ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Athletics will host the 2019 Men's Lacrosse Championship on Olson Field at 1:00 pm on Saturday. The top-seeded Eastern University Eagles (12-6) will host the second-seeded DeSales University Bulldogs for the MAC Freedom Title. Eastern won the regular-season meeting between the two programs last Saturday.
The two teams met for the first time last week. Eastern emerged with a 10-7 win to hand the Bulldogs their only loss of the year and to claim the right to host today's Championship. This is the seventh time Eastern has hosted a MAC Freedom Championship game in the eight-year history of the league. It is the first time the game has been on Olson Field since the Eagles beat Misericordia 22-7 here in 2015. Conflicts with graduation forced the Eagles to host off site in 2016 and 2018. The home team has won every MAC Freedom Championship.
The Bulldogs earned their way into their second Championship game with a 15-8 win over the third-seeded Misericordia University Cougars. Zach Bowen scored six goals and Frank Krug caused five turnovers and scooped 14 ground balls in the win. Colin Corrado won 21-of-25 faceoffs in the game to help the Bulldogs own possession.
The Eagles ground out an 11-7 win over the fourth-seeded Wilkes Colonels. Eastern had to overcome a tough match-up at the X and a hot goalie to pull away late. Eight different Eastern players scored goals in the game.
Zach Bauer had the upper hand at the X last Saturday. The junior specialist is closing in on his 500th career faceoff win. DeSales goalie Matt Beck was named the MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year and Joe Neggia was picked as the Offensive player of the Year. DeSales put nine players on the All-MAC Freedom list. Eastern, led by first-teamers
Trent Ashton,
Chris Durning, and AnotonioYeoman, put six on the list.
Because it is a MAC Championship event, admission will be charged. The cost will be $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for students. Eastern University Student Development will cover the cost of any Eastern student who brings a valid E-Card to the game. Children under-12 are free.
The winner of tomorrow's game earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
