These two in Div. 3 know each other well
FOXBOROUGH - Oh, you again?
Lacrosse is all about tradition. The best programs seem to stay at the top. No surprise then that Salisbury and SUNY Cortland will met in the Division 3 final once again, this afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
But don't expect Salisbury coach Jim Berkman to mind renewing acquaintances.
"You don't get sick of seeing anyone if it's in the national championship," said Berkman, the NCAA's winningest coach. "It's the pinnacle of competition in the sport of lacrosse."
Berkman knows about the top of the mountain. He's been there his whole career, compiling a 329-35 record in 21 years on the sidelines, all but one at Salisbury. Berkman has guided Salisbury to a record 20 consecutive tournament appearances.
His reputation has brought in waves of talented players, and Berkman's teams have dominated. The Sea Gulls (21-0) are on a 44-game winning streak. From 2003-06, they won an NCAA-record 69 games in a row. He has seven national titles under his belt.
But guess who snapped that streak - who else? - Cortland.
In a 13-12 overtime thriller, the Red Dragons captured the 2006 Division 3 championship, their first. Last season, the Gulls beat the Dragons, 15-9, for their fourth crown in five seasons.
They know each other inside and out.
"I've seen about eight of their games on tape," said Berkman. "I'll be pretty surprised if they're able to [surprise us]. But they have a lot of really good players."
That list includes senior attackmen Ryan Heath (97 points) and Billy Fuchs (58 goals) and senior defender Nick Bueti. The Dragons have won 14 consecutive games and are 18-1 overall.
Despite a defense gutted by graduation, the Gulls went undefeated thanks to an attack led by seniors Matt Hickman (60 goals, 92 points) and Greg Titus (53 goals). Sophomore Jake DeLillo, a preseason transfer from NYIT, chipped in 31 goals, and junior midfielder Kylor Berkman, the coach's son, scored 76 points and earned first-team All-America honors.
The Division 2 title bout between Le Moyne (15-1) and the New York Institute of Technology (12-1) will feature the two most decorated coaches in NCAA lacrosse. Only Berkman has a better record among active coaches.
In 11 years with the Dolphins, Le Moyne coach Dan Sheehan has a 142-31 record. His .820 winning percentage is bettered only by the man down the sideline, NYIT's Jack Kaley, who enters with a 174-31 record (.849).
On the field, Dolphins attacker Mike McDonald is a two-time All-American, and next to him, senior gunner Brian Cost added 40 goals. Goalie Doug McIver is tops in the nation in GAA (3.39) and save percentage (.716).
