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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Le Moyne captures battle of defensive lacrosse foes
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The Division II Men’s Lacrosse Championship game May 27 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore featured the top two defensive teams in the regular season, so it wasn’t surprising that it was the lowest-scoring final in Division II lacrosse history. Le Moyne bested Mercyhurst, 6-5, for the Dolphins’ third title in four years.
Le Moyne junior attackman Mike McDonald scored the game-winner after a Mercyhurst timeout with just seven seconds remaining. McDonald beat his defender from behind the left side of the Lakers goal and rocketed a shot behind the goaltender.
The goal, called “bizarre” and a “freak shot” in media coverage, was not something coach Dan Sheehan drew up during the timeout — it wasn’t even a planned play.
“The intent was initially to shoot,” McDonald said. “I kind of held up in my shot and I tried to make a pass. … I think it might have been tipped, but it went in.”
The Dolphins scored first, just 36 seconds into the game. McDonald followed with his first goal with 9:25 left in the first quarter. But the Lakers’ leading scorer, Bryon Lindner, dropped the Dolphins lead to one just two minutes later and senior attackman Scott Janssen tied the game with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
Each team scored only once in the second quarter, leaving the score tied at the break. The Lakers took a second-half lead off of Adam Mulherin’s acrobatic, behind-the-back shot past Le Moyne goaltender Jared Corcoran. The Dolphins answered, tying the score at four. The two teams again traded goals, and the score remained 5-5 for the last 13 minutes of the game — until McDonald’s final shot.
Le Moyne won both matchups between the two teams this season and finished the year 15-2. Mercyhurst ended 13-2.
With the Dolphins’ recent dominance, Sheehan said many people have been asking him about creating a dynasty at Le Moyne.
“I’ve gotten that question a lot over the past week,” he said. “I’m 34 years old. I have a lot of fight left in me, and I know the kids do, too.”
Semifinals
Limestone 1 0 3 1 — 5
Le Moyne 3 1 1 3 — 8
Le Moyne scoring: Matt Cassalia 3, Mike McDonald 3, Nick Gatto 1, Brian Cost 1.
Limestone scoring: Justin Haworth 3, Matt Pindar 1, Ryan Collins 1.
Shots: Le Moyne 34, Limestone 21. Goalkeeper saves: Le Moyne (Jared Corcoran) 7, Limestone (Mary Ward) 11.
NYIT 2 1 2 5 — 10
Mercyhurst 2 4 4 3 — 13
Mercyhurst scoring: Adam Mulherin 4, Scott Janssen 3, Simon Stocks 2, Mike Thon 2, David Osier 1, Bryon Lindner 1.
NYIT scoring: Austin Carino 3, Kevin Hennessy 3, Jake Delillo 2, Jeremy Hobson 1, Paul Flowers 1.
Shots: Mercyhurst 48, NYIT 34. Goalkeeper saves: Mercyhurst (Jason LaShomb) 16, NYIT (Dan Goosk) 12.
Championship
Le Moyne 2 1 1 2 — 6
Mercyhurst 2 1 2 0 — 5
Le Moyne scoring: Mike McDonald 2, Alex Bily 1, Brian Cost 1, Matt Cassalia 1, Blake Gale 1.
Mercyhurst scoring: Scott Janssen 2, Mike Thon 1, David Osier 1, Bryon Lindner 1.
Shots: Le Moyne 26, Mercyhurst 22. Saves Le Moyne (Jared Corcoran) 8, Mercyhurst (Jason Lashomb) 5.
Le Moyne junior attackman Mike McDonald scored the game-winner after a Mercyhurst timeout with just seven seconds remaining. McDonald beat his defender from behind the left side of the Lakers goal and rocketed a shot behind the goaltender.
The goal, called “bizarre” and a “freak shot” in media coverage, was not something coach Dan Sheehan drew up during the timeout — it wasn’t even a planned play.
“The intent was initially to shoot,” McDonald said. “I kind of held up in my shot and I tried to make a pass. … I think it might have been tipped, but it went in.”
The Dolphins scored first, just 36 seconds into the game. McDonald followed with his first goal with 9:25 left in the first quarter. But the Lakers’ leading scorer, Bryon Lindner, dropped the Dolphins lead to one just two minutes later and senior attackman Scott Janssen tied the game with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
Each team scored only once in the second quarter, leaving the score tied at the break. The Lakers took a second-half lead off of Adam Mulherin’s acrobatic, behind-the-back shot past Le Moyne goaltender Jared Corcoran. The Dolphins answered, tying the score at four. The two teams again traded goals, and the score remained 5-5 for the last 13 minutes of the game — until McDonald’s final shot.
Le Moyne won both matchups between the two teams this season and finished the year 15-2. Mercyhurst ended 13-2.
With the Dolphins’ recent dominance, Sheehan said many people have been asking him about creating a dynasty at Le Moyne.
“I’ve gotten that question a lot over the past week,” he said. “I’m 34 years old. I have a lot of fight left in me, and I know the kids do, too.”
Semifinals
Limestone 1 0 3 1 — 5
Le Moyne 3 1 1 3 — 8
Le Moyne scoring: Matt Cassalia 3, Mike McDonald 3, Nick Gatto 1, Brian Cost 1.
Limestone scoring: Justin Haworth 3, Matt Pindar 1, Ryan Collins 1.
Shots: Le Moyne 34, Limestone 21. Goalkeeper saves: Le Moyne (Jared Corcoran) 7, Limestone (Mary Ward) 11.
NYIT 2 1 2 5 — 10
Mercyhurst 2 4 4 3 — 13
Mercyhurst scoring: Adam Mulherin 4, Scott Janssen 3, Simon Stocks 2, Mike Thon 2, David Osier 1, Bryon Lindner 1.
NYIT scoring: Austin Carino 3, Kevin Hennessy 3, Jake Delillo 2, Jeremy Hobson 1, Paul Flowers 1.
Shots: Mercyhurst 48, NYIT 34. Goalkeeper saves: Mercyhurst (Jason LaShomb) 16, NYIT (Dan Goosk) 12.
Championship
Le Moyne 2 1 1 2 — 6
Mercyhurst 2 1 2 0 — 5
Le Moyne scoring: Mike McDonald 2, Alex Bily 1, Brian Cost 1, Matt Cassalia 1, Blake Gale 1.
Mercyhurst scoring: Scott Janssen 2, Mike Thon 1, David Osier 1, Bryon Lindner 1.
Shots: Le Moyne 26, Mercyhurst 22. Saves Le Moyne (Jared Corcoran) 8, Mercyhurst (Jason Lashomb) 5.
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