per game. It’s the most claimed disputed-possession balls for his team of any D-1 lacrosse player.

There is an 80-second shot clock in college lacrosse, with teams needing to clear the ball to the offensive zone within the first 20 seconds. Because of Villanova’s ability to clear the ball defensively, the Wildcats are able to regain possession almost a fifth of the time without risking a shot on their own goal. Keeping the ball in the Villanova offensive zone makes for constant pressure and momentum, which translates to goals and wins.

Sam Handley has brought skill and style to the offensive midfield position. He fights his way onto the box score because it’s almost impossible for opposing teams to contain his 6-foot-5 frame. His quarterbacking abilities make him the top point-getter on his team. Even though he is ranked among the top 10 in college lacrosse, this stat is actually underwhelming for Handley, who recorded 4.56 points per game in 2022.

The Hawks have been making waves in their first season of A-10 lacrosse. An offense led by Carter Page has helped St. Joe’s to the top of the conference standings with just two games remaining. Racking up 3.33 goals per game, Page leads all Big 5 players in scoring.

As in hockey, a lacrosse penalty means one team will be shorthanded for a period of time. These periods typically last just 30 seconds or one minute in lacrosse. Though Drexel converts only about 30% of the time during the man-up advantage, it usually comes at the hands of Tomak. It should be noted that as of Tuesday, Villanova senior midfielder Mason Reale had six, ranked tied for ninth-best in the nation.

With a fifth-best .745 man-down defense (tied with St. Joe’s), the Wildcats have a shutdown mentality that also manifests during penalties. A big reason for opponents’ trouble finding the net is because of Villanova’s top defenders. Four players on the team — Reid Colwell, Tripp Robinson, David Evanchick, and Brody LaPorte — average at least one caused turnover per game.

Especially for his first year as the starting goalie, Carroll has seen a lot. Because Penn hasn’t had the breakout season everyone has expected, the goalie has been facing a lot of shots. He’s been making the most of the opportunity though, often keeping his team in the game. All his saves translate to a .533 save percentage. This year, goalies on average save just under 50% of shots on goal.