University of Minnesota - Duluth Bulldogs Lacrosse

(May 2, 2012 – Duluth, MN) Make another notch in the wall for the men's University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs lacrosse team as they claim the 2012 UMLC Championship title one more time. This marks the 15^th UMLC championship the Bulldogs have claimed since 1995 and the 7^th consecutive championship title since 2006.

On Sunday, April 29, the Bulldogs faced off with Mankato State University at the Concordia University's Sea Foam Dome in St. Paul, Minnesota for the UMLC Division 1 semifinal round of the play-off tournaments. The game started at 10:45 am after the deciding game of MSU versus Iowa State University the evening before.

The Bulldogs started off incredibly strong in the first quarter against MSU, leading 4-0 by the time the clock read 5:37 with a goal made by UMD's Alex McNamara (#10, Apple Valley, MN). Kevin Gaydos (#6, Lino Lakes, MN) added to UMD's score around 2:38 on the clock. McNamara couldn't hold himself to only one goal, so he attacked the net again at the end of the first quarter, leaving the score 6-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Head Coach Frank Clark commented “We had been focusing on dictating the tempo and the guys came out today and did just that”

Drake Peterson (#15, Terrence, OH) came out swinging at the beginning of the second quarter, for  his first goal of the game. The Bulldogs continued to be on an unstoppable hot streak and really working as a team. Through this team work, UMD's midfielder Matt Murphy (#21, Eden Prairie, MN), midfielder Stan Drutowski (#28, Rosemount, MN) and McNamara (#10) all put their efforts into the net, putting the score at 10-0 before the second half was even half over. UMD hit a snag in their sweeping game, receiving a penalty and playing one man down. The defense held strong. Directly following the penalty attackman Tyler Lorinser (#16, Chaska, MN) made his shot count, putting the Bulldogs up 11-0.  McNamara (#10) and Lorinser (#16) continued to have a hot shooting streak with both making another goal, along with Drutowski (#28). By the end of the first half, the Bulldogs led unchallenged with a score of 15-0.

The third quarter continued to smile upon the Bulldogs. Gaydos (#6) got the ball rolling at the start of the third quarter, quickly followed by attack Neal Pester (#33, Savage, MN). Mankato suffered a penalty a little later in the third; giving the Bulldogs a man-up opportunity for 30 seconds and Pester (#33) decided to take advantage with another goal for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs would end up having thirteen different players in the point’s column. MSU would break through in the fourth quarter and score a couple of goals against the Dogs, but in the end, it was the Bulldogs who reigned supreme. The final score for MSU versus UMD was 26 – 2.

With the first win under their belts, UMD now headed into the championship game against none other than their infamous rivals of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Golden Gophers. The Gophers had advanced as the three seed defeating Saint Cloud State and Marquette University along the way. The championship game took place on Sunday, April 29 at the Sea Foam Dome at noon.

The Bulldogs really started to click together in the second quarter. Alex McNamara (#10) got the ball rolling as he made his first goal against the Gophers' goalie. Midfielder Justin Vossen (#18, Apple Valley, MN) and Drake Peterson (#15) would soon follow suit with goals of their own. The Gophers started to make their mark with their first goal at the end of the second quarter by their attack man Jack Buckley (#44). The Bulldogs held the lead at the half 4-1.

The field really started to heat up in the third quarter as both the Bulldogs and Gophers had several scoring opportunities. Joey Slattery (#9, Wayzata, MN) would make several key saves but the Gophers' Brady Haider (#38) started the exchange with a goal at 11:14 on the clock. McNamara (#10) would break through the defense around 6:20 in the quarter to put the score at 5-2 for the Bulldogs. Tim Rondorf (#33) for the Gophers reminded the Bulldogs they weren't out of the woods yet, edging the Gophers closer to evening up with the Bulldogs. At the end of the third, the Gophers would outscore the Bulldogs 2-1, but the overall score still remained in favor of UMD.

Gaydos (#6) started the offensive run for the final quarter of the championship match. Blaeser (#3) jumped on the bandwagon with Gaydos (#6). Peterson (#15) would chime in with two goals of his own towards the end of the fourth. The Gophers weren't quite ready to give in to the Bulldogs' bite and would score with 3:12 on the clock, but it wasn't enough to fill the gap. The end of the quarter saw the Bulldogs drain the clock with two possessions winning 9-4 and being awarded the title of 2012's UMLC Division 1 Champions.

Clark commented, “This is a very good Gopher team. I am proud of the guys. They played aggressive yet smart today which put us in a great position to win this title”

The Bulldogs ended their regular season with an UMLC record of 5 – 0 and an overall record of 7-7.

Next up for the Bulldogs will be the play-offs for the 2012 MCLA National Championship, and it is still TBA who they will play first. The National Championship will be played in Greenville, South Carolina and the tournament runs through May 14-19.

To stay on top of the 2012 MCLA Championship and how the Bulldogs play, be sure to check out umdlacrosse.com and to follow the team on Twitter @Duluthlacrosse.

(April 13, 2012 --- Duluth, MN) For the remaining game of their regular season, the University of Minnesota Duluth men’s lacrosse team will bring the opponent to Bulldog territory.

 The game is set for Sunday, April 15 against Illinois University at noon in Duluth on the Bulldogs’ Griggs Field.

 Along with the final match-up before heading into play-offs, the team is hosting a string of events to take place before and after the UMD/Illinois University show down.

 Starting on Saturday, April 14, the Bulldogs coaching staff and players are hosting a free youth lacrosse clinic for the Duluth YMCA from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. The UMD Bulldogs will provide the instruction, giving a great opportunity for new players to be introduced to the sport and a refresher for returning players. The clinic will take place at the Duluth Heritage Center. For more information, please contact Brock Olson at the Duluth YMCA.

 “It’s an incredible experience working with the youth in the area,” said assistant coach Sam Litman.

 A full day of lacrosse awaits Griggs field on Sunday. Not only will the Bulldogs team be playing, but the Duluth Superior Junior Varsity and Varsity teams will also be playing their respective matches against St. Cloud North after the Bulldogs take the field.

 UMD and Illinois will start their pregame warm-ups at approximately 10:45 am on the field.

 Also as part of the warm-ups, Joe Rose Sr., professor of emeritus of Native American studies at Northland College in Ashland, Wis., and an elder of the Bad River Band will perform a traditional native pregame blessing. Rose Sr., will also perform a pregame blessing on the high school games.

 When the clock strikes noon, the match-up between UMD versus Illinois will take place.

 The Duluth Superior Varsity high school team will take on the St. Cloud North at 3:30 pm, followed by the Duluth Superior Junior Varsity match-up against the St. Cloud North at 5:30 pm.

 “It’s going to be a great afternoon of lacrosse on Griggs Field, and a great way to introduce our new recruits to the UMD campus,” said Frank Clark, head coach to the Bulldogs.

 Currently, Illinois University holds a GRLC divisional record of 3-0 and an overall record of 6-2.

The Bulldogs head into their final match-up in the lead of their UMLC division with a record of 5-0 and an overall record of 5-6.

Keep up to date with the latest Bulldog news by following the team on Twitter @Duluthlacrosse and by checking out umdlacrosse.com.