Round Rock, TX - The University of Montana Lacrosse Team continued its run at the MCLA National Championships in Round Rock, Texas on Tuesday night squaring off with Cal State San Marcos in the tournament quarterfinals. After escaping with a victory in the final 12 seconds of regulation in round 1, the Grizzlies would turn their attention to a Cougar team that had beaten Kennesaw State in an upset the night before. It was a specifically impressive victory considering the third seeded Owls had spent a large portion of the season as the number one ranked team in the MCLA Division II ranks.
The Cougars would get off to a quick start in the opening quarter of play jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the game’s first 7 minutes. However, as the quarter progressed, the Grizzlies offense would find its footing and would close the quarter with a 4-3 lead. Montana would also outscore San Marcos 8-2 after falling behind early to hold a 9-5 advantage at halftime. The Cougars would pull to within a pair of goals in the second half in an attempt to fight back, but never would get any closer as the Grizzlies would hang on for a 13-9 victory to punch their ticket to the MCLA National Semi-Finals.
A pair of goals to close the third quarter from the Cougars would shift momentum in a blink as San Marcos would turn what was a somewhat comfortable 4 goal advantage for the Grizzlies into a 11-9 game going into the final quarter. Montana would slam the door shut on the Cougars in the final quarter however, outscoring San Marcos 2-0 with a patient offensive approach to control the pace, and run out the clock.
First Team All-Conference standouts Trent Tubbs, and Brody Stevens would both find the back of the net in the final quarter to clinch the win for Montana. Stevens would finish the contest with 3 goals while Tubbs tallied a pair.
Attackman Eric Frazier also continued his fabulous season in the victory tallying 3 goals to go along with 2 dimes, and a pair of ground balls. The Oregon native has been a driving force offensively all season and currently leads the team with 41 goals. The West Salem High product is focused more on the success of his teammates however and looks forward to continuing the journey towards a potential national championship birth.
“I am extremely happy with the win,” Frazier said. “We all came together as a team and played all 4 quarters which led to a comfortable win. The team is playing the best lacrosse we have all year and I hope to keep the ball rolling in the Semis.”
Tuesday marked the first time since 2007 that Montana has advanced as far as the MCLA Semi-Final. That season, the Grizzlies would go all the way to claim the MCLA National Championship. Grizzlies head coach Tucker Sargent was a member of that squad and has been at the helm for Montana since 2010. It surely has been a journey for the east coast native getting the team to this point having coached in nearly 180 games in his career at Montana. But clearly the journey to this point has been more rewarding as a coach for Sargent than it was as a player.
“Getting the victory tonight felt fantastic, I could not be happier with where we are as a team,” Sargent said. “This feels much better as a coach than it did for me as a player. As a player you do not realize how hard it is to make it here. To see what these kids have done over the years to build this program back up is incredible. All the credit goes to them for making it this far.”
Montana (16-5) will now have a day to rest ahead of their MCLA Division II National Sem-Final tilt opposite the number 7 seeded Rams of Rhode Island (11-2). Rhode Island advanced to the semi-final Tuesday in convincing fashion, steamrolling UNC Charlotte by a score of 15-7 to set up the matchup with the Grizzlies. The second Division II Semi-Final tilt features the number 1 seed St. Thomas (15-3) opposite Utah (12-3) the number 5 seed.
With a National Championship birth on the line, Thursday’s contest will surely be a challenge for the Grizzlies. But Montana will also bring in as much momentum with them as any in the country having won each of their last 8 games going back to the regular season. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Central Time Thursday from Round Rock, Texas.