NCAA Lacrosse: Denver Men’s Lacrosse Wins Inaugural ECAC Lacrosse Championship With 11-9 Win Over Fairfield On May 7

No. 5 Denver held off a late rally by Fairfield to claim the inaugural ECAC Tournament championship with an 11-9 win this afternoon at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

Pioneers Claim Inaugural ECAC Championship

The Pioneers, who also won the ECAC regular-season title, earned the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid with the win and extended its winning streak to a program-record 10 wins.

“A great deal of credit needs to go to Fairfield and all those young men that competed and didn’t give up for the full 60 minutes,” said head coach Bill Tierney. “I am proud of our guys for sticking in there and coming up with goals when we needed them, but our team just learned something out there and that is to never give up until that buzzer sounds. I am excited that we were able to secure the first-ever ECAC Championship and to get the automotive qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. It’s been a long season, but we’re ready to keep playing and show everyone what Denver lacrosse is all about.”

Denver led 11-4 early in the fourth quarter before the Stags mounted their comeback with five consecutive goals to cut the deficit to two goals with 3:04 remaining. The Pioneers sealed the win as goaltender Jamie Faus (Lakeville, Conn.) stopped the Stags final two attempts on goal.

ECAC Player of the Year Mark Matthews (Oshawa, Ontario), sophomore Eric Law (Centennial, Colo.), senior Todd Baxter (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and junior Alex Demopoulos (Canton, Conn.) scored two goals each for Denver and Faus earned his 12th win of the season with 13 saves.

For more:  http://www.denverpioneers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=90265&SPID=10874&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205148190&DB_OEM_ID=18600

NCAA Lacrosse: Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse “Seniors” Defeat Florida “Super Sophs” 10-9 To Claim Fifth-Straight American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Championship On May 7

Trailing by three and with less than 14 minutes to play, No. 3 Northwestern exploded for a 5-0 run over a 10-minute stretch that allowed it to overcome No. 4 Florida, 10-9, in the ALC Championship game Saturday in Nashville.

'Cats Extend ALC Championship Streak With 10-9 Comeback Win Over Gators

NU remains the only champion in the five-year history of the ALC Tournament and has now won seven consecutive conference championships.

Junior Shannon Smith scored five goals for the second straight day and finished with a hand in seven of NU’s 10 tallies en route to winning tournament MVP honors. Freshman Alyssa Leonardalso keyed Northwestern’s comeback with her four straight draw control wins late in the second half; the ALC Rookie of the Year hauled in nine draw controls for the game, one off her career high and one more than the entire Florida team on Saturday.

“We didn’t have our best game offensively and Florida did a great job defensively on us, but I think when we got down it just ignited that fire inside,” said head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. “Shannon scored a couple to spark us and got us back in it, and everyone just figured out they need to get aggressive. Once we did that we were much more effective, I was really excited about how we came back.”

After the two teams combined for three turnovers on the opening possessions, Florida struck first after it turned a broken play behind the net into a quick goal five minutes into the game.

The Gators soon made it 2-0 off a drive down the left of the fan, but NU found its footing on offense after that. Sophomore Amanda Macalusoconverted off a gutsy dodge through several UF defenders and, after Leonard easily won the draw control, Smith snuck home an underhand shot to draw the Wildcats level at two.

Later trailing 3-2, NU goalkeeper Brianne LoManto came up with two enormous saves for the `Cats, twice turning away the nation’s leader in goals scored, Kitty Cullen, on point-blank blasts. Northwestern used that momentum on the other end when Smith fed Jessica Russoon a delayed fast break and saw Russo rip a shot past Mikey Meagher to tie things at three.

A yellow card against Northwestern in the defensive end helped Florida set up its fourth goal of the game, a low-angle shot on the crease, and the Gators tacked on one more on its next possession to go ahead, 5-3. NU had the answer with a well-executed offensive set, however, as Smith set up a cutting Erin Fitzgerald as the Wildcats pulled within one.

For more:  http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/w-lacros/recaps/050711aaa.html

NCAA Lacrosse: Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse Ends Regular Season With A 9-8 Overtime Loss To North Carolina On May 7

A goal from Pat Foster just over a minute into overtime gave No. 12 North Carolina a 9-8 victory over third-ranked Notre Dame in non-conference men’s lacrosse action on Friday evening at Fetzer Field. The Fighting Irish conclude the regular season with a 10-2 record.

Notre Dame ended regulation on a 4-0 run to force the extra session. The Irish surge began on a Westy Hopkins goal with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter. Junior attackman Sean Rogers cut the Tar Heel lead to two (8-6) with 1:24 remaining. Notre Dame made it a one-goal game seven seconds later after senior Jake Marmul won the faceoff and assisted on a Colin Igoegoal. Igoe, a senior attackman, knotted the game (8-8) with 13 seconds left in regulation.

North Carolina (10-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind back-to-back goals from Nicky Galasso and a score from Marcus Holman, who had a game-high three goals. Hopkins, a freshman attackman, put the Irish on the board with 3:18 left in the opening quarter. The Tar Heels led 3-1 after the first quarter.

Goals from Holman and Ryan Creighton 52 seconds apart gave North Carolina a 5-1 lead by the 8:31 mark of the second period. The Irish answered back with a goal from sophomore midfielder Tyler Kimball off a pass from Eric Keppeler. It was the first career goal for Kimball. North Carolina led 5-2 at the intermission.

A goal from Fighting Irish senior midfielder David Earlcut the Tar Heel lead to two (5-3) just over a minute into the second half. Scores from Creighton and Foster extended the North Carolina advantage to four (7-3) midway through the third quarter. Earl’s second tally of the quarter put the Irish back to within three (7-4) by the end of the third period.

North Carolina went up by four (8-4) less than a minute into the final stanza on goal from Holman.

For more:  http://www.und.com/sports/m-lacros/recaps/050611aaa.html

College Women’s Lacrosse: WCLA National Championship Final Will Feature Colorado State Women’s Lacrosse Vs UCLA After Exciting Semifinals On May 6

Last year, Colorado State came into the US Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) Division I National Championship with a No. 11 seed and a nothing-to-lose attitude. They danced at halftime of games and four days later, had won a national championship.

UCLA came into this year’s championship with a No. 9 seed, and, shall we say, a nothing-to-lose attitude? Three days later, they’re in the national title game, and the only thing standing in their way is…Colorado State.

UCLA reached the final with a wild 14-13 double-overtime comeback win over Santa Clara while Colorado State had its own anxious moments before beating UCSB 10-7. They’ll meet for the national title on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Scottsdale Sports Complex.

Santa Clara completely dominated the first half of play against UCLA, moving out to a 9-4 lead in a game that didn’t even feel that close. But UCLA regrouped, and as they broke their halftime huddle, one of the players simply said, “Believe it.”

The Bruins scored two straight to open the half, but even after Santa Clara matched those scores to retake a five-goal lead a 11-6 wit 23:02 to play, UCLA never wavered.

“I can honestly tell you, there was not a second of that game when I thought we were going to lose,” said UCLA coach Shanta Loecker.

UCLA freshman Kelley McCarroll-Gilbert, who called the game “nerve-wracking” scored two goals just 44 seconds apart to pull the Bruins to within 11-8 midway through the second half, but the scored stayed that way for nearly 10 more minutes.

Finally, with six minutes to go, Morgan Oberstein scored to cut it to two. Then Courtney Randall cut it to one and with 1:56 left, Oberstein again connected to tie the game 11-11.
It looked like it was all going to be for naught. Santa Clara’s Maggie Burke scored with just 33 seconds left, ending a 22-plus minute scoring drought for the Broncos and they retook the lead 12-11.

UCLA’s Antoinette Brou won the ensuing draw and got the ball to McCarroll-Gilbert. She took the ball from the left wing, made a couple of moves and beat her defender and found herself wide open in front of the goal. She scored – her sixth goal of the game – to tie the score with just 15 seconds left to force overtime.

UCLA struck first in the overtime on a goal by Oberstein that gave the Bruins their first lead of the game, but Burke also got her sixth goal for Santa Clara to send it into sudden victory overtime. Oberstein again came through, taking a pass from behind the cage from Randall and scored her seventh goal of the game to send UCLA to the title game.

For more:  http://laxmagazine.com/college_women/club/2010-11/news/050611_bruins_believe_ucla_and_csu_to_meet_for_wcla_title

Growth Of Western NCAA Lacrosse: Colorado Women’s Lacrosse Will Not Be Elevated To Varsity Program Status Anytime Soon As University Of Colorado’s New $21 Million TV Contract Will Pay Down Expenses And Improve Athletic Infrastructure First

 

Colorado is going to get about $21 million a year from the Pac-12’s new TV contracts, starting in two years. This represents 250 percent more than it made in the old Big 12 Conference

Women’s lacrosse has the inside edge when that happens. Colorado high schools are a hotbed for college women’s lacrosse programs. Eight girls are expected to get Division I scholarships this spring, and Colorado would be a logical eighth conference member in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The league includes the three current Pac-10 schools playing women’s lacrosse — Stanford, Oregon and California — plus Denver, which would provide a natural rivalry.

Before Colorado will consider adding a Women’s Lacrosse Program, they must:

• Pay $5.5 million left from an $8 million loan in 2006 which paid off former football coach Gary Barnett’s contract
• Pay Boise State for the hiring of football coach Dan Hawkins
• Pay the settled lawsuit from CU’s recruiting ordeal years ago
• CU owes the Big 12 a $6 million exit fee for leaving the conference to join the Pac-12
• Pay $9 million for 2011-12 scholarships that have risen 9 percent for in-state students and 4 to 5 percent for out-of-state students
• Pay for increased athletic team travel costs including fuel costs tha increased $250,000
• Pay for upgrades to Folsom Field’s Flatirons Club, the antiquated donor seating area below the press box
• Pay for infrastructure costs including Video boards, restrooms and concession stands

The Pac-12’s TV contracts don’t fund until the 2012-13 school year. Once Colorado becomes more financially solvent on a year- to-year basis, Bohn said adding a sport can be considered.

Read more: Colorado Buffaloes wait to weigh Pac-12 TV windfall – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_18013254#ixzz1LgQ3CCWi

MCLA Lacrosse: Colorado State Men’s Lacrosse Defeated Arch-Rival Colorado 9-8 In Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC) Semifinal On May 6

Three weeks ago in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Showdown, the Colorado State Rams jumped out to an early advantage and held off a spirited rally by rival Colorado to win 9-8. 

The final score on Friday afternoon was the same, but the story of the game was reversed, as CSU had to climb out of an early 5-0 hole before eventually posting an impressive comeback victory in the RMLC semifinals at Walker Field on the campus of Mesa State College.  The Rams narrowed the gap to 6-3 at halftime before outscoring CU 6-2 in the second half to get the emotional victory.  Austin Fisher led the way with five points for CSU, propelling them to the RMLC championship game for the second time in as many years.

Colorado got on the board quickly, scoring three goals before the game was barely two minutes old.  An early face-off win led to the first goal and then timely cutting and deadly shooting by the Buffs put the Rams in an unfamiliar position and their biggest deficit of the year.  CU led 5-0 with 9:31 left in the first quarter before Austin Fisher finally got CSU’s first goal with 4:19 remaining in the stanza.

“We knew it wasn’t about x’s and o’s when we got down,” said CSU head coach Alex Smith.  “They were simply outplaying us and winning a lot of little battles.  They played great in the opening minutes of the game and we had to be careful not to let the game get too far away from us.  We showed a lot of resolve in hanging around until we could get on top of the action.”

CU eventually led 5-1 and 6-2 before the Rams were able to close the gap to 6-3 at halftime.  Immediately out of the halftime break, Cooper Kehoe scored his first and only goal of the game to narrow the margin to two.  A wild flurry of goals highlighted the rest of the quarter as the two teams combined for four goals in just under five minutes.  When the dust settled, the Rams finished the third period with three straight tallies to finally tie the game at 8 before Austin Fisher emphatically slammed home the game-winner with 13:23 remaining in regulation.

For more:  http://csulacrosse.com/2011/05/06/csu-comes-back-to-take-down-cu-9-8-in-rmlc-semis/

NCAA Lacrosse: Florida Women’s Lacrosse Faces Northwestern In American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Finals On May 7

The No. 1 seeded Florida lacrosse team reached its first American Lacrosse Conference Tournament final after the Gators defeated fourth-seeded Ohio State, 16-13, on Friday afternoon at VU Lacrosse Complex. The Orange and Blue move to Saturday’s Championship game to face No. 2 seed Northwestern, who defeated third-seeded Penn State, 14-3.

The Gators and the Wildcats will relive their epic 13-11 April matchup at 1:00p.m. on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Gators have given head coach Amanda O’Leary 15 wins in a single season, the most of her head coaching career. Florida is now 15-2 on the season while Ohio State falls to 10-7.

Florida was led by sophomore attacker Ashley Bruns (Ellicott City, Md.) and sophomore midfielder Janine Hillier (Farmingdale, N.Y.) with six points apiece, both with four goals and two assists. Hillier’s goal and point totals were new career bests and her two assists tied her current career high. Hillier was also three-for-three from free position. Tewaaraton nominee Kitty Cullen (Rockville, Md.) had a hat trick for the 15th game this season, adding an assist, two draw controls, a ground ball and a caused turnover. Sophomore midfielder Brittany Dashiell (Bel Air, Md.) had two goals on the afternoon, as well as a game-high five draw controls and three ground balls. Sophomore attacker Caroline Chesterman (South Nyack, N.Y.), junior attacker Caroline Cochran (Annapolis, Md.) and sophomore midfielder Colby Rhea (Abington, Md.) added a goal apiece.

For more:  http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=20606