Hawks to play for lacrosse title
When Virginia's Ryan Lukacovic scored late in the fourth quarter of a 14-14 tie to send St. Joseph's to defeat on March 10, that was the turning point in the Hawks' season, captain Ryan McGee said.
When Virginia's Ryan Lukacovic scored late in the fourth quarter of a 14-14 tie to send St. Joseph's to defeat on March 10, that was the turning point in the Hawks' season, captain Ryan McGee said.
"We turned the corner that day," McGee said of the game against the then-seventh-ranked Cavaliers. "We played them down to the wire. We realized then we could play with anyone in the country."
The following week, the Hawks dropped a four-overtime decision, 9-8, to Michigan. They haven't lost since. On Thursday, the host Hawks (11-5, 6-0), the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Conference tournament, won their eighth game in a row, defeating Mount St. Mary's, 10-4, to advance to the championship game at home at 1 p.m. Saturday against No. 3 Bryant (7-9), an 11-8 winner over Hobart.
The winner of the tournament will advance to the NCAA tournament - it would be the first time for the Hawks - most likely in the play-in game.
This is a dynamic turnaround for the Hawks, who went 0-12 as recently as 2011.
"Right now we're playing the best we've ever played as a team," said McGee, one of eight Hawks named to the NEC all-conference team. "We are playing with momentum and confidence behind us."
The Hawks dominated the all-conference team. Sophomore Mike Rastivo (five goals against Mount St. Mary's) was also named offensive player of the year. He is joined on the first team by McGee, John Winchell, and Will Farrell (St. Joseph's Prep).
Chris Blewitt, who scored twice Thursday, was named rookie of the year and was named to the all-rookie team. Pat Swanick (St. Joseph's Prep), Kevin Forster (Jenkintown), Kevin Barrow, and Mike Lanham (Garnet Valley) were all named to the all-conference second team.
All-Big East honors
Villanova (two) and Temple (one) placed three players on the women's all-Big East first team.
Villanova senior Jackie Froccaro also was named attacker of the year. That is the highest honor ever for a player in the women's lacrosse program.
Froccaro scored 57 points (49 goals) this season. Fellow senior captain Jess Mucci (11 goals, 34 assists) was also named to the first team.
Temple midfielder Nicole Tiernan (Washington Township), who led the Owls with 38 points (35 goals), joined the two Wildcats on the first team.
Georgetown standout Kristin Bandos (Academy of Notre Dame) joined Froccaro, Mucci, and Tiernan on the first team.
Bandos led the Hoyas with 29 goals this season and added two assists. She had a four-goal performance against Temple, a five-goal outing against Connecticut and a pair of hat tricks on the season.
"This has been a really good season for her," Georgetown coach Ricky Fried said earlier this season. "She has had a laser focus."
@JmitchInquirer