That ticket the Rivier men's lacrosse team punched for the NCAA tourney Satuday is good for a first round home game Wednesday vs. Rhodes College of Memphis, Tenn. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The Rivier University men’s lacrosse team’s postseason party continues today, but it’s a party the Raiders are getting used to hosting.

For the second straight year, the Raiders are hosting an NCAA Division III first round tournament game today, and this time the team that is the Raiders’ guest had to take a plane to get here.

That would be Rhodes College of Memphis, Tenn., the champion of the Southern Athletic Association. Rhodes went 12-6 this year, and the Lynx were the conference’s No. 3 seed but rallied to beat Centre, 12-11, before upsetting No. 1 seed Sewanee.

It’s the first ever meeting between the two schools, as one would think.

Gavin Nagle leads the Lynx with 84 points (43 goals, 41 assists). He’s picked up 69 grounders and also caused 20 turnovers. Griffin Galloway is next with 33 goals, 26 assists,

Defensively, the Lynx were led by Nicholas Weeldon with 21 caused turnovers and Aidan Malnati (20) in front of goalies Jason Rubinstein (88 saves, .537 save percentage) and Blake Jeska (13 games, 10 starts).

Another battle will be at the X, where Wake Burke has won 219 of 351 faceoffs (.624) and Rivier ‘s Owen McDuffie, ranked 11th nationally going 170 for .237, a .717 percentage.

His talents have launched the Rivier offense, led by Conor Walsh’s 63 points (35 goals, 28 assists). Mason Schultz leads the Raiders in goals with 45, with Aiden Conley one behind. Conley, however, has scored seven combined in the semis and finals.

But the key for Rivier may be its defense, ranked No. 1 nationally in Division III, with GNAC First Team Goalie Jake Lydon between the pipes. He’s started all 18 games, with a nation-leading 5.05 goals against, plus a .665 save percentage which is second in the nation.

Colin Foley leads the defense in front of Lydon, with 35 caused turnovers and 61 ground balls. It’s coached by assistant Ruppy Hailey, and Raiders head coach Jay Delanoy gives him free reign..

“If you want to understand our defense, you have to talk to Ruppy Hailey,” Delanoy said. “It’s all his. I trust him with it and it works. We try to beat it in practice, and we seldom do.”

Last year the Raiders beat Mass Maritme handily in the NCAA first round and then were manhandled in the second round by Bowdoin on the road. This will be interesting with a school out of the region, but then the winner will stay in the region as Tufts awaits on Saturday at 4:30 in Round Two in Medford, Mass.

But the Raiders have to solve the Lynx first.

FAN DETAILS

Unlike the GNAC Tournament, there is a charge for NCAA games. , $5 for children/students/senior citizens and otherwise $10 for adults. Cash will NOT be accepted.

Parking is free, fans are advised to park at Syliva Trottier Hall (Lot 10) or Rhodes Memorial Hall (Lot 19).