Morrisville, Medaille Meet for NEAC Crown
from press release
MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – Top seed Morrisville State
College and second seed Medaille College each advanced to the 2010
North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Men's Lacrosse
Championship Tournament title on Sunday, defeating semifinal
opponents Keuka and Cobleskill respectively.
In the first of the tournament's semifinal action, Medaille edged
third seed Keuka 12-10 for the victory.
Leading 6-5 at the half, the Mavericks put three away to the
Storm's one, for the three goal advantage heading into the final
quarter. With 13:04 remaining, Jim Luthart (Amherst, NY) gave
Medaille the 10-6 lead with an unassisted score before Keuka's
Anthony Jones (Syracuse, NY) responded less than a minute
later.
Luthart again extended the Maverick lead to four just nine seconds
later, but Keuka netted two straight to cut the lead to two with
3:39 to go.
With 3:32 remaining, Charlie Coogan (Rome, NY) netted the final
goal for the Mavericks, an unassisted score, for a 12-9 lead. Mike
Crumlish (Rochester, NY) found Chris Redington (Rochester, NY) with
52 seconds to go in the contest to cut the lead to two for the
Storm, but Medaille's Jordan Ellis (Orchard Park, NY) turned away a
crucial last minute Keuka attack to secure the win.
Luthart led all scorers on the night, netting four goals and
assisting two others as teammates Joe Kozvoski (Ajax, ON), Matt
Dunkle (Hamburg, NY) and Joe Glieco (Williamsville, NY) each scored
two. Coogan had a team high seven ground balls, winning 18-of-26
face-offs on the night.
Ellis made 16 saves to record the win in net for the Mavericks who
improves to 8-6 overall, 6-1 in conference play.
Mark Butto (Rochester, NY) and Redington each netted three goals to
lead the Storms efforts, while Jones posted two goals and two
assists on the day.
Brett Leonard (Syracuse, NY) recorded the loss in net, stopping 14
as the Storm concludes their season with an 5-9 overall record, 4-3
in NEAC action.
In the second semi-final, Morrisville State exploded for five goals
in the second quarter and held on for the 8-5 victory over fourth
seed SUNY Cobleskill to advance to the championship on Sunday.
Cobleskill's Peter Gonzalez (West Islip, NY) netted the lone goal
of the third quarter to cut the Mustang lead to three, before Shane
Francis (Akwesasne Territory) and Brian Murphy (Cross River, NY)
each posted a score in the fourth to bring the Fighting Tigers to
within one with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.
With 3:37 to go, Thomas Owens (Cazenovia, NY) netted his second of
the night to regain a two goal advantage for Morrisville State, and
with 1:04 to go Eric Stein (Oswego, NY) sealed the win with an
unassisted score for the 8-5 victory.
Tim Bobbett (Cazenovia, NY) led Morrisville State with three goals
and an assist, as teammates Stein and Owens each added two. Dean
Priest (Hinesburg, VT) rounded out Mustang scoring with a goal. Tom
Moore (Rush, NY) picked up a game high 10 ground balls, and caused
four turnovers for the Mustangs.
Michael Hinchey (Kingston, NY) recorded the win in net, saving six
on the night as Morrisville State improved to 12-3 overall, 7-0 in
conference action.
Murphy led the Cobleskill efforts with a three goal performance
with Gonzalez and Francis each adding one. Matt Pellegrini
(Copiague, NY) had two assists. Alex Bendon (Latham, NY) had a team
high eight ground balls on the night.
Jake Lazore (Akwesasne Territory) recorded the loss between the
pipes for the Fighting Tigers, saving 12, as Cobleskill ends their
season with a 6-11 overall record, 3-4 in NEAC play.
Morrisville State and Medaille will meet for the second time this
season, playing for the tournament title at 1 p.m. on Sunday on
Drake Field on the Morrisville State College campus. Earlier in the
season, the Mustangs defeated Medaille 16-9.
