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MEN'S LACROSSE: GAME SUMMARIES (2006)
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BUCS GET FIRST EVER WIN AT NATIONAL TOURNAMENT!! (5/12/06)
After what was quite possibly one of the worst games of the season
the day before, the Bucs woke up once again to hit the lacrosse
fields and play the early game on the side field that not many
venture over to.
The opponent was two fold. Somehow, the Bucs had to decide they
belonged at the tournament and play Southwestern Lacrosse. They
also had to go up against the Calvin Knights, #9 in the nation,
from Michigan. To make the pot even sweeter, both teams were
fighting for outright possession of the cellar. The loser would
fall to 0-3, while the winner would get their first ever win at
the national tournament.
The Bucs came out with a renewed attitude. Their warm up, much to
coaches chagrin was much more relaxed and free flowing, with
guys "getting into their own groove" on their own. This is
something they have done all year and it has served them well.
A well placed comment by a Calvin player as we were doing warm-ups
about how they couldn't believe they "had" to play us, was also
more than enough motivation for a team that had truly
underachieved on the national level at the tournament.
As the game started, both teams went back and forth, trading goals
for most of the first and second quarters, with the Bucs getting
the nod on hustle and ground balls. The Bucs offense was able to
run smoothly as it did something that it had not done the entire
tournament...PASS THE BALL. The result was many open guys who
were able to put the ball in the back of the net, including
Pritchett, Daulton, Webb, Jeffcoat, Wersonske, and Jones.
By half-time, the Bucs had a lead and never looked back. While the
first half was touch and go, the second half belonged to the
Bucs. The score was never closer than a 3 goal differential in
the second half with the Bucs often up by 4.
Everyone played with intensity and found ways to do the one thing
we had failed to do since stepping on the van at SU to leave for
our game against Montana. The guys remembered how to have fun on
the field. It made all the difference. The result was night and
day, and ultimately brought the Bucs and the University its first
ever win at the National Championship against a solid Calvin
team.
The middies flew all over the field, the attackmen never stood
still, and the defense, with Ehrlich once again filling in for
Gette, was very sharp. LSM's Fleschig and Machado both did an
excellent job, and our goalie played the way we all know he can.
Just about everyone got on the field and EVERYONE left the field
with a sense of satisfaction on many levels.
In the end, the Bucs wanted the game more than the Knights, and
were able to finish off another great season, which included a
final National Ranking of #14, a second straight LSA B Title, and
the second consecutive year in which the team went undefeated in
conference. While last year the Bucs overachieved in many ways,
this year the Bucs played the way they were supposed to, and
achieved just about everything they set out to achieve during the
season. The win in their final game of the year was exactly how
the road should have ended.
We MUST thank the Newmans once again for a great pre game supper,
as well as all the alumni that made it out over the course of the
three games. Most importantly, however, the biggest fans, i.e.
the moms and dads, as well as grandparents and siblings sure made
it a special time for the guys who put an awful lot into the
season, most of it behind the scenes. One of life's little
lessons.
Finally, a hearty and sincere thanks to my boss and the team's
assistant coach, Kris Nessler. After two years at the helm of the
Sport Club realm at Southwestern, he is leaving to head back to
his alma mater - Gettysburg College. A lacrosse alum in his own
right, Kris immediately connected with the guys on the team, often
came out and participated in intra-squad scrimmages, was a major
advocate for the team with the university and was almost always on
the sidelines during games. We will greatly miss Kris and his
enthusiasm, but wish him the best of luck as he moves on in the
next phase of his life.
With that in mind, we will also miss the likes of Daniel Ehrlich,
Jay Gupta, Om Panchal, James Jeffcoat, Andrew Kerr, Eric Baker,
and Brent "pasty" Wilson, as they all enter the next phase in
their respective lives. I hope they have enjoyed the lacrosse
experience at Southwestern and that they remember and keep in
touch with us. We will miss them all for the unique attributes
each of the gave to the team over their career and know the world
will be a better place for their presence.
- Bill Bowman
 Back to Men's Schedule/Results (2006)
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