TORONTO - Kevin MacRory's (Etobicoke, Ont.) five goals led the McMaster Marauders men's lacrosse team to an 11-10 triumph over the Brock University Badgers in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association's (CUFLA) 2010 Baggataway Cup National Championship game on Sunday afternoon.
The Marauders won the second Baggataway Cup in program history in front of a near capacity crown at St. Michael's College School Stadium in Toronto. McMaster won their first league championship in 1987.
MacRory opened the scoring for the Marauders early in the first quarter. Brock found the scoreboard with two goals of their own midway through the quarter, but the Marauders answered back with goals from Ryan Cuddy and MacRory to take a 3-2 lead heading into the second.
McMaster opened the second quarter strong with three goals from Sean Deuchars and Carter Williams. Brock managed to put one in with 3:27 left in the half, but Dan Lapenensee quickly stamped out Brock’s momentum with a goal of his own in the final minute.
The second half opened up with the Marauders leading the Badgers 7-3, however the third quarter would see Brock go on a four goal run, and by the end of the quarter, the Marauders lead was cut down to a single goal.
The fourth quarter was a close back and forth battle, with MacRory and Kyle Dawson scoring early in the quarter and Brock’s Jordan Hill and Dustin Dunn adding a pair of goals late. Fortunately the Marauders were able to hang on and when time expired a new national champion was crowned.
Head coach Ed Comeau commented after the game, “we thought we had been playing real well the last six weeks. We thought we had a chance to get it done. Brock is a good team, they have been a champion for a lot of years for a reason. We are happy to get a big win, it is great for our program."
MacRory was named the McMaster player of the game in the National Championship game.
Comeau commenting on MacRory's performance said, “Kevin MacRory seems to have a knack for scoring big goals for us. He has done it every year he has been here. He is a true finisher. He played great, but we go great efforts from so many of our guys."
McMaster goalie Joseph Tallis (Nepean, Ont.) was named the CUFLA National Championship tournament MVP.
"Joe Tallis was awesome and he has been awesome all year. When you have a goalie back there that you are confident in to make a save it makes a big difference to your defence,” said Comeau.
Head coach Ed Comeau won his first championship as a coach having previously won a championship as a player in 1987.
"It has been a long time but I have one as a player and a coach now. I am happy to be part of this. I am real proud of our team. A great group of guys who believed in what we did and worked hard to get it done,” commented Comeau.
Kyle Kropman (Ajax, Ont.) was selected as the Badgers' player of the game.
