By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The rematch is set! No. 1 seed Colorado Mesa and No. 2 seed Concordia University Irvine won their respective semifinal contests and advanced to the Peach Belt Conference Championship's Rocky Mountain Division Final set for 5 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.
Saturday's final is a rematch of last season's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship match. Colorado Mesa eked past Concordia 13-12 in overtime. The winner of Saturday's semifinal advances to the Peach Belt Conference Men's Lacrosse Championship on Friday, May 2 at the site of the Peach Belt Division Championship.
Game Recaps
No. 2 Concordia def. No. 3 Westminster, 13-12 (OT)
Jeremy Barnes goal seven seconds into overtime gave Concordia University Irvine a 13-12 victory against Westminster University in the Peach Belt Conference Championship's Rocky Mountain Division Semifinal on Thursday at Unity Field. Concordia scored three unanswered goals in the first to builtd a 3-1 lead only to see Westminster score five straight to take a 6-3 lead, the largest lead by any team. The Golden Eagles scored twice before halftime and trailed by one at the break. Westminster led the bulk of the second half until Concorida's Noah Pillow found the net to cap a 3-0 run that provided CUI a 12-11 lead. The Griffins tied the game with 61 seconds left on Cale Gunter's goal and then won the ensuing faceoff, but could not find the net. In overtime, Concordia won the draw and Barnes' shot landed in the goal for the winner to complete his hat trick. Barnes and Matt Carresi each scored three goals for the Golden Eagles, Carresi added two assists for a five-point night. Westminster's Pierce Dahl had three goals.
No. 1 Colorado Mesa def. No. 4 Dominican, 22-7
Colorado Mesa's defense surrendered just two second-half goals in a 22-7 victory against Dominican University of California in the second Peah Belt Conference Championship Rocky Mountain Division Semifinal on Thursday night at Unity Field. A one-goal game after the first quarter, Colorado Mesa used a 6-2 second quarter to build a 10-5 halftime advantage. After the break, the Mavericks defense locked in and they outscored the Penguins by scores of 4-1 and 8-1 in the final two quarters to secure the win. Colorado Mesa's Deuce Kirschke, Charlie Droitsch, and Dillon Press each scored hat tricks while Erich Petersen finished with seven points (2G-5A). Dominican's Tanner Ennis also scored a hat trick.