Mack sent packin’
Saints beat Warriors in Div. 2 final
FOXBORO Merrimack supporters were out in droves, wearing their yellow “Go Mack” Tshirts yesterday.
A three-goal flurry in a span of 17 seconds of the third quarter ruined the hopes of the Warriors, however, as Limestone claimed the NCAA Division 2 men’s lacrosse championship with an 11-9 victory at Gillette Stadium.
It was the fifth NCAA lacrosse title for the Saints, who add this crown to those won in 2000, ’02, ’14 and ’15.
Limestone (21-1) was driven by midfielder Ryan Maciejewski’s hat trick. Saints goalie Cole Aikens (13 saves) made a pair of clutch stops on Merrimack midfielders John Bassett and Seamus Ford of Walpole in the closing minutes to preserve the win, which also avenged the Saints’ only loss of the year. Merrimack beat Limestone, 18-13, back on April 23.
On his way to being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Limestone midfielder Kevin Reisman won 7-of-7 draws in the third quarter, when the Saints outscored Merrimack, 5-1, to take the lead and control.
Midfielder Tim Towler of Topsfield, midfielder Kyle Stenberg and Ford each scored twice for Merrimack (15-4).
The Warriors took a 5-4 halftime lead on goals by Charlie Bertrand, Max Allen, Towler, Ford and Stenberg. Bassett scored with 13:03 left in the third to push the Merrimack advantage to 6-4.
But Limestone closed the third quarter with a 5-0 run of goals.
“Yeah, it’s tough,” Merrimack coach Mike Morgan said. “Obviously, we were here to win this. We weren’t here to just show up.”
“We’ll spend hours looking at the film, I’m sure, but overall it wasn’t from lack of desire, it wasn’t from lack of effort or heart or anything that coaches will throw around and these guys exuded. In general, I’m proud of these guys and our effort today.”
Merrimack lost defender Ryan Burke seconds into the game to an apparent right knee injury. The departure of the 6-foot-5 Burke forced third-team AllAmerican Brennen Morin of Wilbraham and Eric Coburn to work extra on defense.
“Yeah, it hurts losing a defenseman but it also hurts losing a defenseman who I believe matches up with them real well,” Morgan said. “It definitely hurt and made the adjustments a lot tougher.”
Down 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, Merrimack registered a pair of man-up goals by Ford and Stenberg to narrow the margin to a single score with 11:40 to go.
Limestone regrouped behind goals of Ben Higgins and Dale Cornetta, which were plenty despite Towler’s final late tally for Merrimack.