Box Score

Game Program

St. Mary's City, Md. - St. Mary's College of Maryland clinched the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the 2009 Capital Athletic Conference Men's Lacrosse Tournament Friday afternoon behind the heroics of sophomore midfielder Chris Becraft (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) who fired in the game-winner with .2 seconds on the clock to upset No. 5 Salisbury University, 11-10, in front of a crowd of 389.

The reigning CAC Player of the Year, senior midfielder Kylor Berkman (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) turned the ball over with 11 seconds left in regulation as Berkman's pass soared high above the goal.  With time winding down, sophomore goalie Pat Simpson (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) launched a full-field pass which Becraft caught on the bounce to the left of the goal before beating his defenseman for a one-on-one with sophomore Tim Swinburn (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven).

St. Mary's (7-5, 5-2 CAC) has not beaten Salisbury in over 30 years as the Seahawks last win against SU came on April 5, 1977 with a 13-12 overtime decision at home.  For Salisbury, it is the first time since 2002 that the Sea Gulls have posted back-to-back losses.  That season, SU lost to Ohio Wesleyan (14-13 OT) and Cortland (11-5) before advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

With a first-round bye in the 2009 CAC Tournament which begins April 13, St. Mary's will host Monday's winner of No. 6 seed University of Mary Washington at No. 3 Salisbury on Thursday, April 16 at Seahawk Stadium in CAC semifinal action.  Game time will be announced later.

Salisbury (11-3, 5-2 CAC) edged the Seahawks, 4-3, in the first quarter with back-to-back goals from sophomore attackman Erik Krum (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) and junior middie Will Poletis (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) in the final 2:31.

The home team claimed a 7-6 lead at halftime as the Seahawks netted the first three goals of the second period for a 6-4 lead at 7:49 and the game's second lead change.  Salisbury scored two of the half's final three tallies to stay within one.

The third lead change came in the third stanza as the visitors' midfielders Mike Von Kamecke (Winter Park, Fla./Bishop Moore) and Shawn Zordani (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) gave the Sea Gulls an 8-7 lead heading into the fourth.

Von Kamecke gave his team a two-goal cushion just 35 seconds into the fourth quarter before three straight St. Mary's goals, including two in 17 seconds, returned the lead to the home team.  Krum knotted the contest at 10-all with his 10th goal of the season.

Seahawk sophomore attackman Dennis Rosson (Severna Park, Md./Severn) led all scorers with four goals, while junior captain Ryan Alexander (Laurel, Md./Pallotti) registered a hat trick and Becraft finished with two.

Senior captain Marc DiPasquale (Fallston, Md./Boys' Latin) helped the Seahawk offense as DiPasquale won 13-of-24 face-offs, including 11-of-14 in the first half.

Simpson was stellar in goal, making 15 saves including several point-block shots.

Krum paced his squad with a hat trick, while Von Kamecke and freshman attackman Matt Cannone (Bayport, N.Y./Bethpage) each had two.  Berkman finished with three assists.

Sophomore Johnny Rodriguez (Gambrills, Md./Mt. St. Joseph) started the game but was replaced by Swinburn after giving up seven goals with two saves in 25:31.  Swinburn finished with three saves in 34:29.

Salisbury rattled off 46 shots to the Seahawks' 25, while the Sea Gulls hustled to 40 ground balls and St. Mary's had 33. 

2009 CAC Men's Lacrosse Tournament
Monday, April 13 - Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 5 seed York (Pa.) at No. 4 seed Wesley
Game 2: No. 6 seed Mary Washington at No. 3 seed Salisbury
Bye: No. 1 seed Stevenson and No. 2 seed St. Mary's (Md.)

Thursday, April 16 - Semifinals
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 at No. 1 seed Stevenson
Game 4: Winner of Game 2 at No. 2 seed St. Mary's (Md.) 

Sunday, April 19 - Championship
Game 5: Site at highest remaining seed