Men's Lacrosse Ends Its Season in NCAA Semifinals
May 17, 2008
MEN'S LACROSSE ENDS SEASON IN NCAA
SEMIFINALS
Bulldogs Conclude Season With Record 14 Wins
|
| Kevin Hoagland's second quarter goal with nine seconds left tied the game at 2-2. It was the junior's 100th career goal. www.dspics.com |
SYRACUSE, NY - Too many mistakes and turnovers proved costly as the second-ranked Bryant University men's lacrosse team dropped an 11-2 loss to Le Moyne College in the NCAA Division II semifinals here Saturday. Le Moyne, showing the experience of a veteran team with playoff experience will go for its third national title next week in Foxboro, MA.
Bryant ends its season with a 14-4 overall record and the highest
ranking in school history. In just two short years, Bryant has won
two Northeast-10 Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA
tournament under coach Mike Pressler. The
Bulldogs will begin Division I play next year.
"You just can't make mistakes against a team like that and come out with a win," said Pressler following the game. "They've been there before (postseason) and today it showed. The better team won out there."
In Saturday's semifinal, Bryant withstood a quick start to the game by the top-ranked Dolphins, as the Bulldogs back from a two goal deficit on thanks to goals from Brad Burton (Hauppauge, NY) and Kevin Hoagland (Glastonbury, CT). Burton, working the ball behind the Le Moyne net late in the first, muscled his way in front and beat Le Moyne goalie Doug McIver with nine seconds left to get the Bulldogs finally on the board.
Bryant (14-4) would draw even in the final seconds of the second. Sophomore Ryan Tibbitts (Watervilet, NY) picked up a loose ball after a failed Le Moyne clear and found Hoagland in front. The junior sharpshooter would beat McIver with the tying goal, this time with nine seconds left. It was Hoagland's 100th career goal at Bryant and his team-best 44th of the season.
In the second half, things started to fall apart for the Bulldogs. Le Moyne replaced Brian Griffin at the face-off and started gaining the advantage with Matt Chadderdon battling Bryant's Andrew Hennessey. Hennessey won all four first quarter face-offs against Griffin and five of six in the first half but the sophomore won just 5 of 10 in the second half.
|
| Michael Kennedy stopped 10 shots in Saturday's semifinal. www.dspics.com |
With the momentum on their side, Le Moyne made the Bulldogs pay, scoring three goals in a 3-minute span broke the game wide open. The Dolphins led 9-2 after three and tacked on two more in the fourth quarter to advance to next Sunday's final. The Bulldogs had 11 second half turnovers and finished with 19 in the game. Le Moyne out-shot Bryant 34 to 23 including 13 to 1 in the decisive third quarter.
Bryant's Michael Kennedy (Port Jefferson Station, NY) finished with 10 saves. McIver had 9 for Le Moyne.
"For us to come as far as we have in just two years is a testiment to the guys in that locker room," added Pressler. "They should all be very proud of themselves."
NCAA Division II Semifinals
@ Syracuse, NY
BRYANT (2): Goals - Hoagland 1, Burton 1; Assists - Tibbitts 1.
LE MOYNE (11): Goals - Bily 2, Cost 2, Gatto 1, Venditti 1, McDonald 1, Wolken 1, Rabbitt 1, Cizenski 1, Robinson 1. Assists - Bily 3, Gatto 2, Venditti 2, Carducci 1.
Saves - Bryant, Kennedy 10; Le Moyne, McIver,
9
Halftime - 2-2
Records: B 14-4, Le Moyne 15-1.