CHAMPIONS!: MEN'S LACROSSE UPSETS NO. 1 LE MOYNE 5-4 FOR FIRST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
May 4, 2008
BRYANT MEN'S LACROSSE WINS NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE
TITLE
BULLDOGS UPSET NO. 1 LE MOYNE 5-4 SUNDAY
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| Andrew Hennessey won 11 of 13 face-off's in Sunday's Championship. www.dspics.com |
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| Matt McKeefrey notched the game-winner vs. Le Moyne. www.dspics.com |
SYRACUSE, NY - Junior Matt McKeefrey (Melville, NY) scored three goals including the game winner in the fourth quarter to lead second-seeded Bryant University to a 5-4 upset of top-ranked Le Moyne in Sunday's Northeast-10 Conference men's lacrosse championship. Bryant, with a school record 14 wins this season, will await word on a possible NCAA berth later Sunday evening when the brackets are announced.
Bryant (14-3) entered the game 0-4 all-time in conference championship games, losing all four previous title games to Le Moyne, including a 5-4 decision to the Dolphins in last year in Smithfield, RI.
After a tight first half that saw both teams head to the locker room at the half tied 1-1, Le Moyne used three third quarter goals to take a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame where the Bryant offense finally came to life.
Behind the stellar play of face-off specialist Andrew Hennessey (Wading River, NY), the Bulldogs controlled much of the play in the early going and the results paid off as a McKeefrey unassisted goal in the opening minutes cut the Le Moyne lead down to one, 4-3 with 13:29 remaining.
Four minutes later, the Bulldogs pulled even as freshman Gary Crowley (Scituate, MA) beat Le Moyne goalie Doug McIver to make it 4-4 with 9:01 left.
Following a defensive stop by Bryant's Matt Murnane (Rockville Centre, NY) on Le Moyne's Jack Venditti, the Bulldogs worked the ball upfield. Le Moyne was whistled off-side on the play and the Bulldogs made them pay as McKeefrey rifled home what would prove to be the eventual game-winning goal with 6:29 left.
The Bryant defense stood tall for the remainder of the game as goalie Michael Kennedy (Port Jefferson Station, NY) was named the Most Outstanding Player with nine saves in the game.
Hennessey finished the day winning a remarkable 11 of 13 face-offs for the Bulldogs.
Northeast-10 Championship
@ Syracuse, NY
BRYANT (5): Goals - McKeefrey 3, Crowley 2; Assists - None
LE MOYNE (4): Goals - Venditti 2, Cost 1, Vetter 1; Assists - Bily
1, Cost 1, McDonald 1, Robinson 1.
Saves - Bryant, Kennedy, 9. Le Moyne, McIver, 11.
Halftime - 1-1
Records: B 14-3, Le Moyne 14-1.