Big Weekend in D2 and D3 Lacrosse. Conference play is heating up and everyone is jockeying for positions and quality wins to improve their RPI metrics. With two weeks left in the regular season and a week of conference tournaments, the margin for error is so small. This weekend saw some really close games and some significant wins.
Coaches Poll: USILA Week 10
D3 Weekend Recap
#2 Christopher Newport (17) – #1 Salisbury (7)
There wasn’t a bigger game in D3 all weekend. This was #1 vs #2 in a huge game with NCAA tournament implications. Christopher Newport came away with a dominant win that saw their defense hold Cross Ferrara to one goal and kept the Salisbury offense at bay all day. Christopher Newport opened up a 7-5 halftime lead and used a dominant second half to pull away in this one. They were able to control the Faceoff X which gained them lots of extra possessions. The first loss for the Seagulls by 10 goals or more since 1992!
Denison (13) – Ohio Wesleyan (8)
Throw out the records in this rivalry game. Both teams always come to play and this game was no different. A Friday Night Lights NCAC matchup that has often decided who gets the No.1 seed in the conference tournament. A close first half saw the Bishops take a 5-4 lead into halftime which turned into a second half that saw a Big Red dominant performance. Denison controlled the Faceoff X and the defense was able to clamp down on the Bishops offense which helped them win this one.
MIT (13) – #18 Williams (12)
A huge win for the Engineers! The historic season continues for MIT with a huge out-of-conference win against Williams. While the score sheet shows a one goal game, MIT was able to control the ball on offense with a 20-9 advantage at the Faceoff X and outshot Williams 57-31. A fairly clean game with limited penalties and turnovers, the Engineers withstood a late push and were able to close the game out.
D2 Weekend Recap
#11 Pace (16) – #16 Bentley (15)
Probably the best finish to a game in all of college lacrosse this weekend. The Setters were down 15-12 with under a minute left and rattled off 3 goals in the final 49 seconds to force overtime. Kyle Casey scored the game winner and OT as Pace was able to walk away with a huge juice win. Simply a remarkable finish, and one would have to think former coach and Dawg Father Dan Mulholland was looking down smiling on the Setters as they took this game.
#14 Florida Tech (14) – #12 Florida Southern (13)
A tremendous game on both sides that saw Tech jump out to a 4-0 lead early in the game, but saw the Mocs battle back. A game that had multiple ties and lead changes had to be decided in overtime. These teams could see each other again in a few weeks during the conference tournament. Stellar goalie play on both sides, but the game ball in this one has to go to the Florida Tech man-down unit as they held an explosive team 0-6 on the extra man.
#13 Lenoir-Rhyne (10) – #7 Wingate (5)
In a game that basically decided the regular season conference champion, the Bears shut down #7 Wingate’s high-powered offense en route to a 10-5 victory on Wednesday night. A 6-3 halftime lead for the Bears proved to be the difference as their defense locked down the Bulldogs in the second half to help secure them at least a share of the conference title with Limestone.
