Sea Gulls

The Salisbury women's lacrosse team fell one game short of a perfect season, losing to Trinity (Conn.), 8-7, in the NCAA Division III championship game Sunday afternoon in Montclair, N.J. In addition to seeking the school's second national title, the Sea Gulls were trying to become the first team in the program's 40-year history to finish a season undefeated. Salisbury (22-1) got off to its slowest start this season, not scoring until the second half. The first half was the only period this season where the Sea Gulls were held without a goal.

Salisbury became the first team in NCAA Division III history to win three consecutive field hockey titles with a 1-0 win over Messiah in the national championship game yesterday at Washington and Lee University. "It's unbelieveable. This really hasn't set in yet, but wow," said Sea Gulls coach Dawn Chamberlin, whose team finished 21-1. Defender Sarah Tracey scored the game-winning goal on a pass from Brittany Elliott off a penalty corner at the 40:09 mark to give the Sea Gulls the lone goal of the game.

Senior attackman Mike Winter scored off an assist from sophomore midfielder Sam Bradman to lift the Salisbury men's lacrosse team to a 14-13 overtime win over visiting Stevenson in an NCAA Division III tournament semifinal Sunday. Mustangs junior attackman Richie Ford (Towson) had found the net with 1:31 remaining in regulation to send the game into the extra period. Stevenson (19-2) won the faceoff to start overtime, but senior long-stick midfielder Connor Burgasser forced the ball loose and scooped it up, passing to senior defender Will Poletis (Loyola)

CHESTERTOWN - Top-ranked Salisbury scored the first seven goals en route to a 17-12 win over third-ranked Washington College yesterday, improving to 15-1 overall and cutting the Shoremen's lead in the series to 19-15. The Sea Gulls struck quickly, getting a goal from Brian Oakley at 2:56, then adding six over the next seven minutes for a 7-0 lead. The Shoremen (12-3) stopped the run when Jon Spivey and Craig Earley scored back-to-back goals, but Josh Bergey and Cory O'Neil answered for Salisbury, which took a 10-3 lead into halftime.

The Salisbury women's team, top-ranked in NCAA Division III, improved to 10-0 overall and 5-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference yesterday with a 19-7 defeat of St. Mary's. The Sea Gulls, who have won 21 of their past 22 games, received an automatic berth in the CAC tournament. As the top seed, Salisbury received a bye into the semifinals. Salisbury maintained the upper hand throughout the game, producing a 35-7 advantage in ground balls and 6-3 in caused turnovers. The Sea Gulls had a 2-0 lead with 22:14 on the clock.

Salisbury -- Dan Boyer had four goals and an assist as the Salisbury men's lacrosse team beat St. Mary's, 12-5, to capture its 12th consecutive Capital Athletic Conference championship at Sea Gull Stadium yesterday. The Sea Gulls (16-0) jumped out to 2-0 lead with 10:41 left in the first quarter before the Seahawks' Jon Beam cut the lead to 2-1 a minute later. Salisbury went on a 3-0 run to lead 5-2 at the end of the first quarter. St. Mary's (12-4) would get within a goal once more, at 5-4 with 12:01 left in the first half, before the Sea Gulls scored six unanswered goals to seal the win. Cyrus Albertson led St. Mary's with two goals.

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Sophomore Brittany Elliott scored two goals and freshman Tracey Lloyd and senior Lindsey Elliott each scored once to spark Salisbury's 4-1 victory over Middlebury in the NCAA Division III championship game yesterday at Lebanon Valley College. The win, during which the Sea Gulls never trailed, gave Salisbury its second national championship, and first since 1986. Salisbury controlled play throughout the game, outshooting the previously unbeaten Panthers 18-10 and finishing with a 15-3 advantage in penalty corner opportunities.

Salisbury women's lacrosse coach Jim Nestor was honored as the Chesapeake Region Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association, the organization announced Monday. Nestor guided the Sea Gulls to the national championship game for the fifth time last season and their 10th straight Capital Athletic Conference championship. The team spent six weeks atop the IWLCA Top 20 coaches poll and finished the season ranked No. 2. Salisbury started the season with 22-straight wins, matching a school record for consecutive wins and most wins in a single season.

Hamilton College opened a five-goal lead in the second half, and the Continentals held on for an 11-10 win against previously unbeaten Salisbury in an NCAA Division III women's tournament semifinal in Salem, Va., yesterday. Hamilton (20-1) will face Franklin & Marshall for the title today. Franklin & Marshall (19-1) beat The College of New Jersey, 14-12, yesterday. Robyn Bishop led the Sea Gulls with four goals and an assist. Sue Ackermann and Kim Cudmore each added two goals. Seven different players scored goals for Hamilton.

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury men's lacrosse team gave Jim Berkman a share of an NCAA record, but not without a little anxiety. Twice in the second half of yesterday's installment of the "War on the Shore" series, Washington College trimmed three-goal deficits to one, but the Sea Gulls pulled away to cement a 15-11 decision at Sea Gull Stadium. The outcome also sealed the 326th career victory for Berkman, who tied former Army coach Jack Emmer for the NCAA record for most wins in a career.