2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship

The 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 10 through May 26, 2008. This was the 38th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.

The first round of the single-elimination tournament was played on May 10 and May 11 at the home field of the top-seeded team. The quarterfinals were held on May 17 and May 18 on two separate neutral fields: the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, and Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York. The tournament culminated with the semifinals and finals held on Memorial Day weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The championship weekend, which included the Division II and Division III championships, was hosted by Harvard University and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.cite web |url=http://ncaa.com/lacrosse-mens/default.aspx?id=9978 |title=2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=NCAA.com] [cite web |url=http://library.kraftsportsgroup.com/2008_ncaa_lax_champ.html|title=2008 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships - Official Website|accessdate=2008-05-23 |author= |date=|work=|publisher=KraftSportsGroup.com] The championship was won by Syracuse University, beating Johns Hopkins University 13–10, in front of a title game record crowd of 48,970 fans.

Qualifying teams

The Division I NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Committee was responsible for selecting the teams that competed in the championship tournament. The qualifying teams, along with the seeding for each team in the tournament, were announced on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Seven conferences received automatic bids to the tournament for its top team. The remaining nine teams were selected as "at large" bids by the committee.cite web |url=http://www.ncaa.com/lacrosse-mens/article.aspx?id=228060 |title=D-I Men's Lacrosse Selections Announced|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date=May 4, 2008 |work=|publisher=NCAA.com]

Five conferences held a conference tournament championship to award the conferences' bid. Canisius earned an automatic bid by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship. This marks the first time that Canisius College has gained entry to the National Championship tournament. [cite web |url=http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189560 |title=Canisius routs VMI, earns MAAC championship and NCAA bid|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date=May 4, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]
Colgate earned an automatic bid by winning its first-ever Patriot League championship. [cite web |url=http://patriotleague.cstv.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/042708aab.html |title=Colgate Wins First-Ever Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Tournament Title |accessdate=2008-05-21 |author= |date=April 27, 2008 |work= |publisher=Patriotleague.com]
Hofstra earned an automatic bid by winning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship, [cite web |url=http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189542 |title=Dooley nets OT winner as Hofstra steals CAA title from Drexel|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date=May 3, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]
Notre Dame earned an automatic bid by winning Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) championship, [cite web |url=http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189559 |title=Notre Dame plays outstanding defense in 9–2 GWLL finals win over Ohio State|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date=May 4, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] and UMBC earned an automatic bid by winning America East Conference championship. [cite web |url=http://insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189544 |title=UMBC mounts massive comeback to grab America East title over Albany|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date=May 3, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]

Two conferences award their bids based on regular season conference records. Loyola earned an automatic bid by winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship with a 6–1 conference record. [cite web |url=http://www.ecacsports.com/lacrosse/2008/news/Loyola_NCAA |title=Loyola to Play Duke in First Round of NCAA Tournament |accessdate=2008-05-21 |author= |date=May 4, 2008 |work= |publisher=ECACSports.com] The Ivy League's automatic bid was awarded to Cornell University. Cornell and Brown University had identical conference records, but due to a victory by Cornell in head to head competition earlier in the season the tiebreaker was given to Cornell. [cite web |url=http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/article.asp?intID=6574 |title=Cornell Earns Ivy Automatic NCAA Bid |accessdate=2008-05-21 |author= |date=May 3, 2008 |work= |publisher=IvyLeagueSports.com]

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) conference tournament champion was Duke. [cite web |url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-lacros/recaps/042708aaa.html |title=Duke Claims 2008 ACC Men's Lacrosse Title with 11-9 Win Over Host Virginia |accessdate=2008-05-21 |author= |date=April 27, 2008 |work= |publisher=TheACC.com] However the ACC does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament because a conference must have at least six members competing (for 2 years) in order to be awarded an automatic bid. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3366314&type=story |title=Terps look to continue surprising season in ACC tournament |accessdate=2008-05-21 |author=Driscoll, John |date=April 25, 2008 |work=|publisher=ESPN.com]

The following teams were awarded at-large bids by the NCAA Selection Committee: Duke (ACC), Virginia (ACC), Syracuse (Independent), North Carolina (ACC), Johns Hopkins (Independent), Maryland (ACC), Denver (GWLL), Navy (Patriot), and Ohio State (GWLL).

Tournament bracket

16TeamBracket | RD1=First Round
May 10–11 [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/maymadness/DIMenbracket.pdf |title=2008 NCAA Lacrosse Tournament Bracket|accessdate=2008-05-05 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]
RD2=Quarterfinals
May 17–18
RD3=Semifinals
May 24
RD4=Final
May 26

RD1-seed01= 1
RD1-seed02=
RD1-team01= Duke
RD1-team02= Loyola
RD1-score01= 12
RD1-score02= 7

RD1-seed03=8
RD1-seed04=
RD1-team03= Cornell
RD1-team04= Ohio State
RD1-score03= 7
RD1-score04= 15

RD1-seed05= 5
RD1-seed06=
RD1-team05= Johns Hopkins
RD1-team06= Hofstra
RD1-score05= 10
RD1-score06=4

RD1-seed07= 4
RD1-seed08=
RD1-team07= North Carolina
RD1-team08= Navy
RD1-score07= 7
RD1-score08= 8

RD1-seed09= 3
RD1-seed10=
RD1-team09= Syracuse
RD1-team10= Canisius
RD1-score09= 20
RD1-score10= 3

RD1-seed11=6
RD1-seed12=
RD1-team11= Notre Dame
RD1-team12= Colgate
RD1-score11=8*
RD1-score12=7

RD1-seed13= 7
RD1-seed14=
RD1-team13= Maryland
RD1-team14= Denver
RD1-score13= 10
RD1-score14= 7

RD1-seed15=2
RD1-seed16=
RD1-team15= Virginia
RD1-team16= UMBC
RD1-score15=10
RD1-score16= 9

RD2-seed01= 1
RD2-team01= Duke
RD2-seed02=
RD2-team02= Ohio State
RD2-score01= 21
RD2-score02= 10

RD2-seed03=5
RD2-team03= Johns Hopkins
RD2-seed04=
RD2-team04= Navy
RD2-score03= 10
RD2-score04= 4

RD2-seed05= 3
RD2-team05= Syracuse
RD2-seed06= 6
RD2-team06= Notre Dame
RD2-score05= 11
RD2-score06= 9

RD2-seed07= 7
RD2-team07= Maryland
RD2-seed08= 2
RD2-team08= Virginia
RD2-score07= 7
RD2-score08= 8*

RD3-seed01= 1
RD3-team01= Duke
RD3-seed02= 5
RD3-team02= Johns Hopkins
RD3-score01= 9
RD3-score02= 10

RD3-seed03= 3
RD3-team03= Syracuse
RD3-seed04= 2
RD3-team04= Virginia
RD3-score03= 12*
RD3-score04= 11

RD4-seed01= 5
RD4-team01= Johns Hopkins
RD4-seed02= 3
RD4-team02= Syracuse
RD4-score01= 10
RD4-score02= 13

* * = Overtime

Game Summaries

First Round

The first round of the 2008 championship tournament saw upsets, an overtime game, and the NCAA career points record broken.

Unseeded Ohio State bested #8 Cornell 15–7. The opening goal of this game was scored by Ohio State goaltender Stefan Schroder, who ran the length of the field to put one past the Big Red netminder. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189790 |title=Ohio State stuns eighth-seeded Cornell on road, 15-7 |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 10, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]
Navy upset #4 seeded North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a final score of 8–7 on the strong play of the Midshipmen defense and the four goal effort of Tim Paul, who was honored with Nike Player of the Week honors. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=8&id=189935&div=1&hidecontent=yes |title=Nike Player of the Week:Tim Paul (Navy) |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 13, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]
Notre Dame, who was hosting its first NCAA Tournament game, topped Colgate in a contest that was settled in overtime. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189884 |title=Notre Dame tops Colgate in overtime to advance to second round |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 11, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] In a victory over Loyola, Duke's Matt Danowski broke the NCAA career points record, eclipsing Joe Vasta's mark. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189784 |title=Danowski Sets NCAA Career Scoring Mark As No. 1 Duke Defeats Loyola, 12-7 |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 10, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] Syracuse ended Canisius's first ever appearance in the tournament early with a 20–3 routing. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189912 |title=Syracuse routs Canisius to earn quarterfinals bid |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 11, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] Johns Hopkins was lead by Paul Rabil's four goals in a 10–4 win over Hofstra. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189913 |title=Rabil leads Hopkins to first-round win over Hofstra |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 12, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] Virginia's Garrett Billings third goal of the game with 6:50 left in the game sealed the Cavaliers win over UMBC. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189914 |title= Virginia rallies for first-round win over UMBC |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 12, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] Maryland beat GWLL's Denver 10–7. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=189774 |title=No. 7 Terps Advance To Quarters With 10-7 Win Over Denver |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 10, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were held at two separate locations the weekend of May 17 and May 18. On Saturday, 17,017 people attended the quarterfinals at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. This set an attendance record for most number of people to attend the quarterfinal round of the lacrosse championships. [cite web |url=http://wjz.com/sports/johns.hopkins.navy.2.726539.html |title=Johns Hopkins Beats Navy In NCAA Quarters 10-4|accessdate=2008-06-02 |author=|date=May 17, 2008 |work= Associates Press|publisher=WJZ.com|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5YHGPZsz3|archivedate= 2008-06-02] Fans in attendance saw Johns Hopkins defeat Navy 10–4. Navy was held without a goal for both the second and third quarters. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=190137 |title=Johns Hopkins rallies for final four berth; tops Navy 10–4 in Annapolis |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 17, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] The other game played in Annapolis was Maryland versus Virginia, which went into overtime. Ben Rubeor scored the game winning goal in the extra period to send the Cavaliers to the semifinals. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=190130 |title=Rubeor's nets OT winner as Virginia tops Maryland to advance to NCAA semifinals |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 17, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]

On Sunday, at Cornell's Schoellkopf Field, Syracuse defeated Notre Dame 11–9 on the play of midfielder Dan Hardy who recorded four points, including three goals and the game winning score. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=190197 |title=Syracuse rallies to top Notre Dame; advances to 25th semifinal |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 18, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com] Also, Duke routed Ohio State 21–10 on the offensive efforts of Zack Greer who recorded a career-high eleven points on six goals and five assists. [cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=190193 |title=Duke routs Ohio State to advance to men's lacrosse championship weekend |accessdate=2008-05-19 |author= |date=May 18, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]

Final Four

On Saturday, May 24, 48,224 fans were spectators for the 2008 Division I Final Four doubleheader held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.cite web |url=http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=11221 |title=Attendance Figures for the NCAA Men's Championships |accessdate=2008-05-28 |author= |date=May 26, 2008 |work= |publisher=LaxPower.com] The first game featured Syracuse versus Virginia, and the second was a rematch of last year's championship game between Johns Hopkins and Duke.

yracuse vs. Virginia

On Memorial Day, Monday May 26, Syracuse defeated Johns Hopkins in the national championship game 13–10 in front of 48,970 fans at Gillette Stadium. This game set the attendance record for the NCAA lacrosse championship game and for any NCAA outdoor championship. This marks the 10th victory in a national championship game for the Syracuse program. [cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2008/05/27/mission_accomplished_for_syracuse_lacrosse/|title=Mission accomplished for Syracuse lacrosse|last=Powers|first=John|date=May 27, 2008|publisher=BostonGlobe.com|accessdate=2008-05-27|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5YHFaKO6U |archivedate= 2008-06-02] [The ten national championships for Syracuse includes the 1990 Championship that was later vacated by the NCAA due to Infractions] This is John Desko's, Syracuse's Head coach, fourth championship in his ten-year career at Syracuse.cite web |url=http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=190487 |title=Syracuse takes 13-10 win over Johns Hopkins for 10th NCAA title |accessdate=2008-05-27 |author= |date=May 26, 2008 |work= |publisher=InsideLacrosse.com]

The Orange were led by midfielder Dan Hardy with a team-high three goals, fifth-year Senior face-off specialist Danny Brennan who scored his first career goal, and attackman Mike Leveille, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honoree and 2008 Tewaaraton Trophy winner, who recorded three points on one goal and two assists. [cite web|url=http://www.suathletics.com/News/Lacrosse/mLacrosse/2008/5/26/mlax_jhu052608.asp?path=mlacrosse|title=National Champions Again! Syracuse Claims 10th NCAA Title |publisher=SUAthletics.com|accessdate=2008-05-27]

Syracuse goalkeeper John Galloway became the first true freshman goaltender in NCAA history to record 16 wins in one season, and just the fourth to win an NCAA title.

Johns Hopkins' Paul Rabil played an outstanding game leading his team with career-high six goals and one assist in the losing effort. [cite web|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/general/view/2008_05_27_Rabil-rousing_attack_falls_shy/srvc=home&position=2|title=Rabil-rousing attack falls shy|author=Clark, Jim & Thompson, Rich|date=May 27, 2008|publisher=BostonHerald.com|accessdate=2008-05-27|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5YHFlw9rv |archivedate= 2008-06-02] In addition, Blue Jay netminder Michael Gvozden made 20 saves, the most saves in a Championship game since Maryland's Brian Dougherty in 1995. [cite web |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/lacrosse/bal-sp.laxnotes27may27,0,2014755.story?track=rss |title=Questions fatigue Gvozden, not shots |accessdate=2008-05-27 |author=Lee, Edward |date=May 27, 2008 |work= |publisher=BaltimoreSun.com|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5YHFDgNzW |archivedate= 2008-06-02]

Record by conference

References