For the first time in quite a while my top three events of this past weekend does not include the Orioles. My countdown this week is dedicated totally to the sport of College Lacrosse. Monday’s championship game was an all Maryland affair for the first time since 1979 when Johns Hopkins defeated Maryland. Maryland and Loyola had great runs in this tournament, and although some would have loved a closer final it was awesome to see the Greyhounds celebrate a 9-3 victory. It would have been even sweeter to see these two teams battle for the championship at M & T Bank Stadium, but Gillette stadium will do. At least one team from Baltimore was able to go up there and bring a home a victory this year. Without delay the top three games of the weekend.
#3
Loyola’s 7-5 victory over Notre Dame in the NCAA Semi-finals
Ask anyone if the score of this game was in single digits and they would tell you that Notre Dame would probably come out on top. The Fighting Irish dominated the face-off X winning 13 of 14 draws, they held Loyola to just 28 shots and they limited the Greyhounds’ fast break offense but what they couldn’t do was solve Loyola Goalkeeper Jack Runkel. Runkel was a force, making 15 saves in the contest and keeping Notre Dame scoreless for long stretches. The Greyhound offense was led by Eric Lusby. Lusby netted five goals on his way to a record setting NCAA tournament performance. Loyola midfielder Josh Hawkins scored a huge goal to give Loyola a 5-3 halftime lead and Lusby did the rest in the Greyhounds’ 7-5 victory on semi-final Saturday.
#2
Maryland’s 16-10 victory over Duke in the NCAA Semi-finals
Coming into this match-up the Terps were labeled as a team that needed to stall to win. The Terps shed that label by putting up 16 against the Blue Devils. At one point in the first half Maryland Head Coach John Tillman urged his team to pick up the tempo and boy did they ever respond. Drew Snider dented the twine four times and Owen Blye notched the hat trick in the Terps victory. Maryland built a 3-0 lead against the Blue Devils and held them at bay for the rest of the contest. Duke would challenge on a couple of occasions but everytime they got close Maryland had an answer. Christian Walsh got Duke within three late in the Second Quarter but Drew Snider would answer with a big goal with 14 seconds left in the first half. Snider would score two more in the third to build the Terps lead to 9-4. Back came Duke. Midfielder Rob Rotanz opened the Fourth Quarter with a goal to cut the Maryland lead to 10-8. It was Snider again who would stick the last dagger in the Blue Devils. Snider netted his fourth goal of the game 1:17 later and then the route was on. The Terps scored the next five goals of the game to pull away for the victory. Maryland Goalkeeper Niko Amato was solid again in a big game. Amato’s fast start gave Maryland momentum to start the game. Maryland face-off man Curtis Holmes held his own against Duke All-American C.J. Costabile and was also a big key in the victory.
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