York, PA – Stockton University (18-3) saw its best season in school history come to an end with an 18-11 defeat to #4 York College (18-2) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans are ranked fourth in the nation by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and reached the NCAA quarterfinals last year.
Despite the loss, Stockton acquitted itself very well in its first NCAA Tournament appearance, winning a first round game and staying right with one of the top ranked teams in Division III. The Ospreys outshot York 46-38 and were very much in the game until running out of steam in the fourth quarter.
Luc Swedlund (Randolph/Randolph) led the Ospreys with five goals and reached the 100-goal mark for the season, setting Stockton records for goals and points (118).
Eric Ellis (Voorhees/Eastern) scored three goals while
Erik Anderson (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.) contributed two goals and two assists. Anderson set a school record with 54 assists this year.
The teams traded the first four goals for a 2-2 tie, with Anderson and
Joey Tiernan (Voorhees/Eastern) scoring for Stockton. York surged ahead with three straight tallies for a 5-2 count before Swedlund halted the run. Later trailing 7-3, the Ospreys reeled off four straight goals in the last 11 minutes of the second quarter for a 7-7 tie at halftime. Ellis potted three of the markers and Swedlund netted one.
The Spartans rebuilt a three-goal edge at 10-7 with three goals in the first 3:08 of the third quarter. Stockton again fought back as counters by Anderson and Swedlund pulled the Ospreys within one at 10-9. After York responded with two goals in a row, Swedlund found the net with 16 seconds left in the third stanza and Stockton trailed 12-10 after three.
Playing its second game in 24 hours and facing a rested opponent, Stockton was unable to rally in the fourth quarter. Swedlund netted his 100th goal of the season early in the period but the Ospreys were outscored 6-1 in the final stanza and fell 18-11.
Stockton goalkeeper
Justin Ruiz (Holmdel/Holmdel) finished with 11 saves. Anderson topped the Ospreys with seven ground balls followed by Swedlund with six.
Matt Thermann (Spring Lake Heights/Manasquan) won 14 faceoffs and grabbed five ground balls.
The 18-11 setback brought to a close the greatest season in the lengthy history of the Stockton men's lacrosse program, a lineage that began with a club team in 1975. Stockton spent 11 years at that level (1975-86) and just completed its 33rd season of intercollegiate play (1987-2019).
The 2019 campaign saw the Ospreys set a school record for victories (18) and both win a conference championship and play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Stockton made its NCAA postseason debut a successful one with a 20-9 victory over Morrisville State in a first round game yesterday.
