There are no trophies given out for 44 victories; no national recognition, no record book entries outside of the school’s media guide. Forty-four victories probably can’t help the Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team overcome an average season and get into the NCAA Tournament either. But for three hours under a blue sky at the field named for the program’s ultimate legend, 44 was as nice a number as you could get.
That’s because the seven seniors on the UMass squad racked up their 44th – and likely final – victory Saturday, with a 9-6 defeat of No. 11 Rutgers. Forty-four wins in four seasons is an accomplishment in itself, certainly, but the subtext of the week, which was observed by assistant coach Chris Gabrielli, makes it all the more special for the senior seven, whose collegiate careers are likely over with the Minutemen’s very slim chances of being selected for the NCAA Tournament field today (ESPNEWS, 3:40 p.m.)
On Wednesday, the team commemorated the fifth anniversary of goalie Eric Sopracasa’s death, caused by a freak occurrence where a shot hit Sopracasa in the chest. The team has retired Sopracasa’s number, 43, and the players’ helmets all bear a black sticker with the number in white. Gabrielli reminded the seniors during practice last week, “43 is not your number, 44 is your number.”
Sophomore Sean Morris ensured that the seniors would get their number, when he drove towards the right sideline 2:08 into the fourth quarter, and fired a shot across his body that beat Rutgers goaltender Greg Havalchak to give the Minutemen a 7-5 lead. The Scarlet Knights (8-5, 1-2 Eastern College Athletic Conference put one more goal on the board, but UMass (7-7, 2-1 ECAC), which never trailed in the contest, held on with the help of junior Gene Tundo and senior Neil Lundburg, who each scored in the final period.
“It’s great for the seniors, especially, to get a win in their last game on Garber Field, that’s something they’ll remember forever,” UMass coach Greg Cannella said.
While Lundburg’s 18th goal of the season gave the Minutemen a 9-5 lead, it was his work in the waning minutes that drew the loudest ovation. After Delby Powless scored to cut the Minutemen’s lead to three, Lundburg held off three Scarlet Knight defenders behind Havalchak’s net, and drew three penalties in the process. It was an appropriate ending to the career of the senior, who has played the stalwart role on a number of occasions when the Minutemen have held a late lead.
“I can’t explain it in words,” Lundburg said. “It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I can’t explain how happy I am that we were able to pull it all together in this game.
“Forty-four is my number. We seniors, we got 44, put that in the record books. It’s up in the locker room, 44’s our number now.”
UMass got off to a quick start, as the Tundo brothers scored a pair of goals in the first quarter. Freshman Matt took a feed from Pat Larmon in close and bounced a shot past Havalchak to open the scoring at 5:53. Gene Tundo followed up at the end of the quarter, streaking down the field after the Scarlet Knights were called offside, despite their best efforts to call a timeout before the infraction.
John Flanagan got the Scarlet Knights on the board at 4:45 of the second, with a hard shot to the top right corner. The Minutemen answered with two more goals in the quarter, though, and took a 4-1 lead into halftime. Sophomore Jamie Yaman took a pass from freshman Brian Jacovina, turned and found the net to make it 3-1 with 5:16 left in the half.
Rutgers threatened minutes later, when Powless ringed a shot off the crossbar, and Morris made a stop on the Rutgers rebound attempt. With 2:17 to go in the half, Morris found Lundburg on an extra-man opportunity, the 6-foot-4 midfielder performed a mid-air spin, and beat Havalchak to make it 4-1.
The Scarlet Knights looked rejuvenated to start the second half, and Chris Doctor scored a controversial goal to cut the lead to two just 46 seconds into the third quarter. Doctor was pushed into the crease as he prepared to shoot, and a flag was thrown. Doctor managed to put the ball in the net as he fell, but it looked to hit the ground on the way in. The goal stood, however, and the Knights got a boost of momentum.
It didn’t last long, as Morris scored his fourth of the season, and Chris Doyle quick-sticked a feed from Gene Tundo to give the Minutemen a 6-2 lead.
The Scarlet Knights took control for the rest of the third, scoring three goals, including two goals, one on the extra-man, from Leif Blomquist. Although Havalchak made one of his finer saves in the beginning of the fourth quarter, using his stick shaft to make a stop on a hard shot, Rutgers couldn’t capitalize on the run, and the Minutemen finished strong for their seventh victory.
Lundburg’s goal in the fourth quarter was his second of the game. He popped out from behind the net and took a feed from Morris in front, and quickly converted the shot, sending it low past Havalchak with 7:37 to go in the game.
