Adelphi Back-To-Back Division II National Champions; Women’s Lacrosse Tops Lock Haven in OT, 5-4

Three times the Adelphi women’s lacrosse team (21-1) has faced Lock Haven (20-1), three times it’s been in the National Championship game, three times the match-up has occured in Salem, Virginia on the campus of Roanoke College and three times Adelphi has come out on top as best in the land. This time it was by the score of 5-4 and took extra time as Adelphi wrapped up its seventh NCAA Division II Championship on May 17 with 11 seconds left in the first overtime period. 

A year after these two teams played the lowest-scoring game in D-II final history (Adelphi won 7-5 in 2014), Lock Haven made it look like the rematch might be a little different when it scored 43 seconds into the game. But then both teams returned to their defensive ways, as the Bald Eagles took a 2-1 lead into halftime. The outcome of the first 30 minutes left Lock Haven, which dominated the tempo of play and possessed the ball for long periods of the half, a little frustrated. Adelphi committed 24 fouls in the first half, giving the Bald Eagles numerous free-position situations. But Lock Haven missed all four free-position shots it took.

In the second half, the flow of the game started to favor Adelphi. Adelphi got back-to-back goals from its leading scorer, to go up 4-2, but Lock Haven still had plenty of fight left in it. Lock Haven scored in the latter half of the period to even the score. Adelphi held for the final two minutes of regulation in hope of scoring the winning goal at the buzzer, but never got in position to take a shot. That led to overtime, which although it’s not a sudden-death situation, the team that scores the first goal has a substantial advantage the rest of the way. And the Panthers were pleased with how they had been defending their goal from Lock Haven’s attack.

“This was a game more people are gonna wish they saw. Two teams who didn’t give an inch, both defenses played well and it could have fallen either way,” stated first year Head Coach Pat McCabe when asked about the contest. “I walked into a situation with a group of special seniors and players and when we needed a play they came through. It’s always the special people that are there and make those plays and we have a lot of special people.”

Lock Haven did not control a draw nor get a shot on goal in the extra periods, and Adelphi got its repeat.

Coach McCabe put a point on his first National Championship as a coach, adding to his three as a defender with Syracuse, by saying “We didn’t have our greatest day today, but it’s still a great day.”

Come join Head Coach, Pat McCabe, this summer at the Nike Lacrosse Camp at Adelphi University. Adelphi is located near Long Island’s parks and beaches. The 75 acre campus is only 45 minutes from New York City, offering the combined advantages of a major metropolitan area and a safe, suburban campus environment. We have an Evening Camp option July, 13-16 (ages 12-18) and an Overnight Camp July, 20-23.

With a perfect small college setting, campers will have the opportunity to personally work with Adelphi coaches and experienced staff members. This camp location is ideal for all regional players in the state of New York and beyond. Get ready to take your game to a higher level and have some big time fun!

About US Sports Camps

US Sports Camps (USSC), headquartered in San Rafael, California, is America’s largest sports camp network and the licensed operator of Nike Sports Camps. The company has offered camps since 1975 with the same mission that defines it today: to shape a lifelong enjoyment of athletics through high quality sports education and skill enhancement.