Le Moyne, Post to Meet for NCAA D-II Title
from staff reports
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Le Moyne's Jack Venditti celebrates one of his game-high four goals Saturday in Le Moyne's 15-5 win over Merrimack in the NCAA Division II men's lacrosse semifinals. © Greg Wall |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Top-ranked and undefeated Le
Moyne used a five-goal outburst at the end of the first quarter en
route to defeating No. 4 Merrimack 15-5 in the NCAA semifinals
Saturday afternoon at the Thomas J. Niland Athletic Complex. With
the victory, the Dolphins advance to face C.W. Post in the national
championship game Sunday, May 24 at Gillette Stadium. Le Moyne has
reached the title game each of the last four seasons.
Le Moyne was led offensively by sophomore Jack Venditti
(Baldwinsville, N.Y./Baldwinsville) with four goals. Midfielder
Brian Welch (Ithaca, N.Y./Ithaca) added two goals and dished out
four assists. Nick DiSarro (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna), Matt
Chadderdon (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) and Keith Vetter (Jamesville,
N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) each added two goals.
The Warriors and Dolphins traded possessions through the first few
minutes of the game with each team offering shots on goal. With
3:11 remaining in the opening period, the Dolphins unleashed a
barrage of shots on the Merrimack defense and recorded five goals
in a span of 1:31. Jack Harmatuk (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers
Academy/Syracuse U.) recorded the first goal of the day, beating
Merrimack's Corey Spinale. The Dolphins were sparked by face-off
wins by Brian Griffin (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) as Venditti
scored two goals in 10 seconds. With 1:47 remaining, Taylor Brooks
(Cypress, Tex./Cy-Fair) scored an unassisted goal and DiSarro
followed with a goal seven seconds later to give the Dolphins a 5-0
advantage.
Behind Northeast-10 Conference Goalie of the Year Doug McIver
(Altamont, N.Y./Albany Academy), Le Moyne held Merrimack scoreless
in the first half. The senior netminder recorded 11 saves on the
afternoon.
Entering the fourth period, the Dolphins held a 10-goal lead, at
12-2. Goals from the Northeast-10 Player of the Year Greg Rogowski
and one from Bryan MacPhie cut the Dolphin lead to an eight-goal
margin. With 6:14 remaining, the game was halted for 45 minutes for
a lighting delay. Chadderdon the Dolphins final goal of the day
with 4:30 remaining before the game was stopped once more on the
threat of lighting in the area.
With the win, Le Moyne (16-0), which was making its
eighth-straight NCAA Division II Final Four appearance, advances to
the national championship game at Gillette Stadium on May 24 at 3
p.m. and will take on C.W. Post -- which defeated Limestone in Saturday's other semifinal -- in
a game televised nationally by CBS College Sports Le Moyne topped
the Pioneers 6-5 on March 21 in the Carrier Dome. The Dolphins
(16-0) have won the last seven meeting with the Pioneers and hold a
7-2 overall series advantage.
Merrimack wraps up its season at 14-3 overall with all three
losses coming at the hands of Le Moyne.
