Salt Lake City, Utah (May 3, 2008) – No. 4 Brigham Young University won the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC) championship on Saturday after beating No. 7 Colorado State 10-5, at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.
The Cougars controlled the entire game and managed to hold Colorado State scoreless in the first half to successfully defend their RMLC crown.
“It was a good fought battle,” said BYU head coach Jason Lamb afterwards. “I am thrilled at our defensive effort. People don’t give us credit for our defense.”
The first quarter was hard fought on both ends with the first goal came at the 8:19 mark by BYU’s Mark Manning. The Cougars scored again four minutes later on a goal by midfielder Steve Neagle. Neagle was near the crease as BYU midfielder Jake Ferrin winged the ball across the field to Neagle who bounced the ball past Colorado State goalie Garrett Fitzgerald.
BYU scored again two minutes later on a goal by attackman Mickell Walker, who took the ball from the Colorado State box, ran past three defenders, dodged left and right, fell on the ground, stood up and then put it past Fitzgerald.
The second quarter was a defensive battle as both teams fought for possession. BYU scored with 1:29 remaining in the half on a goal by Manning who started behind the goal, ran up the right side of the crease and backhanded the ball into the back of the net.
With 32 seconds remaining, BYU attackman Rich Morrey started in the top-left corner of the box, drove down the right side of the field, spun to the right and winged a left handed shot from 15 yards out, right past Fitzgerald. BYU led at halftime, 5-0.
Colorado State finally managed to score at the 11:17 mark in the third quarter on a goal by attackmen Cooper Kehoe. Kehoe took the ball from behind the net, drove around the left side of the crease and put the ball right through the legs of BYU goalie, Christian Kikumoto.
But the Cougars responded with two more goals in the third quarter, one by midfielder Jason Wernli, and one by attackmen Justin Hier, to lead 7-1 at the end of the three periods.
Colorado State scored two goals to start the fourth quarter, but BYU continued to pressure and create scoring opportunities. The Rams added four goals in the final quarter, but BYU held on to win the game and advance to the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) National Championship in Dallas later in May.
Neither team is a stranger to the National Tournament. The defending national champions, BYU has won a total of three titles since the tournament’s inception in 1997. Colorado State has won four national titles and will most likely receive an at-large bid for the National Tournament.
Originally posted on CollegeLAX.us on May 3, 2008.
