BALTIMORE - Top-seeded UMBC erased a nine-goal deficit and took its first lead with 2:12 remaining to edge second-seeded Albany, 14-13, and capture the America East Men's Lacrosse Championship in front of 2,080 fans on Saturday, May 3 at UMBC Stadium.
With the win, UMBC has secured a berth in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship for the third consecutive season. The field for the tournament will be announced on Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
Albany (8-8) scored the first five goals of the contest as freshman Brian Caufield scored three times in that span and capped the spurt with a score at the 5:40 mark of the first period. After UMBC got on the board, the Great Danes' freshman Joe Pompo struck twice in the final nine seconds of the first quarter to give his team a 7-1 advantage heading into the second stanza. He finished with a team-high four scores in the contest.
The Great Danes extended their lead scoring three of the first four goals of the second quarter and held an 11-2 lead midway through the second stanza.
UMBC (12-3), which has won a program-record 11 straight games, started its charge by tallying the next six scores. After an Albany score halfway into the third quarter, the Retrievers scored six of the contest's final seven goals to complete the improbably comeback.
Sophomore Matt Latham
brought UMBC to within a goal with
4:21 remaining and junior Alex Hopmann added the tying score on an unassisted tally with 3:01 to play. After Taylor Marino won the
ensuing face-off, one of his 18 on the day, freshman Jamie Kimbles blast home the go-ahead scored from 12 yards out with 2:12
remaining.
Caufield had an opportunity to tie the game for the Great Danes, but his shot with seven seconds remaining sailed wide. Caufield scored three times and was named to the all-championship team along with teammates Jordan Levine and Brett Queener, who made 14 saves in the game.
Latham led UMBC with four goals, while Kyle Wimer highlighted the Retrievers' all-championship selections. Senior Terry Kimener, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, contributed a goal and an assist.
All-Championship Team
Mike Cove, Binghamton; Steve Smith, Binghamton; Nick Maturro, Stony Brook; Steve Waldeck, Stony Brook; Brian Caufield, Albany; Jordan Levine, Albany; Brett Queener, Albany; Bobby Atwell, UMBC; Terry Kimener, UMBC; Taylor Marino, UMBC; Kyle Wimer, UMBC
Most Outstanding Player
Terry Kimener, UMBC
2008 America East Men's
Lacrosse Championship
Semifinals - Thursday, May 1
Game 1: No. 2
Albany 12, No. 3 Stony Brook 9 BOX SCORE
Game 2: No. 1 UMBC 6, No. 4 Binghamton 5 (OT) BOX SCORE
Final - Saturday, May 3
Game 3: at No. 1 UMBC 14, No. 2 Albany 13 BOX SCORE