Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/19/19
Jordan Krug (Cherokee-NJ) collected seven goals and an assist and Cabrini made history today by stunning host Salisbury, 16-13, in the NCAA men’s Division III semifinals.
The win vaults the Cavaliers (21-2) into the National championship game next Sunday in their home town, Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field, at 4 p.m. vs. Amherst – a 12-8 winner over Williams.
The win also avenged a 13-5 early-season loss to second-ranked Salisbury – the 9-time NCAA champion, which entered the game as the favorite reach its 15th NCAA final since 1999. The Sea Gulls (22-2) also had won 10 of the first 11 meetings with Cabrini.
Jakob Klein (Wilson) added two goals and an assist and Tyler Kostack (Marple Newtown), Kyle Tucker and Mike Gerzabek (Springfield-Delco) each scored twice for the Cavs. Riley White (Plymouth-Whitemarsh) posted nine saves in goal and Luke McCallion (Haverford High) held his own at the faceoff X by winning 12 of 30 draws.
Salisbury, which fell behind, 6-2, had used an 8-3 run to seize a 10-9 lead when Pierre Armstrong (Hatboro-Horsham) fed Jarrett Bromwell for a goal twith 11:53 left in the third period.
Gerzabek tied it, and after Cross Ferrera (Appoquinimink-DE) scored his third goal, Krug tied it and Gerzabek gave Cabrini a 12-11 lead. Zach Pompea tied it again for the Gulls, but Kostack scored off a Nick Waligurski (Berks Catholic) feed to put the Cavaliers up for good with 11:17 to play. Klein scored to make it 14-12 and Krug scored with 5:16 left to make it 15-12.
Joe Saulino (Henderson) scored once for Salisbury.
Senior Sean Wagner paired four caused turnovers and three ground balls, while juniors Robert Cressman (Berks Catholic) and Tommy DeLuca caused two each and combined for seven ground balls. Klein matched DeLuca with four ground balls, with junior Kyle Myers matching Wagner with three.
Like Amherst, Cabrini will be making its first NCAA championship appearance.
