RIT clinched its first national championship in program history while finishing the season with an unblemished 14-0 record. The third time was also the charm for the Tigers after falling in the 2013 and 2017 national championship games, including a 16-14 setback to the Sea Gulls four years ago.
Senior attackman Quinn Commandant (Rockwood, Ontario/The Kiski School) was named the tournament Most Outstanding Player after totaling five goals and two assists in the victory.
Salisbury won the opening face-off of the second overtime, but senior LSM Taylor Jensen (New Westminster, British Columbia/New Westminster) caused a turnover to give the Tigers possession with 3:47 on the clock. Setting up the offense, senior attackman Marley Angus (Oakville, Ontario/Holy Trinity) took a shot that went wide of the cage, but the Tigers backed up the shot to retain possession with 2:30 on the clock. On the re-start, senior attackman Dawson Tait (Ottawa, Ontario/Mother Teresa) whipped a pass from behind the Sea Gulls' goal in front of a crowded crease to Barnable, who tipped the ball out of the air into the net for the historic tally.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- RIT senior goalie Walker Hare (Libertyville, IL/Libertyville) was credited with 14 saves, including a game-saving stop with 1:07 left in the first overtime.
- Commandant scored the final goal of the first quarter and opened the second quarter with another tally to push the Tigers to a 5-3 with 13:03 on the clock. Salisbury answered at 10:28, but Commandant tallied again for a 6-4 RIT lead with 9:59 left in the half.
- Salisbury scored three-straight goals in a 1:27 stretch to take a 7-6 lead with 7:12 on the clock, but senior face-off specialist Nick Montemorano (Victor, NY/Victor) won the ensuing face-off and scored seven seconds later to kick-start a 3-0 run which yielded a 9-7 RIT halftime lead.
- Salisbury out-scored RIT, 4-1, in the third quarter and scored 25 seconds into the fourth to take a 12-10 lead. Tait capitalized on a Sea Gull miscue at 11:56 before the Sea Gulls answered a minute later to retake a 13-11 lead.
- Rosenblum scored unassisted on a strong dodge in front with 8:47 remaining before Barnable bulled his way to the crease to knot the game, 13-13, 41 seconds later.
- Salisbury took a 14-13 lead with 7:13 left in regulation and was nearly able to run out the clock, but the Tigers capitalized on a Sea Gull turnover with 17 seconds left as Barnable hit Commandant on the crease for his fifth of the game with 12 seconds left in regulation.
- RIT had the first two possession of the first overtime, but couldn't convert, while Hare also kept the Gulls at bay to force a second OT and setup Barnable and Tait's double-overtime heroics.
WALKER HARE (re: what it feels like to win a national title):
It means the world. This is something I've never been able to experience before. We're just elated to be a part of the team that did it for RIT. We talked with Lou Spiotti, our athletic director, last night. He reiterated how proud the school was of us and how they always had our back that no matter the outcome they would always be behind us, and we played like that today.
QUINN COMMANDANT (re: the game-tying goal in regulation):
It was a great play. I turned the ball over there. Dawson and Rosy made a great look and I was just the one knocking it home. It was a big one. It kept us alive.
COACH COON (re: his thoughts about the game):
Well, first of all, that was an incredible game. Just looking through the stats here, it was a dogfight; it was a battle. Kind of knew it was two evenly matched teams coming into today. At least we felt so. We knew we were going to be in a gamel ike that. The guys were resilient all day long. Handled some adversity throughout the second half and made some plays. And I'm so excited for them. They put in a lot of time and effort, especially this year, it's been a challenging year. So just so happy for them. I'm happy for RIT. Everyone who is involved with RIT lacrosse, our alumni, Mr. Spiotti, retiring this year, couldn't think of a better finish for him. We had an interesting week. We had a player lose his mom. And he's back home. He couldn't even make this game. And these guys really rallied around him. It was really special. We also had a birth with our assistant coach had a child, his first child. So what an amazing feeling for everybody involved with RIT lacrosse.
(re: about winning a national championship):
I think one other question I get asked is, do I feel pressure to win one. And that's never been the case. I think we believe in each other. We have that support. Everything was there for the making. We just needed to make plays in a 60-minute game and we were able to do that today. So, wow, it's a great feeling. Surreal. But really fired up for the team out there. We had a bunch of fifth-year guys come back for this. And man, I can't see a better finish for those guys. What a great group of fifth-year seniors, the leadership was wonderful. Guys just made plays.
GAME NOTES
- Montemorano won 14-of-31 face-offs and picked up a team-best seven ground balls.
- The Tigers went 1-for-2 with man advantage while holding Salisbury to 1-for-3 on its extra-man chances.
- RIT's attack unit of Commandant, Tait and Sundown combined for eight goals and 12 points.
- Nine Tigers scored a goal, including three with multiple tallies.
- RIT's top midfield line of Barnable, Angus and Rosenblum combined for four goals and eight points.
- Jensen led the Tigers with five caused turnovers.
- RIT was 18-of-21 on clearing attempts
- RIT completed its 11th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 22nd overall.
- RIT improved to 33-21 in 54 NCAA Tournament games, all-time.
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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS - Men's Lacrosse defeats Salisbury, 15-14, in 2OT to win 2021 NCAA Division III National Championship - Rochester Institute of Technology Athletics - RIT Athletics
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