D-II Men's Rewind: Stage Set for Repeat vs. Perfect Season

We are off to the NCAA championship game in Division II men's lacrosse.

A semifinal recap for you before we turn to title time.

Adelphi def. Saint Anselm 13-11

This was the rubber match to end all rubber matches in Division II. 

In the regular season, Saint Anselm was victorious, handing Adelphi its first, and so far only, loss this year. They met again in the NE-10 tournament with a title on the line, and Adelphi prevailed 13-12 in an overtime thriller. There were no secrets coming into this meeting. Both teams knew each other too well. This was the best of the best — leave everything out there, let’s-settle-it-for-the-season lacrosse.

The Hawks had the better run of the game early, leading 2-1 after the first. However, there was a sense that the lead could have been greater. The offense took five shots in the first, only putting two net, but both went in. Two penalties and nine turnovers, including a pair of failed clears in the first quarter, kept them from really grabbing firm control.

With enough time to hang around, Adelphi is simply too talented to stay out of any game. Midfielder Kyle Lewis had, arguably, his best game of the year, scoring two first-half goals and finishing with five points. As a dodger, he was electric, freeing himself for shots consistently and putting eight of his 14 shots on net. The Adelphi defense, led by Ries Bower and Michael D’Alessandro, was also expedient and efficient, keeping the game within striking distance.

By the time Saint Anselm cleaned up its play, Adelphi was finished warming up. The teams combined for 12 second-quarter goals, but the third quarter was a door-slamming effort from the Adelphi defense that made the difference.

Adelphi caused five turnovers in the quarter, including two ride backs from Noah Gibson right out of the halftime whistle. The second ride back was converted into a goal for Gibson, tying the score at 8 and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

The Panthers outshot the Hawks 53-40 and got 26 of those shots on cage. Were it not for another stellar performance from St. A’s netminder Finn Granara, who made 13 saves, the scoreline could have been lopsided.

St. A’s had the ball down two late, a spot in which they are still very dangerous thanks to talented faceoff man Quinn Gannon. The Hawks got a great look at the net with a 12-yard stepdown, but Dylan Renner smothered it, controlled the rebound and cleared the ball to the other end of the field to seal the win.

Tampa def. Maryville 12-8

A slow start against the Spartans rarely works out well for anyone. Maryville was goalless in the first quarter and fell behind 5-0 in the second before finding the net for the first time.

Tampa leaned on its advantage all afternoon, forcing Maryville to chase and play on Tampa’s terms. Justin Simonson, one of the top attackmen in the nation, was held to just a single goal for Maryville, and that came on a man-up possession late in the third. 

Jack Huntington had a standout day on the defensive end for Tampa with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

The Spartans got goals from eight different players, led by Jackson Bashaw’s hat trick. While the total shots and ground balls were about even, Tampa felt in control the entire time.

The Saints spent much of the day valiantly pushing a Sisyphean rock up a steep hill, but in the end, the Spartans were just too much. It’s a sentiment shared by every single opponent that stood across from Tampa at the beginning and end of every game. This might be a team of destiny, but they’re going to to meet the defending NCAA Division II champs on Memorial Day weekend.

And someone has to lose.

TOP PERFORMERS

• Ries Bower, Adelphi — Four ground balls, three caused turnovers
• Noah Gibson, Adelphi — Three goals, one assist, four caused turnovers
• Kyle Lewis, Adelphi — Five points to lead all scorers, 14 shots taken
• Quinn Gannon, Saint Anselm — 17-for 25 on faceoffs, 11 ground balls
• Matt Lemay, Saint Anselm — Four points
• Jack Huntington, Tampa — Two caused turnovers, three ground balls
• Clayton Cerett, Maryville — Four points, two ground balls
• Jackson Bashaw, Tampa — Three goals, one assist
• Connor Theriault, Tampa — 60% save percentage

UP NEXT

Championship Sunday is set. Adelphi will take the field looking for the repeat. The Panthers have only one loss this year, and it’s a to a team they’ve now beaten twice. 

Tampa is looking for a title and an undefeated season. It’ll take the field with a 21-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in the nation at the time of the last update. 

The goalie battle should be exceptional, with Brown transfer Connor Theriault in net for Tampa and Division II Player of the Year Dylan Renner in net for Adelphi.