The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- June 7, 1999

Rematch is repeat for Adelphi in men's lacrosse championship

BY VANESSA ABELL
STAFF WRITER

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland -- Adelphi repeated as champions of Division II men's lacrosse, defeating Long Island-C.W. Post, 11-8, in the championship game May 30 at Maryland.

The title was Adelphi's fifth overall and its third gained by defeating Long Island-C.W. Post in the final. The two teams battled for last year's title as well.

Long Island-C.W. Post started the game strong by scoring two unassisted goals in the first five minutes of play, but Adelphi answered with three in a row, two from senior midfielder Anthony Saccone.

Adelphi maintained a one-goal advantage at the half, 4-3.

C. W. Post didn't waste any time in the second half as Benny Cottone fed Charlie Javorowsky for the tying goal.

Adelphi responded with just over two minutes to go in the third period on a Dan Melody goal from an assist by Christian Kneuer.

Then in the fourth quarter, Adelphi scored four goals in a just over a three-minute span, breaking the game open at 9-4.

C. W. Post rallied late in the game by scoring three goals in five minutes, two from senior midfielder Todd Bolognese, to bring the Pioneers to within three, but Adelphi hung on for the victory.

Adelphi head coach Sandy Kapatos was proud of his team's effort in the second half.

"We like to think we work as hard or harder as anybody else in the country," Kapatos said. "And I think that pays off in the second half."

Adelphi's Saccone scored three goals and was named the game's most outstanding player.

C. W. Post head coach Tom Postel said his team struggled to contain the Panthers' top scoring threat.

"We needed a tank to stop him," Postel said. "He's a force. He holds the ball in (close to his chest) and he spins on you."

Brian Tower, who also scored three times for the Panthers, said a focus on teamwork triggered Adelphi's game-breaking 5-0 scoring run in the second half.

"We got away from our team offense (in the first half)," he said. "We seemed to be going just one-on-one. Then (coach Kapatos) told us to start getting everyone involved, and it started clicking from there on. We started passing the ball around, and everything got rolling."

Adelphi ended its championship season with a 10-3 record, while C. W. Post finished 11-3.

Championship

Adelphi -- 3 -- 1 -- 1 -- 6 -- 11

LIU-C.W. Post -- 3 -- 0 -- 1 -- 4 -- 8

Adelphi scoring -- Anthony Saccone (3), Brian Tower (3), Christian Kneuer, Dan Melody, Chris Babb, Kris Amplo, Rich Vislocky.

LIU-C.W. Post scoring -- Todd Bolognese (2), Drew Cavadias (2), Benny Cottone, Joe Buccello, Charlie Javorowsky, Luis Gonzalez.

Shots: Adelphi 33, LIU-C.W. Post 43. Saves: Adelphi -- Greg Kulesa 13; LIU-C.W. Post -- Vin Fredericks 12. Attendance: 1,429.