Division II Rewind: Adelphi and Tampa Seem Destined to Meet

The collision course in Division II looks to be set. 

Adelphi cruised to the NCAA quarterfinals with a lopsided win over Wilmington (Del.). Tampa blew out Flagler on the other side of the bracket to make it to the quarters as well. But while it looks like these two are destined for a title game rematch, the bracket is otherwise wide open.

The NCAA Division II men’s tournament got off to an electric start. Flagler and CUI need four — yes, four — overtimes to decide a winner. In the first NCAA tournament game hosted by a California school since Whittier two decades ago, Griffin Moore was the hero for Flagler. 

Flagler’s first lead of the day was the 7-6 final score. Unfortunately, Flagler’s playoff run then ended Sunday when it ran into a buzzsaw operated by a cadre of Floridian Spartans. Tampa shot out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating the Saints 12-3 and setting up a quarterfinal matchup with Lewis on Wednesday.

Saint Michael’s took out second-seeded Saint Anselm in a 9-8 barnburner to set a date with Molloy in the quarters. Nate Gulachenski made 15 stops to stifle Saint Anselm all day.

The other NE10 squads split their games, as Assumption fell to Molloy 15-12. The Lions were bolstered by a massive performance between the pipes from goaltender John Basile, who finished with 18 saves. Despite being outshot, out-ground balled, and out-faceoffed by the Greyhounds, Molloy stayed in the pocket, using a three-goal run that took less than two minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter to pull out to a 14-8 lead. 

It was too much to overcome, even for an Assumption offense that saw NE10 offensive player of the year Boomer Staunton rack up five goals.

Pace triumphed in its first round game, 18-13 over Seton Hill. It wasn’t an easy game for the Retreivers, though. Down 9-7 going into the half, the Pace defense engaged their clamps and kept the Griffins off the board for the entire third quarter. The offense rattled off six straight unanswered goals to blow the game open before the fourth quarter even started. Seton Hill tried its best to get back into the game, but it was just too late.

In the Southern Region, Anderson overwhelmed both of their opponents with a fast-breaking, no-prisoners-taking offense that saw it put up 45 goals in two games. That wasn’t much of a surprise in their play-in game against Barton, but the victory over Wingate was a stampede. The Trojans’ 21-13 win over SAC foe Wingate was powered by a 14-4 deficit in the second and third quarters which was punctuated by a 10-goal run that stretched between both quarters. 

Anderson just kept winning the faceoff and scoring, something they the Trojans have been able to do in chunks all season, but it was all the more impressive against a team like Wingate in the NCAA playoffs. 

The Trojans will now face another familiar team in the quarterfinals, SAC semifinalist Lenoir-Rhyne. A seriously talented six seed, Lenoir-Rhyne took out third seed Florida Tech 15-8. Donovan Powell put up five goals, his third straight game with at least four goals, and fourth straight game with at least five points.