April 20, 2008
Contact: Leah Melichar
Limestone College Sports Information
Phone: 864-488-8219
lmelichar@limestone.edu

CRUSADERS SHOCK SAINTS TO WIN CONFERENCE CAROLINAS MEN'S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT

GAFFNEY, S.C.-- The Belmont Abbey Crusaders shocked the No. 3-ranked Limestone College Saints in the Conference Carolinas Championship final as the Abbey's Michael Brown (West Hartford, Conn.) scored with 11 seconds left to lift his team to the 11-10 victory.

Today marks the first time since 1999 that Limestone (11-1 overall) has not won its conference tournament title. Belmont Abbey, making its first appearance in the conference men’s lacrosse final game, improves to 9-4 on the season.

The Saints took an early lead with two goals from Justin Haworth (Deer Park, N.Y.), but Jedd Gardner (Vestal, N.Y.) cut Limestone’s lead to one with his goal 12 minutes into the first period. The Crusaders had four unanswered goals for the 5-3 advantage at halftime. Limestone came out firing in the third quarter, as the Saints equalized after goals from Mike Poerstel (Annapolis, Md.) and Brendan Storrier (LaFayette, N.Y.) Limestone went on to outscore BAC 4-3 in the period, but the Saints trailed 8-7 going into the final quarter. Both squads scored three times in the final period, but the Abbey got the win after Brown’s goal in the final moments of the contest.

Limestone outshot Belmont Abbey 35-33, and the Saints scooped up 39 ground balls to the visitor’s 25. The Saints committed 25 turnovers compared to the Crusaders’ 18, but Limestone dominated on face-offs, winning 16-25.

Storrier had five points on the day with four assists and a goal. Haworth tallied five points for Limestone from four goals and one assist. AJ Vaughn (Skaneateles, N.Y.) recorded a hat trick. CJ Ciaravino (Linden, Mich.) was 13-22 in faceoffs and led his team with seven ground balls. Goalkeeper James Tuohy (Levittown, N.Y.) posted 10 saves and four ground balls.

Brown led the Abbey with four points from three goals and one assist. Brian Watson (Tampa, Fla.) recorded a team-high three assists. Watson and Tristan Keas (Penn Yan, N.Y.) picked up four ground balls apiece. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Mark Kelske (Bohemia, N.Y.) had 10 saves, a ground ball, and a caused turnover.

Limestone heads to Salisbury, N.C., to face Catawba next Saturday at 7 p.m. in its final regular season contest.