May. 14th, 2004 - Rams hold off BYU Run, Put Together Their Own 3RD Quarter Run and Advance

Rams hold off BYU Run, Put Together Their Own 3RD Quarter Run and Advance
Article By Rene Kozarsky

FENTON, MO - In another RMLC rematch, the second seeded Colorado State Rams held off a furious BYU second quarter run, and then went on third quarter run of their own to hold off the sixth seeded Cougars and advance to the MDIA Championship game. This is the sixth straight Championship game appearance for the Rams.

They say familiarity breeds contempt and this case it may be true, well at least with the play on the field. The game opened up with the rivals battling each other for every ground ball. Players selling out, diving for errant shots, vicious stick checks and violent body checks were the norm. The Rams were able to open an early 6-3 lead, but BYU would stay close throughout the half.

But the Cougars were able to pull back into the game mounting their own four goal run. Beginning with 8:59 left in the second, BYU scored four straight unanswered goals bring the Cougars to within one at the half at 9-8.

But the Rams were able to open the half with their own run, one which proved to be too much for BYU to overcome. CSU launched a five goal run, holding BYU to only one third quarter goal and holding them scoreless for over twenty minutes in total, closing the quarter with a 14-9 lead.

"We tried to address the run with the team. We tried to get them to change some stuff," added BYU Head Coach Jason Lamb after the game referring to the potent CSU runs.

"Defense was probably our biggest problem; you can't give up 16 goals in these types of games. It's pretty rare that you could survive a game like this doing that."

The Rams held BYU off in the fourth, allowing just one more Cougar goal, a late tally by Mark Tschaggeny with just 44 seconds left. The Rams went on to win 16-10 and set up a rematch of last year's championship with UC-Santa Barbara, which CSU won 6-4. Although the Gauchos hold the season edge, beating the Rams at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor on April 4th by the score of 10-8

The game was physical and that type of game played right into the hands of MDIA Preseason Player of the Year (LSM) Mark Plonkey. Plonkey dominated between the boxes taking on two, and sometimes three players, and still winning the ball. But the standout LSM of course had his critics, as a part of the crowd let him know their opinions of his play when he was stripped of the ball and his stick from behind on a possible fast break attempt in the second quarter.

"I think it was pretty apparent today the at least the teams that were sitting around today, especially the WCLL, were waiting for my fair share of mistakes. I expect that. I played with Mike Napolilli two years ago when he was the Preseason Player of the Year and in the National Championship Game the whole crowd was pretty much booing him. It's to be expected when you have that target placed on you."

Ram's Head Coach Flip Naumburg tried to explain the BYU/CSU rivalry.

"We're such different schools. At the same time I think we have a lot of respect for one another, that's what makes the competition great. With BYU there's a lot of mutual respect, we're trying to take club lacrosse programs to a very high level. I have the most respect for their team and their coach. I like to play them because it is hard-nosed and it's never bitter, at least for the most part."

But for BYU seniors like Taylor Cotterell and Jordan Peel, the game meant the end of their careers.

"We have had a great run. I wouldn't trade these players for anyone else in the nation. They are a great bunch of guys and they have a lot of heart. They make up for a lack of talent in some areas with heart and hustle. I love them to death and I wish them the best of luck next year," added a reflective Peel after the game.

Cotterell agreed.

"This was the best year of my four (at BYU). They are a great group of guys and we had a great camaraderie. I love all of them."

Lamb was also looking to the future.

"I only have four seniors on this roster; four juniors and the rest are all sophomores and freshmen. It still hurts, they were a young team, but they believed in themselves."