#BestOfLax: Vote for LM's Biggest Comeback of 2012

by Corey McLaughlin | LaxMagazine.com

Lacrosse Magazine's "Best of Lacrosse 2012" series recognizes the players, coaches, teams and moments that shined above all others in our sport this year. We want to know what you think. Fans can vote for their favorites in 10 categories. The results of each poll will be published alongside staff selections in the December issue of Lacrosse Magazine. Voting ends Monday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. Eastern.

See any snubs? Make your case by commenting at the bottom of this page or at #BestOfLax on Twitter.

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Nominees for Best Comeback

Colgate men (NCAA First-Round Game)
Colgate beat previously unbeaten UMass, 13-11, by outscoring the Minutemen 8-4 in the second half. At one point, the Raiders trailed 7-2, but eventual Tewaaraton Award winner Peter Baum brought Colgate within one with his first goal of the game with less than two minutes left in the third quarter. Television viewers at home missed part of the third-quarter charge, as technical issues knocked out the ESPN feed from Garber Field for a period of time. Announcers Joe Beninati and Jack Emmer called parts of the game by phone in the press box. Baum tacked on two late goals and provided the final margin with 3:53 left.

Denver Outlaws (MLL Semifinal)
It was the biggest comeback in Major League Lacrosse playoff history. Denver scored the final 10 goals of the game to beat the Long Island Lizards, 13-12, and did it without league MVP Brendan Mundorf, who tore ligaments in his ankle in practice the day before the game. The Lizards led 8-2 – yes 8-2 at halftime – but rookie Chris Bocklet scored six goals, including five in the second half. Fellow rookie Mark Matthews tacked on five points. "That has to be the best comeback game I've ever played in," Bocklet said. The good feelings didn't carry over the next day, though, to the MLL final. Chesapeake beat the Outlaws 16-6.

Denver men (NCAA First-Round Game)
It was a "track meet," as North Carolina coach Joe Breschi described it. Denver jumped out to an early 6-2 lead on a 5-0 first-quarter rally. Carolina went into halftime ahead 10-8 after scoring eight of the next 10 goals. Then Denver went on a 7-2 comeback run to make it 15-13 midway through the final quarter. Eric Law's empty-netter made the final score 16-14 as the Pioneers upset UNC on its home turf. Denver put up a ridiculous 42 shots and Jeremy Noble scored a program-record 10 points in the game.

Syracuse women (NCAA Quarterfinal)
The Orange move on to the final four in dramatic fashion, thanks in large part to Michelle Tumolo. Syracuse trailed by two goals with three minutes left in regulation before Tumolo recorded two goals and an assist and forced a turnover to give the Orange a 17-16 win. North Carolina's Laura Zimmerman and Kara Cannizzaro tallied six and five goals respectively, manipulating the SU defense throughout the game. Tar Heels goalkeeper Lauren Maksym made a slew of impressive second-half saves, including a point-blank denial of Devon Collins with UNC leading 15-14 and 5:15 left in regulation.

Syracuse women (NCAA Semifinal)
This final four game had it all: drama, stick checks and, of course, a comeback. Syracuse erased a seven-goal second-half deficit, got renewed life in overtime when an apparent Gabi Wiegand goal with nine seconds left was waived due to an illegal stick and cemented the unlikely come-from-behind win when senior midfielder Sarah Holden scored with 2:02 left in double overtime to defeat Florida 14-13 at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium. The Orange advanced to their first NCAA title game where it lost to Northwestern.