Bradman, VK, Zordani Carry Gulls to Final Four
by Joel Censer | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
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Salisbury sharpshooter and CAC Player of the Year Sam Bradman played nearly the entire game against Haverford in the NCAA quarterfinals, as Jim Berkman employs a full-time first midfield. © Kevin P. Tucker |
SALISBURY, Md. -- It was fitting that just 10 seconds into overtime in Salisbury University and Haverford College’s NCAA Division III men's lacrosse quarterfina that Sea Gull senior midfielder and faceoff tactician Ryan Finch found himself approaching the Black Squirrel net with the ball.
Finch, who finished with two goals and an assist, had dominated the faceoff "X" the entire game (18-for-24, 75 percent). After winning the first faceoff in overtime, he ran down and fired a shot from 10 yards out past Haverford goalkeeper Joe Banno, putting an exclamation point on Salisbury’s dramatic come-from-behind 12-11 victory.
“I was just timing up the whistle all day. In overtime the d-guy gave me a little room and I let it go,” Finch said.
The senior’s late-game heroics were necessary for a Salisbury squad that despite winning 20 of 26 faceoffs had trouble mustering any success in the half-field game. The Sea Gulls scored just two of their goals in six-on-six and had 24 turnovers against a pesky, slide-happy Haverford defense.
“We weren’t real sharp. We knew they we’re going to slide early, and we’re a team that likes to make the extra pass. To Haverford’s credit, they only give you a split second,” said Salisbury head coach Jim Berkman.
The Fords, who under new skipper Colin Bathory started the season 5-5, only to go on a torrid seven-game winning streak that saw them capture their first Centennial Conference championship, have many reasons to keep their heads high. Offensively, they were led by a balanced effort which included major contributions from All-Centennial junior midfielder Travis Gregory (three goals) and senior midfielder Andrew Kim (1g, 2a), who was a matchup nightmare while dodging from behind the cage. Defensively, the Fords’ were buoyed by senior Grant Firestone and junior Scott Kelley, whose quick slides and recover defense frustrated the Sea Gulls’ potent offensive attack.
Still, Salisbury’s slick sticks, big-game experience, and in-between-the-lines mettle eventually proved too much. Down one with just 33 seconds left in regulation, Salisbury junior midfielder Shawn Zordani -- who was part of a Sea Gull first line midfield with sophomore Sam Bradman and junior Mike Von Kamecke which played almost the entire game -- dodged hard right and circled back left, unleashing the ball past Banno to set up the overtime period and Finch’s eventual heroics.
“We found a way to win. Hopefully, that’s a sign of our team,” Berkman said.
The Sea Gulls have little time to feel good about grinding out a hard-fought victory. On Sunday, the Gulls will host conference rival and No. 1-ranked Stevenson in the NCAA Division III semifinals.
In the first game, Salisbury beat the upstart Mustangs 16-10 on Stevenson’s home field. But Stevenson returned the favor by traveling to the Eastern Shore and beating the Seagulls 10-6 in the Capital Athletic Conference final.
For Berkman, the key to taming the Mustangs this third time comes down to things you would expect of playoff lacrosse: solid, turnover-free offensive possessions, not giving up transition opportunities, good goalie play, and of course, possessions.
To do this, Salisbury will have to expect more from their trio of Bradman, Von Kamecke, and Zordani. Because Salisbury’s attack consists primarily of finishers (save attackman Jake DeLillo’s nasty right-handed hitch), the dodging responsibility falls almost entirely to their first midfield.
And against Stevenson, the three will have to be more careful with the rock than they were against the Fords, against whom they combined 10 turnovers.
In goal, the Sea Gulls remain confident in senior Johnny Rodriguez (60 percent), who had his moments against the Black Squirrels.
And the possession battle? Well, that once again falls to Finch (63 percent), who will have to deal with Stevenson’s own workhorse Ray Witte (also 63 percent). The two have been about even in the first two matchups.
Still, the Gulls seem unperturbed by the challenge and excited for Sunday’s game.
“I always tell our guys to be the best you gotta beat the best,” Berkman said.
