five goals with eight minutes remaining against the 17-1 Pride, the Minutemen rode the heroics of Deane to a 6-0 game-ending run that finished Hofstra in overtime 11-10. Deane won 20 of 25 faceoffs that day, including all eight in the fourth quarter and overtime. In 2001, Towson had a young team that was coming off a 3-10 season. But the Tigers, who would finish 14-4 under head coach Tony Seaman, found their stride early behind faceoff man Justin Berry, goalie John Horrigan, shooters like Campbell and a high-powered transition game. After beating Duke in wire-to-wire fashion in the tournament’s first round, Towson went to Byrd Stadium to face Maryland, which it has rarely ever beaten (5-76 all-time).
In a wild game that featured three second-half ties, Towson made the last, dramatic lead change count by scoring twice in the final 44 seconds. With 27 seconds left, after Berry — the top faceoff man in the nation that year — won the season’s most important draw, the ball found its way to Campbell, who stuck the shot that gave Towson a 12- 11 victory.
The following week, the Tigers barely fell short in the NCAA semifinals, losing to Princeton by the same 12-11 score. “We had a goalie and a faceoff guy who got better and better as the year went on, and we had the best long-stick middies in the game in Danny Cocchi and Neil Adams. We got up and down the field with anybody,” Seaman said.
“And Campbell was the perfect point guy. He never saw a shot he didn’t like, but he could make any shot he took. He was unique.”
The next logical step for Cinderella? Don’t just get to Memorial Day weekend. Win the whole thing, as Princeton did as a clear underdog in 1992. The Tigers went on to win six titles under Bill Tierney.
Of the 41 national championships won since the NCAA tournament commenced in 1971, all but six have been split among Hopkins, Syracuse, Virginia, Princeton and North Carolina. “We still see the same guys running around the stadium with the trophy up in the air,” Shillinglaw said. “It would be nice if somebody changed that.” LM
FIT FOR Glas Slippr?
There’s no shortage of sleepers poised to make mayhem in this month’s NCAA championship. Here are six potential Cinderellas that were lurking when this issue of Lacrosse Magazine went to press. (Also considered: Colgate)
Lehigh
The one-time Patriot League doormat sprinted to a 10-1 start, the best in school history. David DiMaria leads a balanced
offense that has found the perfect medium between pushing tempo and draining clock. Goalie Matthew Poillon has been terrific. The
most underrated part of Lehigh’s story is how well it takes care of the ball. Through March, opponents managed just 26 shots per game.
Loyola
The Greyhounds have speed all over the field (especially in transition with LSM Scott Ratliff and SSM Josh Hawkins) and the quickness and depth on offense to sustain an up-tempo approach. It helps to have one of the game’s most potent one-two scoring punches in Mike Sawyer and Eric Lusby, an excellent righty-lefty combination. Another great sign: sophomore goalie Jack Runkel settling in as the starter.
Massachusetts
UMass’ 2006 Cinderella run featured experienced, talented upperclassmen. The cycle might repeat itself in 2012. UMass bolted to a 9-0 start and looked like the class of the CAA thanks to veteran attackmen Will Manny, Art Kell and Kyle Smith, who have played
a ton of lacrosse together. Senior Anthony Toresco is outstanding on faceoffs. Goalie Tim McCormack backstops a senior-laden defense.
Bucknell 58 LACROSSE MAGAZINE May 2012>>
The Bison answered an 0-3 start with six straight wins. The Patriot League looks more treacherous than ever, but the Bison won it in 2011 and nearly upset UVA in the NCAAs. Billy Eisenreich and lefty Todd Heritage are potent scorers. Bucknell is physical on defense, tenacious on GBs, rides hard and is always a threat to shoot 40 percent.
Fairfield The Stags started 8-1 because they were
clutch in tight games. Fairfield played a combined six overtime periods while winning its first four games. That’s a dangerous force to tangle with in the postseason. Besides having a fine faceoff man in Michael Roe and a steady goalie in Charlie Cipriano, Fairfield brings the offensive pressure from hard-dodging midfielders Brent Adams and Sam Snow.
Villanova During a 5-4 start, the Wildcats crushed
Lehigh by 10, edged Bucknell in OT and beat Syracuse. But they also got whipped by Delaware, Princeton, Maryland and Penn State by a combined 20 goals. They still could end up in the Big East final and be a force in May with studs on attack (Jack Rice and Kevin Cunningham) and faceoffs (Thomas Croonquist).
A Publication of US Lacrosse
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