Game #3
Franciscan (1-1 | 0-1 PAC) vs. Muskingum (1-0 | 0-0 OAC) 
Wednesday, Feb 25th | 7:00 p.m.
Trinity Health System Field | Steubenville, Ohio

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The Latest
- The Barons took care of business in the Home Opener on Saturday by defeating Hanover by a score of 25-19.
- Joseph James led the charge with 11 points, including eight goals. Pio Kirk and James Masso added six goals apiece in the offensive outburst.
- James was named PAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. This is the seventh PAC Weekly honor of his career. 

Scouting the Fighting Muskies
-  The Fighting Muskies are 1-0, but they have not played since February 14th. 
- They beat Wabash by a score of 11-7. Seven different players scored in a balanced offensive attack. 
- Last season, they held a 5-12 record, including a 2-7 OAC record. 

Matchup History
- The Barons are 1-6 all-time against the Fighting Muskies.
- Muskingum has won in the last four meetings. 
- The Barons last beat them in 2018, by a score of 16-11. Dan McCartney led the Barons with six goals in that win.
- Last season, Muskingum won 13-9 in New Concord. The game was tied 4-4 at halftime before the Fighting Muskies scored five goals in the fourth quarter to win by four. 

The All-American
-  Joseph James earned All-American honors as a freshman, and he was named a preseason All-American prior to the 2025 season.
- He has accumulated 207 points so far. That is the second most in program history. Jonas McCaig '18 holds the program record with 217. 
- He has 139 goals in just 30 games played. McCaig holds the program record with 142.
- James is also second in program history with 68 assists. McCaig holds the record with 75 over his four-year career. 

New Faces Making a Major Impact
- Pio Kirk had a breakout game in the win over Hanover. He scored six goals and added one assist in his first game at home in his collegiate career.
- John Kirk had 17 saves and picked up his first collegiate win against Hanover.
- Charles Wilson and Wyatt Balger also scored their first collegiate goals in the win. 

James to James
- Joseph James and James Masso scored or assisted on 16 of the 25 goals that the Barons scored on Saturday. 
- Masso made his return to the field after playing exclusively at goalie for the Barons in 2025. 
- As a freshman, Masso scored 28 goals and added 22 assists, while helping Joseph James have an All-American season.
- It was exciting to see their chemistry on the offensive end, just two games into 2026.
 
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