Middlebury Wins Second-Straight Men's Lacrosse Championship

Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury held Colby scoreless for the game's final 21:13 on its way to the 2002 NESCAC Men's Lacrosse Championship. With the win, the Panthers will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament when the pairings are announced Sunday night.

Middlebury led 2-1 before a pair of Greg Carroll goals and one by Peter Albro gave them a 5-1 lead after the first quarter. Matt Dunn increased the lead to 6-1 early in the second before Colby went on a tear. The White Mules scored the games next four goals in a 5:35 span to tie the game at six with 4:13 left in the half. Middlebury answered with a two-goal run before Eric Seidel answered for Colby to make it an 8-7 Middlebury lead at the break.

Long-stick defender Sebby Astrada scored the first goal of the second half in transition to make it a two-goal game before Josh Cleaver cut the lead to one a 9-8 with 8:47 remaining in the third quarter. The would be Colby's final goal of the game as the Panthers scored once more in the third and four times in the fourth to seal the 14-8 win.

Carroll paced the offense with four goals and one assist, while Dunn scored two and assisted on three others. Peter Albro and Zach Herbert added three goals apiece in the win. Black Grosch and Seidel scored two goals apiece to lead Colby.
Eric Krieger made 10 saves in goal for Middlebury, while John Shea made 27 for Colby.

2002 NESCAC MEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round - Sunday, April 28 at higher seeds
at No. 2 Bowdoin 14, No. 7 Bates 10
at No. 3 Colby 12, No. 6 Williams 6

First Round - Tuesday, April 30 at higher seed
at No. 4 Amherst 10, No. 5 Tufts 7

Semifinals - Saturday, May 4 at Middlebury
at No. 1 Middlebury 16, No. 4 Amherst 5
No. 3 Colby 10, vs. No. 2 Bowdoin 7

Final - Sunday, May 5 at Middlebury
at No. 1 Middlebury 14, No. 3 Colby 8