May. 14th, 2004 - Eagles soar over Missouri in 15-8 win
Eagles soar over Missouri in 15-8 win
Article by Dan Morris
FENTON, MO – Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League (PCLL) Champion Boston College mounted an early lead over Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRL)C Champion Missouri and never looked back, defeating the Tigers 15-8 in the consolation bracket of the MDIA National Championship. Due to field conditions and the need to accommodate all games, the match was played on the turf with 18 minute running time quarters.
Justin Ashenfelter (Montclair, NJ), who was awarded the 2nd Team All-America Specialty Position at the previous night's award ceremony, dominated faceoffs for the Eagles once again. Ashenfelter held the Tigers to only two faceoff draws in the first half, overpowering Missouri and never allowing them to recover.
"Getting an All-America award was awesome," said the freshman Ashenfelter. "I didn't know how I was going to do this season going against older guys but I think I stepped up."
"The last two games we played out here, I wasn't too impressed with myself. I think I buckled under some pressure sometimes; it really got into my head but we stepped it up today and I did alright," said Ashenfelter.
The Eagles' Mark Hammitt (Madison, NJ) established the lead early for Boston College, catching one of attackman Brian Kinsella's (West Chester, PA) three assists, and whipping the ball past the Missouri goaltender.
Hammitt, who normally plays midfield for the Eagles, was moved to attack today by Head Coach Jin Chung because of his impressive performance this tournament. The move proved to be the right one, as Hammitt was dazzling in his newfound role, leading all scorers with six goals and one assist.
"Kinsella has been sick all week and Hammitt had the hot hand in the tournament," said Coach Chung of the move. As to whether Hammitt might return to midfield next season or stay at attack, Coach Chung said, "This was just a test. Next year is next year, but today he performed very well."
"It was different because you are going against the same guy all game, whereas at middie you never know who you will be up against," said Hammitt. "It seems a lot more personal going against the same defender the whole game, you kind of get a little rivalry going."
Three consecutive, unanswered fast break goals by Hammitt in the second quarter, including one assisted by freshman defender Adam Donohue (Tiverton, RI), gave Boston College an 8-1 lead. The Eagles earned a sizable cushion and allowing Coach Chung to get his bench players time on the field.
Facing a 10-2 deficit to start the second half, Missouri was first on the board when junior Tim Cahill (St. Louis, MO) fired a leaping lefty shot at 10:08.
But Hammitt came right back for the Eagles when midfielder Greg O'Brien (Allston, MA) found him streaking from the top of the box. The Eagles would pump in two more goals in the third period from the sticks of midfielder Ernie Guadiana (New York, NY) and attackman Alex Goodman (Princeton, NJ) to give them a 13-4 edge heading into the fourth.
Running out of time, the Tigers finally snapped out of their funk when they went on a three-goal run of their own, with midfield senior Mike Brauss (St. Louis, MO) leading the charge.
Brauss fed Tom McKittrick (St. Louis, MO) for the first of the goals at 9:40, and scored the second off a Cole Dimond (Kansas City, MO) pass with 7:42 remaining, but with the Tigers surging, they found there just wasn't enough time on the clock.
"We have to work on consistency, and we'll be there," remarked Missouri Head Coach Kyle Hawkins. "We've got the stick skills and the depth to match almost anybody we have played."
"We play to the level of our opponents sometimes, and sometimes we don't play smart at all," said Coach Hawkins. "Take a team that can hang with Sonoma State, and then get blown out by Georgia Tech, it just doesn't make sense."
With Missouri graduating three seniors, and the Eagles only losing goaltender and team captain Bill Watt (Sea Cliff, NJ), both young programs have optimistic futures.
"We have come a long way in the three years I have been here," said the Tigers' departing Brauss. "It's been a good ride and we have a good core of young guys and they'll carry on the torch and hopefully we will see them here for years to come."