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Three Griffins Named MCLA All-American

5-20-2009
Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) announced the 2009 All-American teams on Wednesday. The Westminster men’s lacrosse team had three players named as an All-American for their performance during the season. Zach Kessler and Ben Wright were each named to the first team while Dallas McLellan made the second team.

Kessler, a 5-10 senior from Salt Lake City, made the first team at defense. Kessler appeared in every game during the 2009 season and recorded 41 ground balls. He was the leader of the Griffins defense that allowed just 10.1 goals per game.

Wright, a 5-1 junior from Salt Lake City, was the DM on the first team. He finished the season with one goal and two assists. Wright appeared in 15 games for the Griffins in 2009.

McLellan, a 5-10 sophomore from Sandy, Utah, made the second team at goalie. He finished the year with a 64.7 save percentage and a 7.27 goal against average. McLellan was a First Team All-American in 2008.

 

 

 

 

Season Ends with 16-5 Loss to St. Thomas

5-13-2009 
The second time didn’t work either as the Westminster men’s lacrosse team saw the 2009 season come to an end with a 16-5 loss to St. Thomas in the quarterfinals of the MCLA National Tournament. Westminster came up short in its attempt to defend the national championship they won in 2008.

Westminster scored the first goal of the game just 2:08 into the first quarter when Gian Sexsmith found the back of the net. St. Thomas responded with the next six goals of the game and carried a 9-2 lead into the halftime break. The second half saw much of the same as Westminster also three goals in the second 30 minutes and never threatened the No. 2 seed.

“We got handled by an experienced, well coached team,” Westminster head coach Mason Goodhand said. “They took advantage of some early mistakes and converted them with precision.”

Sexsmith finished the night with three goals to lead all Griffins. Ricky Larkin and Jake Wayman also struck for Westminster in defeat.

“We have some young warriors on this squad and this experience will help them the next time they step on the field with caliber of an opponent,” Goodhand commented.

Joe Castello led St. Thomas with his four goals. Cooper Mazon and Andrew Larson added three goals apiece for the Tommies.

Westminster finishes the year at 12-8 overall and advances to the quarterfinals for the third time in as many years. They also won their RMLC division for the third consecutive year.

Third Quarter Rally Leads to Griffins Victory

5-12-2009
After falling behind 3-0 through 22 minutes, the Westminster men’s lacrosse team staged a rally and came away with an 8-7 win over Missouri State in the opening round of the MCLA National Tournament. Westminster scored six of the next seven goals, including five in the third quarter, to open up an 8-5 advantage with 12:16 to play. Missouri State scored twice in the final 11 minutes to make the final margin just one before time expired.

Josh Condas came up large for the Griffins, scoring four goals and assisting on another. His second goal came with 20 seconds left in the first half to give the team some momentum heading into the break. Jacob Wayman cut the Missouri State lead to one when he scored his only goal with 12:13 to play in the third. Wayman also added three assists on the afternoon, including one to Condas with just 19 seconds left in the third. Dan Larkin scored the eventual game-winner with 12:16 left in the fourth on a pass from Rick Larkin.

“Our guys did a good job of staying focused even when they were behind 4-1,” head coach Mason Goodhand said. “They stuck with the game plan and stayed patient offensively.”

Dallas McLellan recorded several key saves in the fourth quarter to hold off the Missouri State charge. Gian Sexsmith and Dallin Hall also recorded goals for Westminster in the victory.

Mark Jasper tallied three goals while Brad Shearman finished with one goal and three assists for Missouri State. Nick King scored his goal with 2:42 to play to get his team within one, but Missouri State wouldn’t score again.

Westminster advances to the quarterfinals where they will face St. Thomas on Wednesday, May 13. That game will be played on field seven at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park complex beginning at 4:00 p.m. St. Thomas beat Westminster 17-7 on February 27 of this season in the only other meeting between the two teams.

Nine Griffins Receive All-RMLC Honors

5-07-2009
The Rock Mountain Lacrosse League announced the All-Conference teams for 2009 on Thursday and Westminster had nine players on the list. Westminster placed four players on the First Team All-RMLC and three more on the Second Team. The nine honored players led the way for all teams. Zach Kessler was named the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year.

Kessler also made the First Team at defense, and was joined on the First Team by Ben Wright, short stick; Beau Stine, face-off; and Dallas McLellan, goalie. Lance Nielsen was the face-off specialist on the Second Team. Ron Eichelberger, long stick, and Kurt Fuhriman, defense also made the Second Team. Kevin Gee and Josh Condas were each named to the Third Team as attackers.

Westminster Receives At-Large Invite to National Tournament

5-04-2009
BRACKET | TICKETS
The Westminster men’s lacrosse team will get a chance to defend their national championship. The Griffins received an at-large bid into the MCLA D2 National Tournament which begins on Tuesday, May 12. Westminster is the No. 7 seed and will face Missouri State, the No. 10 seed, in the opening round. The winner of this game will face No. 2 seed St. Thomas in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 13.

Westminster heads to Denver with an 11-7 overall record and a second place finish in the RMLC tournament held this past weekend. The Griffins went 2-3 against teams in the tournament during the season, with wins over Western Oregon and Cal State-Fullerton. This marks three trips to the tournament in the three years of the men's lacrosse program at Westminster.

The Division 2 tournament features two undefeated teams: University of Dayton and University of Northern Colorado. Davenport, Missouri State, Cal State-Fullerton and Stonehill are all making their tournament debut.

The first round and quarterfinal games of the MCLA National Championships will be played on the external fields at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on May 12 and 13. The tournament then moves inside the stadium for the semifinals and finals on May 15 and 16. For brackets and game schedules, visit the 2009 Denver page on the MCLA web site (www.mcla.us).

Tickets for the championship games can be purchased in person at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Box Office, at any Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods location, by calling TicketHorse at 1-866-461-6556 or by visiting TicketHorse online.

Westminster Drops 16-13 Decision in RMLC Championship Game

5-02-2009
The Westminster men’s lacrosse team saw their quest for a third straight RMLC championship end as Northern Colorado rallied for a 16-13 win on Saturday afternoon. Westminster led 12-9 heading to the fourth quarter, only to see Northern Colorado score seven times in the fourth to claim their first conference championship.

Gian Sexsmith led the Griffins with four goals and added one assist. At one point in the first quarter, Sexsmith scored on three consecutive possessions. Matt Balk added a goal for Westminster and Lance Nielsen was dominant in the face-off circle.

Westminster must now wait to see if the receive an at-large berth into the MCLA National Tournament. The griffins are the defending national champion in the event.

Griffins Advance to RMLC Championship Game with 12-11 win Against Metro State

5-01-2009
The back-to-back RMLC Champion Westminster men’s lacrosse team got a goal from Josh Condas with just over seven minutes to play to give them a 12-11 lead over Metro State. Dallas McLellan turned away all Metro chances from there and Westminster moves to the RMLC Championship game on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore Lance Nielsen took a faceoff and turned it into an unassisted goal with 8:25 to play to tie the game at 11. Condas then found the net for the sixth time of the afternoon for the game winner. The game went back-and-forth all day with neither team holding an advantage of more than two goals.

Weston Morley added two goals for the Griffins and Dan Larkin scored a goal and had an assist. McLellan recorded 10 saves along with several forced turnovers in the Westminster net.

Westminster will face Northern Colorado on Saturday, May 2. That championship game will begin at 1:00 p.m.

Griffins Close Regular Season with a Win vs the Aggies

4-25-2009  Logan, Utah  MCLA Report

The final game of the regular season schedule looked more like an early season event as the trip to Logan included chilly temps and light snow for the opening face off.  The steady precipitation tapered as the game proceded, however the action and hard hitting contest never slowed as the Griffins improved to 10-6 on the year with a 15-11 victory over a much improved Utah State squad. 

"We've have a solid core of dedicated players and a lot of enthusiasm.  Though we started the fall with nearly fifty players, the season took it's toll and we are now down to less than twenty.   However, this has been a season to build on and we are excited about the future of Aggie Lacrosse."  remarked new Head Coach Dave Mercer.  "I agree, this is a new and improved version of Aggie Lacrosse."  added Griffin Head Coach, Mason Goodhand.  "They are young and have some very solid players to build with.   I think the talent of the kids coming out of HS is rapidly improving and once word gets out that Coach Mercer is going to be running the show for several seasons, they can be a real contender."

The Griffin Attack led the scorring effort scoring ten of the fifteen goals for Westminster with Sophomore Attackman Josh Condas (#2, 5g/ 1a), leading the charge.   Sophomore middie Jake Wayman (#19, 2g / 3a), continued to lead the "team offense" effort, dishing out three assists to go with his two goals.   Aggie Sophomore middie Nick Baker (#11, 4 g) led the charge for Utah State, while Sophomore netminder and Team Captain, Andrew Davidson had a solid day in goal notching 11 saves.  

Coach Goodhand went on to comment..."We made some real improvements to our play this weekend.  We needed to be more physical in our play and we got that today. We also needed to get penetration on our scoring plays.  Our attack went to the goal aggressively and our defense punished penetration on the other end.  We dominated the GB war every quarter and 72/41 overall.   That's huge and it's the kind of effort it takes to win down the stretch.  It was a great step forward as we head to post season play."

The Griffins head to Boulder Colorado next weekend to compete for their third RMLC title.  For bracket and game schedule please visit the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference web site. (www.rmlax.com)

Utah Valley Ends Griffin Dominance in RMLC Conference Play

4-11-2009  Orem, Utah   MCLA Report     

Since "Day One" in the fall of 2006, the Westminster Men's Lacrosse team came to compete.  Despite the fact that they joined one of the most competitive conferences in the nation, the RMLC, they managed an amazing feat...unbeaten in conference play.  "Despite some close calls with some great squads, we came to the field believing in ourselves and getting the W."  remarked Head Coach Mason Goodhand.   On Saturday the two and a half year streak came to an end at the hands of determined Utah Valley University Wolverines squad.

Despite some early success and a 10-4 Griffin lead, the Wolverines never backed down.  Chad Frost (#9, 7g/3a), showed why he's in the running for top attackman in the league as he had a hand in nearly half of the Wolverine twenty-one scoring plays.  Griffin Attackman, Josh Condas (#2, 6g/1a) led the WC offense that put seventeen points of their own on the board.  The offensive affair breathed life into the Wolverines who have their destiny in hand as they head to Gunnison and Durango, CO next weekend to complete their RMLC western conference schedule.   A pair of wins will give UVU a matching 3-1 conference record and the #1 seed for the western conference at the RMLC playoffs, as they win the tie-breaker with WC.  A loss will eliminate them from the playoff tournament completely as Ft Lewis will slide into second and NAU (2-2) will win athe tie-breaker with UVU for the third and final slot. 

The Griffins next travel to Phoenix AZ for the second annual Baggataway Tournament. The event is a three-way Round -Robin competition between similarly new lacrosse programs (Grand Canyon University-2008, Dominican University-2007 & WC-2007).   GCU and DU are competing as independents in the NCAA D-II some 2500 miles away from the sports historical hotbeds.  Westminster, has won two RMLC conference championships and one national title in the MCLA D-II.  All three schools are enjoying the support of their Athletic Departments in an environment where investing in additional "male" activities is sometimes challenging for Athletic Directors faced with the challenges of gender equity guidelines.  All three programs are reaping the benefit of booming youth lacrosse throughout the west as the sport experiences phenomenal growth nationwide.

Griffins Rally Comes Up Short

4-01-2009    Game Stats        MCLA Report

Westminster men’s lacrosse rallied from a 7-3 deficit to tie the game before dropping an 8-7 decision to Utah on Wednesday afternoon. No. 8 Westminster (9-4) tied the game at seven with their fourth consecutive goal of the fourth quarter with 2:44 remaining, only to see their seven game winning streak snapped 1:11 later. Utah (5-4) controlled much of the game, but found themselves down a man for much of the final four minutes to allow Westminster back in the game.

Westminster got three goals from Josh Condas and Kevin Gee. Gee scored the final two Griffin goals to tie the game in the fourth. Westminster outshot the Utes 41-35 in the contest and won 10-of-17 faceoffs. Westminster was 4-of-13 in the man advantage, with all four goals coming in the fourth quarter. Dallas McLellan recorded 16 saves in the game and recorded five groundballs.

Utah had three players tally two goals led by Ryan Watts and his two additional assists. Cory Merrell and Matt Qualey also had two goals. Pat Guinn had one goal and two assists. Andrew Martinelli recorded 11 saves in the victory.

The game was the final home game for the Griffins in 2009.  Rick and Dan Larkin and Zach Kessler were joned by their parents in the pregame ceremony to recognize the mileston. Next up for Westminster is a trip to Orem, Utah to face Utah Valley. That game will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11.

              

 

Griffins and Skyhawks Meet in Classic Battle, Griffins Prevail! 

3-28-2009, Dumke Field, SLC UT

Kevin Gee's (#34 1g / 1a) solo tally with 1:17 on the clock earned the Griffins the victory against a gritty Skyhawk team which dressed just 15 players, for the RMLC battle of Western Conference Rivals.   Before a partisan crowd in Salt Lake City, both goalies mustered excellent games with Peter Gavinscki, (#28) 12 saves for the Skyhawks while the Griffin's All American Dallas McLellan notched 20 saves in the victory. 

Andy Grenhart (#11, 4g) scored four times in defeat while fellow Skyhawk Attackman, Kevin Harkey (#22, 2g / 2a), found net twice.  Six different Griffins scored with Rick Larkin (#21, 2 g / 1a)  adding a second goal and one assist to lead the home squads offense. 
The event served as a fund-raiser for the Utah Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  The Griffins sported orange socks (ofiicial color of the Non-Profit group) culminating a month long effort to raise awareness and money in the fight to find a cure.  Early estimates were that nearly $2000 was raised in the cause. 

This completes an aggressive week for the Griffins who went 5-0 in an eight day stretch. Next up, the University of Utah comes to Dumke on April 1st for a cross-town showdown. That game will start at 4:00 PM.

MCLA Stats page

Central Washington Falls as Griffins notch Sixth Straight Win, 14-5.

3-26-2009, Dumke Field, SLC UT

On a chilly afternoon Westminster's Men lacrosse team steamrolled to a 14-5 win.   The Griffins will be back in action against RMLC rival Ft Lewis College at 2:00 PM Saturday.  The game will be in conjunction with a weekend fund raising event to assist the Utah Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Griffins Rally for 12-9 Win over No. 13 Western Oregon

3-25-2009
The Westminster men’s lacrosse team claimed their fifth consecutive victory with a 12-9 win over No. 13 Western Oregon (6-3) on Wednesday afternoon. No. 8 Westminster (7-3) found themselves down 6-2 halfway through the second quarter before they went on a 9-1 run to take control of the game. During one stretch the Griffins scored seven consecutive goals, the last three in a three minute stretch of the third quarter.

Dan Larkin led the Westminster attack with his three goals on four shots. His first goal game with a man advantage and tied the game at   six in the second quarter. Kevin Gee scored two goals and had two assists while Weston Morley added two goals. The Griffins took 41 shots to just 30 by Western Oregon and held the visitors to 1-for-7 with the man advantage. Dallas McLellan recorded 10 saves on 19 shots on goal in the victory.

Brock Spencer led the Western Oregon attack with four goals. Mark Iliyn and Calvin Davis scored two goals apiece. Andrew Rohner recorded 12 saves in defeat.

Westminster returns to Dumke Field on Wednesday, March 26 when they face Central Washington. That game will begin at 4:00 p.m.

Griffin Men's Lacrosse Team Complete Sweep

3-22-2009  La Mirada, California

Eight different Griffins found net as a balanced offense and solid defense led to Westminster's sixth victory of the year.  Sophomore, Lance Nielsen (11 w/ 4 l) and Freshman Marshall Serzan (6 w/ 3 l) dominated face-off play for the Griffins who dominated the ground ball stats (53/36), and improved to 6-3 on the season.    Senior attackman Ricky Larkin (3g /1a) led the Westminster offense which broke open a tight contest in the third quarter.   Freshman Chris Baer (1g) took a feed from Kevin Gee (1g/1a) making an acrobatic move to find net capping a four goal streak that sealed the win for Westminster. 

The Griffins return to Dumke Field this week to face two additional PNCLL opponents as #13 Western Oregon (Mar 25th) and Central Washington (Mar 26th) come to  town.  Both games are scheduled for a 4:00 PM face-off, admission is free.

 

Scoring Summary:

Griffin Goals: Rick Larkin (3), Josh Condas (2), Kevin Gee, Dan Larkin, Andy Lehr, Nate Marino, Gian Sexsmith, Ben Wright, Chris Baer..

Assists:  Jacob Wayman (2), R. Larkin, Gee.

GB's  WC: 53,  WWU: 36

Saves:  WC 10, WWU: 12

Penalties: WC 3/2:30,  WWU: 3/2:30

 

Westminster Tops Fullerton 10-5 in SoCal.

3-21-2009   San Juan Capistrano, California 

On a cloudy day in Southern California the Griffin lacrosse team moved to 3/0 for March as they handed host Cal State Fullerton a 10-5 defeat.  Off to a 4-0 lead the Griffins appeared in command but a transition goal with less than 20 seconds remaining in the period gave the Titans some life as they headed to intermission.  Fullerton netminder, Ozhan Kashkooll notched 21 saves keeping the Griffin offense at bay while the Titan offense mounted a comeback.

When Titan Freshman Mike Ansel notched his 28th and 29th goal of the year in the third quarter, it appeared the Griffins were in for the game they had anticipated.  However, Sophomore Attackman, Josh Condas (#2,6g/0a) found net on three successive shots in the third to end the Titans run.

Dalllas McLellan (#13, 20sv/5ga) stopped 20 shots as the Griffins moved to (5-3) on the 2009 season.

Scoring Summary:

Griffin Goals:  Josh Condas (6), Kevin Gee, Rick Larkin, Dan Larkin, Weston Morely.

Assists: Gee (2), Jacob Wayman.

GB's  WC: 35,  CSU-F: 26

Saves:  WC 20, CSU-F: 21

Penalties: WC 7/5:00,  CSU-F:6/5:30

 

Griffins at FULL Strength, 17-5 result!

3-14-2009  Dumke Field, Salt Lake city, Utah.                                

The Westminster Griffins enjoyed a warm sunny spring day on their home field as the Bobcats of Montana State came to town.   The #10 Bobcats have had a solid start to the 2009 season with three wins and no defeats out of conference play.   Always a team struggling for field-time needed to accommodate the early season competition, MSU seemed worthy of their ranking, jumping out to a 4-3 lead by Ben Helsey's (#16, 2g) back to back scores in the first quarter.    However, the Griffins were not about to dissappoint the large partisan crowd as the game proceeded. 

Sophomore Attackman Josh Condas (#2, 5g) scored the first three Griffin goals enroute to notching five on the day and the Lance Nielsen's (#33, 15w/3l), domination at the face-off spot got the young squad the momentum they needed to steamroll a 17-5 victory.  Tri-Captain Jacob Wayman (1g/5a) had a fantastic game, drawing the attention of more than one defender and dishing off to several teammates as the unselfish Griffins notched ten assisted goals on the day. 

After a slow start, the Griffin defense solidified behind the relentless effort of Senior Zach Kessler, (#17, 5gb).   Dallas Mclellan (#13, 18sv/5ga) and Matt Balk (#28, 3 sv/0ga) combined for a .775 save percentage in the nets.  The Griffins success at the groundball battle (37 / 31) and the face-off effort (17w / 9 l) revealed the effort of a team hungry to reestablish themselves as a contender for the RMLC title.

Next up for the Griffins is road trip to Southern California to take on Call State Fullerton, Saturday 3/21 and Western Washington at Biola University on Sunday, March 22nd at noon.

Scoring Summary:

Griffin Goals:  Josh Condas (5), Kevin Gee (3), Dallin Hall (2), Rick Larkin, Dan Larkin, Jacob Wayman, Matt Balk, Nick DePrizio, Weston Morely,, Nate Marino.

Assists: Wayman (5), R. Larkin (3), Gee, Lance Nielsen.

GB's  WC: 37,  MSU: 31

Saves:  WC 21, MSU:16

Penalties: WC 3/2:00,  MSU: 5/8:00

Westminster Holds off Northern Arizona, 9-6

3-07-2009

MCLA  BOX SCORE        

SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster men’s lacrosse team used a balanced team attack to hold off Northern Arizona 9-6 on Saturday afternoon on Dumke Field. No. 7 Westminster (3-3, 2-0 RMLC) was missing 14 players due to team rule violations, but had several freshman step-up and lead them to the win. Kevin Gee and Weston Morley scored three goals apiece to lead all Griffins.

Westminster got the only goal of the first period when Gee found the back of the net with 3:40 left in the period. Northern Arizona evend the game at one on a Kyle Carter goal with 9:45 left in the second. The Griffins then scored the next four goals of the half to take a 5-1 lead into the intermission. NAU scored the opening two goals of the second half, but again Westminster responded with three straight goals to put the game away.

“It was definitely a team effort today,” associate head coach Dave Long said. “We had some guys that don’t usually get a lot of minutes step up for us today.”

Dallas McLellan recorded nine saves and Westminster outshot the Lumberjacks 33-19. The Griffins also got two goals from Mike Holt and another from Jacob Wayman.

Carter scored three goals for Northern Arizona (3-1, 1-1) and Troy Elliott added two. Ben Kagen recorded eight saves in a losing effort.

Westminster is back in action on Saturday, March 14 when they face Montana State at 1:00 p.m. on Dimke Field.

St Thomas rattles the Griffins in MCLA Action

The St Thomas Tommies came to Atlanta ready to make a statement.  They did so at the expense of a Griffin Lax squad who started strong but found no answer for the second quarter surge that put the Tommies on top 13-3 by halftime intermission.  The Tommies used the rain soaked Astroturf at Georgia Tech as the game was rescheduled at the eleventh hour as torrential rains washed out the Emory University facility. Josh Condas and Jacob Wayman each score twice for the Griffins.  Dallas McLellan  had 15 saves in the loss.

The Griffins will play Emory University at North Springs HS at 1:30 PM. February 28.  The last minute change is to accommodate rest requirements for the Griffins.

Scoring Summary:

Goals:  Condas (2), Wayman (2), Balk, Hall.

Assists: -

GB's  WC: 20,  STU: 27

Shots: WC 21  STU: 30

Saves:  WC 15, STU:13

Penalties: WC 5:30,  STU: 0

Griffins Back in the Win Column with 10-8 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan

2-25-2009

Attackmen Josh Condas (3), Andy Lehr (3) and Dallin Hall (2) mustered eight of the Griffins ten (10) goals in a spirited effort in Athens Tennessee.  Sophomore Goaltender, Dallas McLellan, (19 saves) proved the difference late in the game as late Bulldog pressure and Man-Up Opportunities kept the Griffins on defense late in the fourth quarter.  Rick Larkins relentless ride on the TWC goalkeeper Jon Lemoine late in the game earned the Griffins an open net goal that iced the victory with just under three minutes to play. 

The Griffins improved to 2-1 on the year and will enjoy a day off Thursday as they relocate to Atlanta and prepare for #3 St. Thomas University, (Friday, 4:00 pm at Emory Univ.)  Saturday Westminster closeout the road trip with #6 Emory University.  That contest will be played at North Springs HS at Noon ET.

Griffin Game Stats: 

Goals: Condas (3), Lehr (3), Hall (2), Gee, Morely

Assists: R. Larkin (2), Wayman (2), D. Larkin, Gee

GB: WC 42   TWC  49

Shots: WC 42   TWC 46

Pen Time:  WC  5:30,  TWC  10:00

FO:  WC 11/21  TWC 10/21

Davenport University outlasts Griffins 12-10

2-24-2009

The Davenport Bulldogs are enjoying their inaugural year in the MCLA.  After completing a 3-0 start  over the weekend  at Tennessee Wesleyan the newcomer completed their spring break trip by breaking a 10-10 tie late in the fourth quarter with two unanswered goals to hand the Griffins their first defeat of 2009.  Westminster sophomore Dallas McLellan had 17 saves in the losing effort, including several point blank turn-backs late in the game.

On the offensive end Senior Co-Captain Rick Larkin notched a pair of goals in the losing effort.  Freshman middie Kevin Gee also found the net twice in the game that was tied at 7's at half and again at 10-10 entering the fourth.

Westminster will take on host Tennessee Wesleyan University at 1:00 PM Wednesday at the Athens, TN campus.

WC Scoring: Goals: R.Larkin (2), Gee (2), Condas, Hall, D. Larkin, Lehr, Morely, Wayman.  Assists:  D.Larkin (2), Lehr (2),  Wayman (2).

F/O WC  - 11/25,  DU - 14/25.   GB's  DU 48,  WC 42.    EMO:  WC - 2/9,  DU - 1/6.

Season Opens with 20-0 Victory

2-21-2009
The defending champion Westminster men’s lacrosse team opened the title defense with a 20-0 win over a short-handed Western State College squad on Saturday afternoon. No. 1 Westminster led 16-0 at halftime and just cruised in the second half.  The Griffins will head east on the most aggressive road trip of their short two-year history where they'll tangle with #7 Davenport University (Tuesday),  Tennessee Wesleyan (Wednesday),  #3, St. Thomas University (Friday) and #6, Emory University (Saturday).

"We are thrilled to be facing off with top notch programs throughout the nation," remarked Coach Goodhand after the season opener.  "This next week will provide ample opportunity for our young squad to measure themselves against some great programs.   We are looking to improve our play with every quarter of play and welcome the challenge of this trip."

For the latest MCLA Top 25 Poll visit www.collegelax.us  To keep up with the latest scores from around the nation visit. www.MCLA.us

Defending Champions Westminster Starts Season at No. 1

1-22-2009
The Westminster men’s lacrosse team will start the 2009 season as the number one team in the MCLA Top-23 poll. Westminster is the defending champion in division two after defeating Grand Valley State to win the 2008 title. Grand Valley is number two in the poll, followed by Dayton, St. Thomas, and St. Johns.

Fall Season Concludes with Fun Weekend of Lax in La$ Vegas$

The Griffins visited sunny Las Vegas Nevada on Halloween for their final fling of 2008.  Before trading in their lacrosse gear for snowboards the Griffin lacrosse squad loaded the bus with thirty (39) players, four coaches and one trainer heading five hours south to play in the annual "Best of the West" Lacrosse Tournament hosted by The Legacy HS Lacrosse Club. 

The Griffins goal was to get everyone plenty of opportunity to test themselves against solid MCLA Division I opponents and see where we stood as the 2008 fall season comes to a close.  Our purple-clad squad split into two rosters playing back-to-back-to-back contests in the warm, eighty degree temps on a beautiful Saturday in the desert southwest.  Numerous players pulled double duty as the day moved along.  We matched skills and wills with the MCLA's finest programs, including:  Arizona State, Arizona, Cal-Poly SLO, Colorado State, Oregon and UNLV. 

All told eight games were played in the abbreviated "running-clock" format in less than a 24 hour period.  The Griffins experienced a couple of victories, a few close calls and a humbling beat-down or two in the whirlwind of lacrosse action.   As the day drew to a close we found our way back to the bus and on our way home to Salt Lake City feeling content with our progress and eager to prepare for the 2009 campaign.

 

Fall Schedule Opens with Wolverines Saturday

The fans will get their first look at the Griffins this fall when Utah Valley University comes calling, Saturday October 4th.  The Griffins will be trying to replace a lot of talent as they take the field for the 1:00 PM face off.  Other fall scrimmages include:

Friday:  Oct 10th  vs BYU at Dumke Field  4:00 PM.

Saturday: Oct 25th  vs Utah at Dumke Field  4:00 PM

Friday: Oct 31st WC Purple vs Oregon at 3:00 PM (tentative),  WC White vs UNLV at 5:30 PM, Las Vegas, NV, 

Saturday: Nov 1  WC Purple vs TBD, (three games),  WC White vs TBD (three games), Las Vegas NV

Please return to this site for updates.  Additional information about the spring schedule is located on the "2008-09 schedule" tab.

Westminster Griffins Welcome Large Freshmen Class for Third Season of Play

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in late the August Westminster College Men's Lacrosse staff welcomed an large group of players and parents as the school's Freshmen Oreintation Weekend drew to a close.  When the afternoon was completed a total of nineteen families were eager to become part of the 2009 Griffin Lacrosse campaign.  

"We have a lot of shoes to fill."  remarked Griffin Head Coach Mason Goodhand as he pondered the challenge of replacing key players from last years roster. "It's exciting to see the eager faces and you can already feel the effect of competition on the entire team.  I've seen lettermen in the weight room or piounding the wall, on a regular basis.  They know that fall ball is a wide open competition and that we don't have the luxury of letting freshmen watch the action form the siodlines."  continued Coach Goodhand as he prepares the sqaud to defend their 2008 National Championship.

When "fall-ball" practices started on September 9th, there were a total forty-four (44) lettermen, recruits and walk-ons vying for thirty five roster spots.  With key vacancies at every position other than goalie, the Griffins are a team of opportunity.  Coach Dave Long the Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Griffins, remarked of this new class..."It's great to see the talent is coming in from across the nation.  Our new class has representatives from seven states other than Utah, (NY, VA, VT, WA, CO, NV, ID).  A sign that word is spreading fast about our program.  We are also very excited about the quality of player emerging from our local programs.  Utah now has over 40 high school programs and they are producing some dynamite talent."

Griffin fans get a first glipse of the new charges on Saturday, Sept 20th at the new players will team up with the Alumni in a fun scrimmage to kick off the fall season.  Face off is slated for 10:00 AM an Dumke Field.

 

Post Season Honors Abound for Griffins 2008 Effort.

The Westminster Griffin mens lacrosse team reached many milestones enroute to attaining their goal of earning a MCLA National Championship.  None is more impressive and im,portant than the list of five student-athletes who were honored for the combination of Academic and Athletic prowess.  In 2008 five Griffin lacrosse players earned MCLA Academic All-American honors.  In order of their Roster #...

16     Joshua Ramirez,  Face-off Specialist

        Sr. Co Captain  (Soph eligibility) All-RMLC 3rd team

17     Zach Kessler, Defense

        Jr.  2nd Team All - American, 1st Team All RMLC

21     Roman Schoewe, Attack

         Soph. 1st Team All-American, 1st Team All RMLC

22     Jake Barnes, Attack

         Sr. Co Captain  (Soph eligibility)  HM MCLA All-American, 2nd Team All RMLC

27     Chris Morin, Defense

         Sr.  (Jr eligibility)  3rd Team All RMLC

Complete list of the MCLA Academic All-Americans 

In addition to these young men, the Griffins garnered additional post season honors as seven (7) players were named to the MCLA Div-2 All-American team and ten (10) members earned RMLC Div-2 All Conference honors.

Complete list of the  MCLA Div 2 All-Americans

Complete List of the RMLC Div 2 All-Conference team

Men's Lacrosse Championship - Television Coverage

 

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=294&sid=3332608  

Griffins Claim MCLA Championship

5-17-2008

College LAX Stories: Rene Kozarsky | Jac Coyne

The Westminster Griffins claimed the MCLA Division II Championship with a 17-10 thrashing of Grand Valley State (Mich.) in today’s title game. The Griffins led 4-1 after the opening quarter and 10-3 at the halftime intermission. Grand Valley State made a late run to cut the score to 14-10 with just ten minutes left, however the Griffins scored the game’s final three goals to claim the championship.

“We played hard all four quarters, but Grand Valley is a good team and they kept coming back at us. I was glad for our big lead,” explained Westminster assistant coach David Long, who was leading the Griffins’ so Mason Goodhand could attend his sons’ college graduation.

Roman Schoewe tallied six goals for the Griffins on his way to being named the Player of the Game. He was also named to the All-Tournament team. James Brand also made the All-Tournament team after scoring two goals and handing out three assists.

This is the first national championship in Westminster’s athletic history. This is also just the second year of the lacrosse program at the school.

Westminster Hangs On to Reach MCLA Final

5-16-08

By: Billy Wessels

IRVING, Texas (May 16, 2008) - The way things started for the Westminster Griffins in their semi-final match, it seemed like they were going to punch their ticket to tomorrow’s championship game easily.

But nothing comes easily when you get to the final four.

The Dayton Flyers scored first, but then nine straight goals for the Griffins, the game appeared over halfway through the second quarter...

Full Story

 

Westminster Griffins return to National "MCLA Final Four"

5-14-08 

By Jac Coyne

 

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas (May 14, 2008) - Western Oregon, the eighth-seeded team in the MCLA Division II national tourney, made a valiant attempt at crashing the semifinals party to be held at Texas Stadium on Friday, but in the end top-seeded Westminster had too much depth and talent for the Wolves as the Griffins cruised to a 20-9 victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Full Story

 

 

Men's Lacrosse National Championship Information

5-09-2008

The back-to-back RMLC Division II Champions, Westminster Men's Lacrosse is headed to Dallas, Texas next week to compete for the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) National Championship being held May 13 - 17, 2008.
Full Story

 

 

Griffins win Second Straight RMLC Championship   

By Tim Haslam

Salt Lake City, Utah (May 3, 2008) - Westminster College won the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference Division II championship beating Fort Lewis College 12-11 on their home field in Salt Lake City on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams played well and with high intensity. Westminster wanted to repeat as Division II RMLC conference champions and Fort Lewis wanted to secure a slot at the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association National Championship in Dallas later in May.            

(Entire article)  

 

( Game stats vs. Colo. School of Mines, 5/2)                                                 

( Game stats vs. Fort Lewis College, 5/3)

Order a DVD copy of the RMLC 2008 Championships today.                                                        

 

 

Griffins Sweep Dominican and Grand Canyon to claim first  Bagataway Tourney Title

A combination of stingy defense and unselfish offense combined to give the Westminster Griffins the right to claim the championship of the inaugural Bagataway Tournament.  Griffin goal keepers Trevor Taylor and Dallas McLellan notched 20 saves while allowing just five goals over the two-game series.  On the opposite end of the field the Westminster offense found net thirty-eight times enroute to two impressive victories.

"We've been focused on the three P's of good defensive play." commented Coach Dave Long when questioned about the play of his defensive unit.  "Proper position and patience come before contact and checking!   The work is greatly improving our control of where the shots are coming from and that's key.  When you couple that discipline with great goal-tending, the results can be impressive."

While the defense was tightening up their end, the Griffin attack was taking care of business on the offensive end.  With twenty two (58%) of their scoring plays involving assists, the Griffins showed great teamwork.  "We have fourteen players healthy right now on the offensive unit and every one of them managed to be involved in at least one scoring play this weekend,"  remarked offensive coordinator Clayton Jones.  Roman Schoewe had a busy day Sunday, scoring seven times enroute to the 18-2 victory.  All in all the scoring was balanced with midfielders scoring twenty of the thirty-eight goals (53%) to eighteen goals for the attack. (47%)  

"I think I like that stat the best," remarked Jones.  "Roman had a big day Sunday, (7goals), because Grand Canyon tried to be physical with us and slid early and often.  Recognizing the situation and pushing the ball to the open man is the way you react to that tactic.  We did it well."  

The Griffins take a week off for finals and then return to action May 2nd as they host the RMLC playoffs at Dumke Field.  Their opponent will represent the #2 spot from the eastern division of the RMLC D-II Conference.  The game Saturday, 4/26, between # 24, Colorado School of Mines and Regis College of Denver will determine the situation.  If Mines wins, they get the slot.  If they lose, the slot being awarded to #22 Metro State College. 

Regardless of the opponent, the Griffins will face-off at 5:30 PM, May 2nd as they defend their 2007 RMLC D-II Conference title.  See the "schedule / results" link on the left for other RMLC contests being played at Dumke Field in quest for the conference championship.

 

 

Baggataway Trophy on the line in the Inaugural Three-Team Round Robin Event

As colleges develop their men's sports programs in the Title IX era, "club lacrosse" has flourished across the nation.  A few schools have made the investment to add Men's lacrosse within the eastern heavy NCAA structure.  Two such teams visit Salt Lake City this weekend as Grand Canyon University of Phoenix Arizona and DominicanUniversity  of San Rafael, CA visit the Griffins of Westminster College.

GCU is jumping in with both feet.  They have the financial commitment of their institution and an energetic coaching staff led by Adam Marshall, and are looking to burst on the NCAA D-II scene.     Dominican University is in their third year of competition under the guidance of Head Coach Ned Webster.  The Penguins are petitioning the NCAA D-III ranks once the NCAA lifts the three year moratorium that currently stopped the growth of this booming level of competition.   Westminster College is also examining the NCAA landscape as they plan for the future.     All three of these program have entered a three-year scheduling agreement to compete for the Baggataway Trophy, rotating the event to each teams home campus.  This weekends schedule is as follows:

Friday 4:00 PM   Dominican University vs Westminster College

Saturday  1:00 PM   Dominican University vs Grand Canyon University

Sunday   noon      Westminster College vs Grand Canyon University

Baggataway is a Native American word for the athletic competition between young men that was affectionately known as "The Little Brother of War."

 

 

Griffins Hot on a Chilly Night in Durango. 

April 11, 2008

The Griffins braved a "white-knuckle" bus ride along the Navajo Trail and the "Million Dollar Highway" during a late season snow storm Thursday night.  The two and a half hour route took five hours to complete but their "chilling" experience had little impact on their game as they came out blazing on Friday night when they squared off against the #7 Skyhawks of Ft Lewis College.   To the delight of a large Westminster fan entourage who braved the storm and trip over Red Mountain Pass, the Griffins scored early and often stretching the lead to 8-1 by intermission.

"Our defense was the difference tonight!" remarked Coach Goodhand at the post game interview with the local newsman.  Zach Kessler stripped his man of the ball again and again while teammates Chris Morin and Richard Snow delivered punishing blows to any Skyhawk shooter who ventured in front of the cage.  Freshman Dallas Mc Lellan, (17 saves) was once again stellar in cage for the Griffins despite the steady wind and estimated temp in the low 20's.   Captain James Brand (3g/4a) lead the offensive effort, generating scoring plays on nearly every run in the first quarter.   Attackmen Jake Barnes (4g/1a) and Roman Schoewe (4g/1a) took the game over in the closing stanza despite a late game run by the Skyhaws. 

With this win the Griffins take a commanding lead for the race to the RMLC D-II title as they move to the top of the RMLC Western conference with a perfect 5-0 mark.  Their final conference game will be played Sunday as they square off with the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona University in Lumberjack Stadium at high noon.  The weather is forecast for clear skies and 70 degrees, welcome news for bus driver Delray.

 

On the Road, Griffins Notch Seventh win with 23-5 effort

April 10, 2008

Relocated to Centennial Middle School in Montrose Colorado due to excessive snow in Gunnison. The Griffins had a balanced scoring effort with thirteen players finding the net and fifteen of the twenty three tallies coming on "assisted" plays.  Co-Captains Jake Barnes (3g/1a), and James Brand (3g/1a) led the offensive effort with three goals apiece, while six others: Josh Condas (2g/1a), Dan Larkin (2g/1a), Rick Larkin (2g/3a), Kory Schlegel (2g), Roman Schoewe (2g/1a) and Ben Wright (2g) notched a multi scoring effort. Trevor Taylor was solid in cage turning away 8 shots while allowing 4 scores, behind the defensive effort of Sophomore, Ari Papanikolas, and freshmen Hunter Manwill and Jeff Etcheverry.  Next up, #4 Ft Lewis College in Durango, Friday night at 7PM.

 

 

Griffin Men's Lacrosse Roll 14-5 over #9 Utah Valley University 

A packed and partisan crowd (estimated at over 400), were treated to a fast-paced,hard hittng contest that often marks this match-up of RMLC D-II Western conference rivals. It took eight minutes of scoreless play, highlighted by excellent goaltending by Westmnster freshman, Dallas McLellan (18 svs / 5 ga), and UVU's, Cory Heward (13 svs/14 ga), before Griffin Co-Captain Jake Barnes, (2g/1a), took a feed from James Brand, (2g/2a), and gave Westminster a lead it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the contest.  Barnes connected twice