Hickory, N.C. – The Saint Leo Men's Lacrosse Team (16-2), ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II, advanced to the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship game after escaping with a 12-11 win over fifth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne (17-3) Sunday afternoon at a packed Moretz Stadium.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Saint Leo 12, Lenoir-Rhyne 11
Records: No. 6 Saint Leo (16-2), No. 5 Lenoir-Rhyne (17-3)
Location: Moretz Stadium | Hickory, N.C.
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STATS OF THE GAME:
• Saint Leo jumped out to a 4-0 advantage just under nine minutes into the contest and never trailed in the victory. The Lions were led by Kyle Pauwels (Kamloops, British Columbia, CANADA) and Matt Shand (Whitby, Ontario, CANADA) with two goals each. Ten players scored for Saint Leo.
• Lenoir-Rhyne senior midfielder
Ben Corrigan (Alpharetta, Ga.) and junior midfielder
Quinn Kuhn (Buffalo, N.Y.) each scored a game-high three goals for the Bears, who lost despite holding advantages in both shots taken (59-30) and ground balls (40-30).
• Saint Leo's goalkeeper, Thomas Tatarian (Shoreham, N.Y.), came up big for the Lions with 16 saves while earning the victory. LR senior goalkeeper
Ryan Crompton (Frederick, Md.) suffered the loss despite 10 stops.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• With two goals and an assist, Lenoir-Rhyne junior forward
Joe Buduo (Shrewsbury, Mass.) finished the year with school-records in goals (a league-leading 62) and total points (91).
• Corrigan finished with three goals and four assists for the second straight contest and totaled 14 points in the two playoff games this season. Corrigan ended the year ranked second on the team in total points with 81.
• Despite the loss, Lenoir-Rhyne is 40-6 in its last 46 contests.
• The Bears set a school-record for wins in a season (17) this spring.
UP NEXT:
Saint Leo will take on the winner of the other national semifinal game – No. 3 Seton Hill (17-1) and No. 2 Merrimack (16-1) – in the 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Lacrosse National Championship game on Sunday, May 27, at 4:00 p.m., in Foxborough, Mass., at Gillette Stadium.
