No. 14 Stevens to host Springfield in NCAA Championship
Charles O'Brien
HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 6, 2018) – No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology Men's Lacrosse will host Springfield College in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship Wednesday at the DeBaun Athletic Complex, it was announced by the NCAA Sunday evening.
"Springfield is an excellent program and we have played some battles over the years," commented head coach
Gene Peluso. "Everyone this time of the year is great and there are lots of [strong] programs in the tournament. Our job is to focus on each game individually. Our guys are excited to get to work and [prepare] for a tough Springfield program."
Stevens returns to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2013 after a thrilling 13-9 victory over St. John Fisher Saturday evening to win the program's second Empire 8 Conference title. Senior John Boutureira tallied five goals in the championship game and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Springfield (13-5) received the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship after an 11-7 victory over Coast Guard on May 5. The Pride captured their 11th consecutive NEWMAC title and goalkeeper Jake Reynolds was named Most Outstanding Player of the Championship for the second time in the last three seasons.
The teams met back on March 3 with the Ducks rallying for four goals in the final 5:26 to stun the Pride, 13-12. Junior Eric Radbourne completed the comeback, beating Reynolds with 19 seconds remaining in regulation to give Stevens the come-from-behind victory. The Ducks hold an 8-5 edge in the all-time series.