COLLEGE PARK, Maryland -- Not many teams get a second chance, but Middlebury made the most of its.

The Panthers, in their second straight championship-game appearance against the same opponent in the same venue May 28 at the University of Maryland's Byrd Stadium, downed defending champion Salisbury State, 16-12, to win their first Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship.

"This was a whole different week for us from last year," said Middlebury coach Erin Quinn of preparing to win the first Division III trophy that won't rest in the state of New York or Maryland. "Instead of being a little wide-eyed and wondering what happens next, we were a calm, confident group of people.

"We talked about not worrying about the championship, just worrying about Salisbury."

Lesson learned. The Panthers, 13-6 losers in 1999 after traveling south from their Vermont home, wasted no time showing that this year would be different.

Middlebury's first-half offense was David Seeley, who scored the first of his five goals of the half with 10:55 left in the first quarter and wrapped up most outstanding player honors early. The Sea Gulls still led, 5-3, entering the second quarter before Seeley's last goal tied the game at six with 10:39 left in the half. The score was 11-9 Middlebury when the teams paused to catch their breath at half time.

The theme changed to defense in the second half, but the Panthers responded. Although Middlebury, which finished the season 15-1, never separated by more than the final margin, the Panthers remained in command.

"We had a great defensive effort today," Quinn said. "The key for us was getting back in transition and making them earn their goals."

Those second-half earnings amounted to three goals for Salisbury State. The early minutes set the tempo. Even though the Sea Gulls dominated, their side of the scoreboard never changed.

"We came out in the first three or four minutes and dominated play, but we came away empty," said coach Jim Berkman. "The first three or four possessions, I think we had about five shots each time and I don't think we got a goal on any of those. It took some momentum away right there."

"Our defense played awesome," Seeley said. "They shut down Salisbury when we needed it."

Part of the effort was the nickel defense -- Brian Nickel, that is. The junior defenseman grounded the Gulls' Joe High, who entered the game with 74 goals and 21 assists on the season and left with the same numbers.

"A couple of their midfielders scored a few uncontested goals (because of the concentration on stopping High)," Quinn said. "They do a nice job of knowing that teams will try to stop (him).

"We were willing to concede that (those midfielders) were going to take a few shots. Anything High has in his stick five yards away is almost a guaranteed goal."

Salisbury State's last real run at the Panthers came late in the third quarter after a goal by Ryan McKenzie made the score 13-11, but Middlebury answered with two straight goals.

SEMIFINALS

Middlebury 13, Nazareth 8; Salisbury St. 10, Wash. & Lee 9.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Middlebury scoring -- David Seeley 5, Matt Dunn 2, Jamie Haire 2, Zach Herbert 2, Holt Hopkins 2, Greg Carroll 1, Steve O'Neil 1, Bryan Sanchez 1.

Salisbury St. scoring -- Rob Bates 2, Ryan Fisher 2, Tim Parks 2, Josh Bergey 1, Rob Bookhamer 1, Kevin Fox 1, John Karcher 1, Ryan McKenzie 1, Chris Turner 1.

Shots: Middlebury 36, Salisbury St. 51. Saves: Middlebury -- Dave Campbell 14; Salisbury St. -- John Dodson 8, Pat Tewes 5. Paid Attendance: 17,431.