Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Darryl Webb
GCU Advances To MCLA Title Game
5/14/2015 7:00:00 PM | General
Drew Dziadyk scored five goals, including one that put Grand Canyon up by two with :46 remaining, in an 11-8 victory over Chapman in the semifinals of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association national tournament at Chapman Stadium in Orange, Calif., Thursday.
Click here for a photo gallery from the game by GCU photographer, Darryl Webb.
GCU (15-1) will take on Colorado, a 12-11 overtime winner over Virginia Tech, in the title game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Chapman (16-3) rallied in the fourth quarter, chopping GCU's 9-4 lead down to 9-8 with 2:12 remaining. Dziadyk, who scored three early goals to give GCU a 4-0 lead, all but clinched the title game berth with his final tally of the night. Carson Barton scored with seven seconds left for the final total.
"I knew the defense would stay calm," said Dziadyk of his team's answer to the Chapman flurry. "We're happy to be in the finals. It's awesome. It's the national championship and that's what you dream for and work for every day. We'll come out hard and strong."
Barton opened scoring with the game's first goal at the 13:04 mark of the first. Dziadyk added two more in the period and another to start the second before the Panthers got on the board. After two Chapman goals, Dziadyk and Dean Fairall added one each for a 6-2 GCU halftime advantage.
Cody Clark and Fairall scored to start the second half, giving GCU's its biggest lead of the game, 8-2. Austin Ekeroth scored to start the fourth quarter to put the Lopes up 9-4.
"The play was rough and our guys held their composure and played with discipline and self-control," said GCU coach Manny Rapkin. "We'll have fun tonight, but we'll get back to work tomorrow. We want to make it to the winner's circle."
GCU won the battle of ground balls (16-15), face-offs (16-13), shots (36-32) and saves (13-7). Brandon Suchand had the big saves in goal.
The Lopes are in their fourth season of MCLA play, moving to D-I at the conclusion of the 2012 season. The MCLA serves a national organization of non-NCAA, college lacrosse programs. The MCLA currently operates in the US and Canada with 200-plus teams in two divisions, across ten conferences. The squad under Rapkin has amassed a 48-13 overall mark over the four seasons, winning the SLC D-II crown in 2012 and the SLC D-I title this season. This will be the team's first appearance in the national championship game.
Click here for a photo gallery from the game by GCU photographer, Darryl Webb.
GCU (15-1) will take on Colorado, a 12-11 overtime winner over Virginia Tech, in the title game Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Chapman (16-3) rallied in the fourth quarter, chopping GCU's 9-4 lead down to 9-8 with 2:12 remaining. Dziadyk, who scored three early goals to give GCU a 4-0 lead, all but clinched the title game berth with his final tally of the night. Carson Barton scored with seven seconds left for the final total.
"I knew the defense would stay calm," said Dziadyk of his team's answer to the Chapman flurry. "We're happy to be in the finals. It's awesome. It's the national championship and that's what you dream for and work for every day. We'll come out hard and strong."
Barton opened scoring with the game's first goal at the 13:04 mark of the first. Dziadyk added two more in the period and another to start the second before the Panthers got on the board. After two Chapman goals, Dziadyk and Dean Fairall added one each for a 6-2 GCU halftime advantage.
Cody Clark and Fairall scored to start the second half, giving GCU's its biggest lead of the game, 8-2. Austin Ekeroth scored to start the fourth quarter to put the Lopes up 9-4.
"The play was rough and our guys held their composure and played with discipline and self-control," said GCU coach Manny Rapkin. "We'll have fun tonight, but we'll get back to work tomorrow. We want to make it to the winner's circle."
GCU won the battle of ground balls (16-15), face-offs (16-13), shots (36-32) and saves (13-7). Brandon Suchand had the big saves in goal.
The Lopes are in their fourth season of MCLA play, moving to D-I at the conclusion of the 2012 season. The MCLA serves a national organization of non-NCAA, college lacrosse programs. The MCLA currently operates in the US and Canada with 200-plus teams in two divisions, across ten conferences. The squad under Rapkin has amassed a 48-13 overall mark over the four seasons, winning the SLC D-II crown in 2012 and the SLC D-I title this season. This will be the team's first appearance in the national championship game.
HALF-COURTER! It had to be green in the Melo Saint Patrick’s Day jersey 🎯🔥
Tuesday, March 31
Travel Vlog: Beach Volleyball in Baton Rouge
Thursday, March 26
What's Ahead for the Mountain West Tournament?
Monday, March 09
A Daughter, Teammate and Follower of Christ
Thursday, December 11