Lacrosse falls short in playoffs

The Utah State Aggies lost in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division II tournament on Monday.

The No. 15 Aggies fell to the second-seeded St. Thomas Tommies 21-15 in the first round of the 16-team tournament. The Tommie men took a two-goal lead into the half, then later scored four straight goals to open the third quarter and the Aggies never recovered.

“We only had one face-off player — he took 32 face-offs in the game,” said Utah State head coach Jon Atwood. “That’s a tall order for anyone. He was 100 percent gassed. In the second half, we struggled off the face and off the transition. They moved the ball well and screened our goalie. He had a really hard time seeing the ball.”

Three St. Thomas players recorded hat tricks. Utah State was led by all-conference attack Blade Garlow, who scored five goals and had an assist for the Aggies. Despite his success, the team was eliminated.

“He played his game,” Atwood said. “He did his job and what he had to do. In a game like this, you can’t ask anything more of anyone.”

It was a back-and-forth game in the first half. Each time the Tommies attempted to pull away, the Aggies came right back. USU had trimmed the St. Thomas’ lead to 8-7, but a John Michael Coon goal just before the half put Utah State down 9-7 at the break.

In the third quarter the Aggies only recorded two goals, and the Tommies rattled off six, then six more in the fourth to smother any comeback attempt.

Utah State finishes the season with a 12-5 record overall and was also the winner of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference. The Aggies were undefeated in conference play with a 4-0 record in the regular season and had 11 players receive RMLC recognition.

“I’m really proud of this team,” Atwood said. “They never gave up. They never quit. I’m proud of the hustle and heart this team showed.”

—kalen.s.taylor@gmail.com

@kalen_taylor