In the span of about 20 minutes, the Stevenson men’s lacrosse team went from easy winner to chagrined loser to eventual victor.
The No. 4 Mustangs gave up a three-goal halftime advantage, trailed by three after the third quarter, and opened the fourth frame with a five-goal run to outlast No. 3 Rochester Institute of Technology, 16-14, in an NCAA tournament final at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
An announced attendance of 22,511 witnessed Stevenson extend a single season-record in wins to 22 – the team’s 11th in a row – in 24 contests and bring the university its first national championship in any sport.
The Mustangs became just the eighth team to capture the NCAA crown in the 34-year history of the NCAA tournament. They also joined Salisbury and Washington College as the third program from Maryland to seize the title.
Sophomore attackman Mark Pannenton scored a team-high five goals and was named the Most Outstanding Player. Senior midfielder Nick Rossi contributed two goals and two assists, senior midfielder Peter Green posted a hat trick, and freshman goalkeeper Dimitri Pecunes finished with a game-high 15 saves – including 10 in the second half.
Sophomore midfielder Kyle Aquin led the Tigers (19-3) with seven goals – the most in a championship final since Salisbury midfielder Sam Bradman scored seven in that team’s 19-7 rout of Tufts in 2011. Sophomore attackman Eddie Kiesa added six points on two goals and four assists. from inside lacrosse.com
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