Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/3/09
The No. 14 Cabrini men’s lacrosse team claimed its ninth consecutive Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) title with a convincing 22-8 victory against No. 2 seed Marywood University Saturday at Edith Robb Dixon Field.
The Cavaliers improve the nation’s longest active conference win streak to 88 games, dating back to the 2001 season, and will make their eighth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Senior midfielder Matt Conaway (west Chester East) was named the game’s most valuable player for the second straight year, tallying six points on five goals and one assist. Conaway earned the contest’s highest honor in the Cavaliers’ 25-3 win in the 2008 title game versus Eastern University.
Senior attackman Scott Reimer (Downingtown West), Cabrini’s all-time leader in points (250) and goals (227), totaled seven points on seven goals. Sophomore midfielder Paul Skulski (Garnet Valley) chipped in with six points on two scores and four assists.
Junior attackman Casey Grugan (Ridley) notched three points on two goals and one assist. Grugan extended the nation’s second-longest consecutive points streak to 55 games, recording at least one point in each of his 55 career games with the Blue & White.
Additionally, against Marywood, Grugan matched Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame honoree Tom Lemieux (1999-02) for the program’s single-season record for assists with 43.
Sophomore Dan Terenick (Ridley) tallied two points on two goals. Senior midfielder B.J. Kletcheck (Roman Catholic) and freshman attackman Brian Hill (Ridley) each totaled two points on two assists.
Freshman John McSorley (Ridley), named the CSAC Rookie of the Year April 29, and Grugan, again named the league’s player of the year for the second straight season, each collected a team-high six groundballs.
Senior Mike Dolente (Spring-Ford) led the Cavaliers in face-off circle, winning six draws in 12 attempts. The Pacers notched 19 face-off victories against 12 from the hosts.
Senior goalkeeper Kevin Chenoweth started the contest in the cage for Cabrini, registering four saves in 30 minutes played. Senior Bobby Chambers (Henderson) appeared in relief, playing the second half and posting two stops.
Sophomore attackman William Roerden scored a team-high three goals for the Pacers. Freshman midfielder Joe LaBella buried two goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Jesse Habich spelled started Eric Luhrmann after 18-plus minutes of action, recording 11 saves.
Saturday’s game was the Cavaliers’ 10th consecutive appearance in the CSAC title game (the league was formerly named the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference). Cabrini is 17-1 all-time in the conference tournament, suffering its only loss against Wesley College in the 2000 championship contest.
All nine of the Cavaliers’ CSAC championships have been won under ninth-year head coach Steve Colfer. Colfer, named the CSAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career this season, has not lost a game in league play in 88 tries.
The Blue & White reaches the 14-win plateau for the fifth time in program history and third time in the last three seasons.
Cabrini will make its eighth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. When the Cavaliers won their first CSAC crown in 2001, the league did not receive an automatic qualifier. The NCAA Lacrosse Special, which will announced the 2009 Men’s Lacrosse NCAA Tournament field, will air tonight, exclusively on CBS College Sports Network from 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.
FDU-Florham 8, Widener 7
Senior midfielder Jason Koontz finished with three goals while his younger brother, freshman midfielder Adam Koontz, and Tournament MVP junior attack Kevin Shadiack added two goals apiece as the beat the Pride in the Middle Atlantic Conference championship.
It is FDU’s first MAC Championship since 1981 as the Devils also ended Widener’s run of four consecutive conference championships. With the win, the Devils improved to 13-4 while the Pride dropped to 10-9.
JJ Hoeffler had three goals for the Price and Kevin Carney (Ridley) made nine saves.
Stevenson 12, Denison 9
Dan Maude (Haverford School) had three goals and an asisst for Denison (12-2) in the loss to Stevenson (15-1).
Merchant Marine 8, Scranton 6
Mike Rufo (Haverford School) scored twice for the Royals in the Landmark Conference championship game loss.
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