Baptiste sets NCAA faceoffs record in Denver’s semifinal win
Trevor Baptiste won his 1,118th career faceoff to break the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse record in the closing seconds of No. 3 Denver’s 10-7 victory over Marquette in a Big East men’s lacrosse semifinal at Villanova Thursday.
Baptiste finished 14 of 21 on the day, winning nine of 11 in the second half and picking up nine ground balls. Austin French led the Pioneers (12-2) with five goals and an assist. The Golden Eagles fell to 6-8.
Denver advances to Saturday’s championship at 2 p.m. and will face No. 18 Georgetown, a 13-10 winner over No. 14 Villanova. With the win Denver improved to 9-5 all-time in conference tournament play, 6-2 in Big East Tournament play and 5-0 in conference tournaments at Villanova.
VERMONT 8, STONY BROOK 4: Ian McKay had five goals to lead the Catamounts (12-3) past the Seawolves (7-8) in an America East semifinal at Albany. Vermont will make its second appearance in the league championship in the past three years.
NO. 4 ALBANY 15, MASSACHUSETTSLOWELL 10: Jakob Patterson had five goals and Matt Eccles had four goals to lead the host Great Danes (13-2) past the Riverhawks (8-8) in an America East semifinal. Albay went on a 10-3 run in the second half to win. The great Danes will face Vermont in the league championship.
NO. 18 GEORGETOWN 13, NO. 14 VILLANOVA 10: Craig Berge scored four goals to lead the Hoyas (11-4) past the host Wildcats (10-5) in a Big East semifinal. Georgetown used a 4-0 run in the first quarter to take charge.
NO. 20 ST. JOSEPH’S11, SACREDHEART 9: Tied 8-8, the host Hawks (11-3) scored three of the final four goals to beat the Pioneers (7-8) in a Northeast Conference semifinal. Chris Blewitt had three goals for St. Joseph’s. The Hawks will face Robert Morris, a 12-5 winner over Bryant, in Saturday’s championship.
Women
NO. 9 FLORIDA 19, MARQUETTE 8: Lindsey Ronbeck scored a game-high eight goals and the defending conference champion Gators (15-3) beat the visiting Golden Eagles (10-8) in a Big East semifinal. Florida used a 6-0 run that spanned both halves to create separation. Haley Hicklen (Towson High) made three saves for the Gators.
NO. 19 DENVER 12, NO. 17 GEORGETOWN 7: Elizabeth Behrins scored four goals to lead the Pioneers (12-5) past the Hoyas (12-6) in a Big East semifinal at Florida. Denver will face No. 9 Florida in Saturday’s final.