The NCAA News - News and Features

June 2, 1997

Nazareth junior regains touch just in time in III lacrosse

McDermott scores game-winner in 15-14 victory in men's final

BY MARTY BENSON
STAFF WRITER

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND -- Nothing seemed to be going right for Nazareth midfielder Ryan McDermott.

Here he was, a junior midfielder who had scored 28 goals in 15 games. Now he was playing in the sudden-victory overtime period of the Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship final, having been held scoreless through the first 60 minutes, and was starting to question his self worth.

"(All game), I kept coming to the sidelines saying, 'gosh, what can I do to help the
team?' " he recalled. "I couldn't hit the cage at all. I played bad defense. It was a bad day."

Better make that a bad regulation day.

With just 30 seconds gone in overtime, McDermott finally found his elusive mark to give the Golden Flyers their second consecutive title, 15-14, May 25 against Washington (Maryland). It was the second consecutive overtime championship game between the two teams on a second straight rainy championship day at Maryland.

As similar as the last two finals sound, Nazareth coach Scott Nelson gave this year's edition a far superior review.

"Last year, both teams made a lot of errors," he said. "It was more low-scoring (11-10) and slow-down.

"This was the kind of game that had to go into overtime. It was kind of like two boxers staggering each other, going down and then getting back up, with one eventually delivering the knock-out punch."

The irony of who delivered the deciding blow was not lost on Nelson. After McDermott had issued his scathing self-critique in the postgame interview room, the Golden Flyers mentor joked aloud: "Come to think of it, why did we have you in there anyway?"

Nazareth would not have seen overtime had it not been for the five-goal, two-assist fireworks from attackman Trent Brown, who garnered most-outstanding-player honors. In addition to lighting up the scoreboard, the senior made the defensive play of the game.

The Sho'men claimed the overtime face-off but chose not to call an immediate timeout, hoping to get something from the natural flow. Instead, Brown picked the ball from George Atterbury's stick. He hinted the play was as satisfying as the goals and assists.

"(Atterbury) had the ball and was looking up-field," he said. "I just went for the ball and got there just in time. Coach always preaches, 'ride, ride, ride,' and this time it paid off," he said.

Nazareth called a timeout. Nelson designed a play for Brent Rothfuss, who already had four goals and an assist. McDermott was to be a bit player in the scheme, but when he got the ball, he said it was clear to him that Washington was sure he wouldn't shoot it.

"My guy looked at (Rothfuss), so I took it," McDermott said.

The shot went high into the net after McDermott had shot low -- unsuccessfully -- all game. He fumbled to explain why this one went high.

"I think maybe God was with me, or something," he said.

Whatever the reason, the shot fooled Sho'men goalie Andy Taibl, who said all of Nazareth, not just McDermott, had shot low during the game.

Washington forced overtime on an unassisted goal by Adam Bond with a minute left in a game that Nazareth had led, 13-11, with 1:24 left in the third quarter. After Justin McCarthy tied the game at 13 with 12:47 left, Brown's unassisted goal with 6:29 left set the stage for Bond's tying goal. Nazareth had the game's biggest lead, 6-3, with 8:02 left in the first half.

The Golden Flyers finished the season with a 13-3 record. Washington (14-4) fell to 0-8 in title games -- seven of them in Division III and one in a combined Divisions II and III championship in 1977.

Brown's five goals are the second most by a player in a tournament game. Several players hold the record of six.

Although actual attendance was far less because of rain, paid attendance for the final was 18,086 -- second behind last year's Division III paid-attendance record of 18,586 and the second-largest crowd for any Division III championship in any sport.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Nazareth -- 2 -- 5 -- 6 -- 1 -- 1 -- 15

Washington (Md.) -- 3 -- 5 -- 4 -- 2 -- 0 -- 14

Nazareth scoring -- Trent Brown 5, Brent Rothfuss 4, Dennis Foley 2, Joe Spada 2, Chris Nadelen 1, Ryan McDermott 1.

Washington (Md.) scoring -- George Atterbury 3, John Fuller 3, Adam Bond 3, Justin McCarthy 2, Michael Wilson 1, Andrew Van Ogtrop 1, Andy Lopatin 1.

Shots: Nazareth 48, Washington (Md.) 45. Saves: Nazareth -- Jake Coon 13; Washington (Md.) -- Andy Taibl 15. Attendance: 18,086 (paid).