Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/7/22
From Press Release
On a rainy day in the nation’s capital, second-ranked and top-seeded Georgetown topped No. 3-seeded Villanova, 14-12, on Saturday night at Cooper Field in the 2022 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship Presented by Jeep.
Back in the Championship game for the fourth-consecutive time, in similar fashion to the previous three showings, the Hoyas (15-1, 5-0 BIG EAST) lifted the trophy and improved to 4-1 all-time in the title game, the most wins in BIG EAST men’s lacrosse history. Earning the automatic bid for the BIG EAST Conference, Georgetown will await its NCAA Championship fate in Sunday night’s selection show at 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
This year’s Most Outstanding Player, Graham Bundy, Jr., tallied three goals and an assist in the title game, while notching 10 combined points (7g, 3a) in the pair of contests.
Georgetown opened the game quickly with James Reilly (Conestoga, 15 of 30 FO) finding the net just six seconds after winning the opening faceoff. Villanova’s Brett Baskin (La Salle, 4 goals, All-Tournament selection) immediately evened the score with a goal off an assist by J.P. Basile, but from there it was all Hoyas. Over the next 28:25 minutes of game time, Georgetown held Villanova scoreless and jumped out to a commanding 8-1 advantage.
After back-to-back goals by the Wildcats (9-6, 3-2 BE) to close out the second frame, Georgetown led 8-3 and Bundy Jr., leading all scorers at the break with three points (2g, 1a).
After an even 4-4 second frame, Villanova outscored Georgetown 5-2 in the fourth quarter, but the comeback fell just short as the Hoyas secured their fourth consecutive BIG EAST title.
Challenged often throughout the contest, both goalkeepers tied the BIG EAST record for saves in a game, with Georgetown’s Owen McElroy finishing the outing with 17 saves and a .586 save percentage, and Villanova’s Will Vitton capping the night with 17 saves and a .548 save percentage. The previous record was set a season ago, when McElroy corralled 17 saves against Villanova on May 6, 2021.
Offensively for the Wildcats, Matt Campbell tallied eight goals and 10 points in the pair of weekend outings, tying the BIG EAST Championship record with 4.0 goals per game. The record was previously set by Wesley Berg of Denver in 2014.
2022 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship All-Tournament Team
Alex Simmons, Denver, Sr., A
Alec Stathakis, Denver, Jr, FOS
Cole Emmanuel, Marquette, RS-So., FOS
Mason Woodward, Marquette, RS-So., D
Brett Baskin (La Salle), Villanova, Grad Student, M
Matt Campbell, Villanova, Sr., A
Will Vitton, Villanova, Sr., G
Will Bowen, Georgetown, Grad Student, D
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, Jr., M
Owen McElroy, Georgetown, Grad Student, G
Gibson Smith IV, Georgetown, Grad Student, D
2022 BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship Most Outstanding Player
Graham Bundy, Jr., Georgetown, Jr., M
BIG EAST Men’s Lacrosse Championship Presented by JEEP
Cooper Field ~ Washington, D.C.
Semifinals – Thursday, May 5
No. 3 Villanova 15, No. 2 Denver 14
No. 1 Georgetown 15, No. 4 Marquette 5
Final – Saturday, May 7
No. 2 Georgetown 14, No. 3 Villanova, 12s
