How did Salisbury men’s lacrosse team secure their 13th NCAA Division III title. What were the key moments and players in their victory over Tufts. How does this achievement compare to other DIII lacrosse programs.
The Historic Victory: Salisbury’s 13th NCAA DIII Lacrosse Title
On a momentous Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, the Salisbury Sea Gulls etched their name in the annals of collegiate lacrosse history. With a commanding 17-12 victory over the top-ranked Tufts Jumbos, Salisbury clinched their 13th NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse championship, equaling the record set by Hobart College in 1993.
This triumph marks a significant milestone for Salisbury’s lacrosse program, solidifying its status as a powerhouse in Division III athletics. The Sea Gulls’ victory came before an impressive crowd of 15,525 spectators, highlighting the growing popularity and excitement surrounding DIII lacrosse.
Key Players in Salisbury’s Championship Run
- Brice Bromwell: Sophomore midfielder who led the scoring with four goals
- Cross Ferrara: Graduate student attackman who contributed three goals and an assist
- Jack Dowd: Senior midfielder with two goals and two assists
- Jude Brown and Luke Nestor: Each scored three goals
- Nicholas Ransom: Sophomore goalkeeper who made 16 crucial saves
- John DeFazio: Junior who successfully transitioned from long-stick midfield to close defense
Breaking Down Salisbury’s Championship Performance
Salisbury’s path to victory was marked by strategic gameplay and outstanding individual performances. Despite facing a significant disadvantage in faceoffs (23-9), the Sea Gulls’ defense proved instrumental in securing the win.
The game’s momentum was set early, with Salisbury outscoring Tufts 6-0 in the first quarter. This strong start proved crucial, as it allowed the Sea Gulls to maintain control throughout the match. Even when Tufts narrowed the gap to 11-9 in the third quarter, Salisbury responded with three unanswered goals, effectively sealing their victory.
Overcoming Challenges
Salisbury’s championship run was not without its challenges. The team played the entire NCAA Tournament without graduate student Thomas Ballard, a starting defenseman who suffered a season-ending knee injury on May 7. This setback required strategic adjustments, particularly in the defensive lineup.
Coach Jim Berkman’s Legacy and Impact
The victory further cemented Coach Jim Berkman’s status as one of the most successful coaches in collegiate lacrosse history. In his 35th season at Salisbury, Berkman secured his 620th win, the most among all three divisions in men’s lacrosse. Under his guidance, the program has now amassed 92 victories in the NCAA Tournament, also a record across all divisions.
Berkman’s leadership has been instrumental in creating a culture of excellence at Salisbury. His ability to prepare his team for high-stakes games was evident in this championship match, with players crediting their comprehensive preparation for the victory.
Berkman’s Coaching Philosophy
- Emphasis on team bonding and unity
- Meticulous game preparation
- Adaptability in face of challenges
- Fostering a winning mentality
Tufts’ Valiant Effort in the Championship Game
While Salisbury emerged victorious, Tufts’ performance in the championship game deserves recognition. The Jumbos entered the match as the top-ranked team and undefeated for the season, boasting a 23-0 record.
Kurt Bruun led Tufts’ offensive efforts with five goals and one assist, while Mason Kohn dominated in faceoffs, winning 15 of 19 draws and contributing 14 ground balls and a goal. Despite these strong individual performances, Tufts was unable to overcome Salisbury’s early lead and defensive prowess.
Tufts’ Season Highlights
- Undefeated regular season (23-0)
- Jack Boyden’s record-breaking 154 points
- Boyden named USILA’s Iroquois National Outstanding Player of the Year
- Strong faceoff performance in the championship game
The Significance of Salisbury’s 13th Title in DIII Lacrosse
Salisbury’s 13th NCAA Division III championship is a testament to the program’s consistent excellence over decades. This achievement places them in an elite category, sharing the record for most DIII men’s lacrosse titles with Hobart College.
The significance of this accomplishment extends beyond mere numbers. It represents a legacy of success that spans generations of players and has helped elevate the profile of Division III lacrosse as a whole.
Comparing Salisbury’s Success to Other DIII Programs
While Salisbury and Hobart now share the record for most DIII men’s lacrosse titles, it’s important to note the context of these achievements. Hobart’s 13 titles were won consecutively from 1980 to 1993, after which the program moved to Division I. Salisbury’s titles, on the other hand, have been won over a longer period, demonstrating sustained excellence in an increasingly competitive division.
The Evolution of Division III Men’s Lacrosse
Salisbury’s latest championship victory is not just a milestone for the program, but also a reflection of the growing competitiveness and quality of play in Division III men’s lacrosse. The division has seen significant development over the years, with more schools investing in their lacrosse programs and the overall level of play improving dramatically.
This evolution is evident in the increasing parity among top teams, the rising attendance at championship games, and the growing recognition of DIII players and coaches. Salisbury’s success, while exceptional, has also helped raise the bar for other programs, contributing to the overall growth of the sport at this level.
Factors Contributing to DIII Lacrosse Growth
- Increased media coverage and exposure
- Improved recruiting and player development
- Enhanced facilities and resources at DIII schools
- Growing youth lacrosse programs feeding into collegiate level
The Impact of Championship Success on Salisbury University
Winning a national championship has far-reaching effects beyond the lacrosse field. For Salisbury University, this 13th title brings numerous benefits that extend to the entire institution.
Athletic success of this magnitude often leads to increased enrollment applications, as prospective students are attracted to schools with winning traditions. It can also boost alumni engagement and donations, potentially leading to improved facilities and resources for both athletic and academic programs.
Moreover, the national attention garnered by such achievements can enhance the university’s overall reputation, potentially leading to increased opportunities for partnerships, research grants, and academic recognition.
Potential Benefits of Championship Success
- Increased student applications and enrollment
- Enhanced alumni engagement and donations
- Improved facilities and resources
- Heightened national recognition for the university
- Potential boost to other athletic programs
Looking Ahead: The Future of Salisbury Men’s Lacrosse
With their 13th championship secured, the question now becomes: What’s next for Salisbury men’s lacrosse? The program has set a high bar for itself, and maintaining this level of success will be both a challenge and a goal moving forward.
Key to Salisbury’s future success will be their ability to continue recruiting top talent, developing players effectively, and adapting to the evolving landscape of DIII lacrosse. The program’s strong tradition and winning culture will undoubtedly be assets in this endeavor.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
- Maintaining competitive edge in an improving DIII landscape
- Continuing to attract top recruits
- Balancing veteran leadership with incoming talent
- Adapting to potential rule changes or strategic innovations in the sport
- Managing expectations and pressure that come with being a top program
As Salisbury looks to the future, they do so from a position of unprecedented success. Their 13th championship not only ties a long-standing record but also sets the stage for potentially surpassing it in the years to come. The Sea Gulls have established themselves as the team to beat in DIII men’s lacrosse, a status that brings both pressure and opportunity.
The impact of this championship extends beyond Salisbury, serving as an inspiration and a challenge to other DIII programs. It raises the bar for excellence in the division and may spur increased investment and competition across the board, ultimately benefiting the sport as a whole.
As we reflect on this historic achievement, it’s clear that Salisbury’s success is not just about the numbers. It’s about the dedication of players and coaches, the support of the university and fans, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that has defined this program for decades. The 13th championship is both a culmination of past efforts and a stepping stone to future achievements, ensuring that Salisbury will remain a central figure in the narrative of DIII men’s lacrosse for years to come.
Salisbury men tie record with 13th NCAA lacrosse title – The Virginian-Pilot
Move over, Hobart men’s lacrosse. You have company.
Salisbury captured its 13th national championship — tying the NCAA Division III record set by the aforementioned Statesmen in 1993 — by upending Tufts 17-12 in a tournament final Sunday before an announced 15,525 at Lincoln Financial Field.
The title game pitted the top two teams in the most recent United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches poll, with the Jumbos in the top spot and the Sea Gulls one slot behind.
Salisbury has become a familiar team around Newport News. Fourth-ranked Christopher Newport was 19-0 against all other teams and 0-3 this season against the Sea Gulls, including a national semifinal.
Sophomore midfielder Brice Bromwell’s four goals sparked Salisbury (23-1) to its first crown since 2017. That five-season absence (not including 2020, which was canceled in the response to the coronavirus pandemic) might have seemed like an eternity for a program that had graduated a class with at least one title every year since 1994 when the streak began.
Instead, Salisbury can celebrate the end of a two-game mini-slide in the tournament final that included an 8-6 loss to Wesleyan of Connecticut n 2018 and a 15-14 double overtime heartbreaker to the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2021.
“I can’t even put it into words,” graduate student attackman Cross Ferrara said. “It’s been a long time coming. We put a lot of night work and a lot of morning work in, and for it to finally come to fruition, it’s kind of unbelievable. This group of guys is truly special. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a team that’s so tightly bonded. Hats off to Coach. We were overprepared for every single game. Just an incredible feeling.”
The victory further burnished Sea Gulls coach Jim Berkman’s ever-growing legacy in the sport. He capped his 35th season at the helm with his 620th win (most among all three divisions in men’s lacrosse) and the program’s 92nd victory in the NCAA Tournament (most among all three divisions).
“It’s pretty special in a lot of ways when you think about the number and what’s been done in the game,” he said of the program’s 13th NCAA championship.
“It’s just a tribute to not only this year’s team, but a tribute to the 35 years I’ve been at Salisbury and the guys that made this all possible. Just really proud of this group.”
Ferrara scored all three of his goals in the second half and added an assist, and senior midfielder Jack Dowd chipped in two goals and two assists for Salisbury, which ended the season riding a 20-game winning streak. The team’s last setback was Feb. 25, a 12-10 decision at Gettysburg.
Graduate student attackman Jude Brown and senior midfielder Luke Nestor scored three goals each.
Due to a 23-9 disadvantage on faceoffs, Salisbury was forced to rely on its defense to stand tall, and the unit proved up to the challenge despite playing the entire NCAA Tournament without graduate student Thomas Ballard, a starting defenseman who suffered a season-ending knee injury on May 7. Sophomore goalkeeper Nicholas Ransom made a game-high 16 saves, and junior John DeFazio made a switch from his usual long-stick midfield position to close defense to limit Tufts senior attackman Jack Boyden to one goal on six shots and two assists.
Boyden had entered the game with a program-record 154 points, eclipsing the previous mark set last spring by Mac Bredahl. On Wednesday, he was named USILA’s Iroquois National Outstanding Player of the Year and Lt. Col. J.I. Turnbull Outstanding Attackman.
Salisbury sprinted out of the gates, outscoring the Jumbos 6-0 in the first quarter and never trailing. The closest Tufts got to tying the score occurred when senior attackman Kurt Bruun and senior faceoff specialist Mason Kohn scored goals seven seconds apart to draw within 11-9 with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
But the Sea Gulls responded with three unanswered goals in a 3:10 stretch spanning the last two periods to regain a 14-9 advantage. An extra-man goal from Brown with 29.2 seconds left in the third quarter and even-strength goals from Nestor with 13:43 remaining in the fourth and Bromwell with 12:20 left put the finishing touches on the win.
“It was more just us being prepared for anything they threw at us,” said DeFazio, who racked up three ground balls, one caused turnover and one goal.
“Kudos to the coaches. They got us ready with the scout and everything. We were just ready for anything that they threw at us. That was a great way to start off the game.”
Bruun compiled game highs in goals (five) and points (six), and Kohn won 15 of 19 draws with 14 ground balls and one goal. But their efforts weren’t enough to spark Tufts (23-0) to its fourth overall crown and first since 2015 when that squad walloped Lynchburg, 19-11.
The Jumbos are still the only opponent with multiple wins against the Sea Gulls in the title game with victories of 9-6 in 2010 and 12-9 in 2014. But the 6-0 deficit to Salisbury prevented Tufts from becoming the 10th team in Division III history to cap a perfect season with the NCAA title.
“They were 22-1 for a reason,” coach Casey D’Annolfo said. “They’re incredibly talented top to bottom. You can’t spot a team like that six goals to start the game. I thought they had a really good game plan in terms of slowing us down, and I feel like we as a coaching staff didn’t put our guys in a position to be successful early on.
That’s just a credit to them and their resiliency.”
The announced attendance of 15,525 was the largest to watch a Division III final since 2019.
D3 College Installs New Black Turf That Will Make Conditioning Miserable
by
Grayson Weir
updated
A Division-III college in New York unveiled its first new stadium playing surface since 2006 on Tuesday. It is going to make the players’ lives absolute hell during the summer and into the fall.
The turf is black!
Not just the end-zones. Not just the hashmarks. No.
Just like the Smurf Turf at Boise State is entirely blue, SUNY Morrisville’s new field is entirely black. Every last inch — outside of the traditional white markings for college football, red markings for men’s lacrosse, powder blue markings for women’s lacrosse, lime green markings for soccer and yellow markings for field hockey.
Everything else is jet black. It’s as black as the night sky.
SUNY Morrisville’s new turf field
The Mustangs, as SUNY Morrisville is known, are not the first to introduce a non-green field. Boise was the first, and Eastern Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, Central Arkansas, Texas A&M Commerce and Eastern Washington have followed, among others.
None of them, however, installed a field that will feel like the surface of the sun from May until October. That would be borderline torturous, no?!
What was the thought process with the black turf?!
SUNY Morrisville’s new turf field
SUNY Morrisville Director of Athletics Matt Grawrock addressed the new turf. He did not speak to the insane amount of sun that the color choice will draw to the field during warmer months.
As we set out to replace our old turf, we wanted to move in a bold, new direction that would give our department and student-athletes a unique identity to rally around.
We wanted a look that reflected the institution and how we have a special campus with an education and opportunities that are different from many schools, embracing the differences that set us apart while providing a focal point for athletics that would distinguish us from our peers.
Throughout this process, we’ve intentionally embraced the path less taken to make Drake Field a memorable facility for all of our student-athletes, but also for the greater campus community.
— Matt Grawrock
To make it even funnier, Grawrock talked about how the field will be used for strength and conditioning. He said that the athletes will be prideful toward their new field.
We are confident that each of the teams that compete on Drake, and those other teams that will use it for exercise and conditioning, will come away with a sense of pride in knowing this field is theirs; one that is different from every other field they’ve been on.
— Matt Grawrock
Grawrock may not have considered how the athletes will feel, pride aside, while exercising and conditioning on a field that that is the color that absorbs the most heat. They can’t be excited about that. There’s just no way!
how to get – EducationUSA Russia
Student sports are a popular spectacle, a source of pride, a source of income and one of the factors of prestige for universities in the United States.
It’s no surprise that more than a thousand American colleges and universities offer a variety of financial support options for talented athletes who play for college teams. In this article, we will talk about how to get a higher education in the USA for free with a sports scholarship, what sports have such opportunities, and how the admission process is built.
Higher education in the US is paid, but many universities are willing to partially or even fully compensate talented and/or needy students. One of such support tools is a sports scholarship.
Let’s make a reservation right away that less than 2% of high school athletes receive sports scholarships. However, the total allocated amount is rather big, more than $2.7 billion per year. Sports scholarships can be obtained at more than 1,000 universities that are members of university sports associations. At the same time, many universities also offer other options for choosing financial assistance to promising applicants-athletes if they cannot provide them with a full sports scholarship.
Which universities can offer sports scholarships?
University sports associations supervise sports competitions between universities. They also determine the requirements for student athletes admitted to competitions, for sports scholarships and other types of financial support that universities can give to their student athletes.
College Athletic Associations:
- The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) unites 1,100 universities and supports 24 sports.
- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has 249 member organizations and supports 17 sports.
- National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) unites 525 community colleges, supports 16 sports.
Associations distinguish 3 divisions for each discipline. A university, a member of the Association, may be included in different divisions in different disciplines. The division into divisions depends on the budget allocated by the educational institution for this sport.
On the website of each association, you can find information about which universities are included in them, in which disciplines and in which division.
Types of Athletic Scholarships
There are two types of Athletic Scholarships in the USA:
- A full-ride scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, food, training materials and sometimes medical insurance.
- Partial scholarship (partial scholarship) covers only the cost of training – in whole or in part.
Only Division I colleges and universities can pay full athletic scholarships. There are 363 NCAA Division I universities in the United States – they have the largest sports budgets and provide the most scholarships compared to other division levels. Universities of the II Division can pay only a partial sports scholarship.
Ivy League and Division III universities do not provide athletic scholarships, but may provide financial support on other grounds such as need-based.
For those who are determined to enter the most prestigious programs of the NCAA Division I and II, it makes sense to take a closer look at the Division III. According to the NCAA, 80% of Division III athletes receive some form of financial aid from universities.
In which sports are sports scholarships awarded?
Student athletes have the most opportunities in the most popular and spectator sports that bring the most revenue to universities. These are American football and basketball for men and basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and tennis for women. The NCAA calls these sports “headcount”.
Other sports are called equivalency. Priority equivalent sports are baseball, rowing, skiing, fencing, golf, gymnastics, running, lacrosse, etc.
Division I equivalent sports for men include baseball, shooting, skiing, cross country running, track and field, football, fencing, swimming, golf, tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, hockey, water polo, lacrosse and wrestling.
For Division I women, equivalent sports include bowling, lacrosse, rowing, cross country, track and field, skiing, fencing, soccer, field hockey, softball, golf, swimming, ice hockey, and water polo. All Division II and NAIA sports are equivalent sports.
For equivalent sports, the coach himself distributes the amount of his scholarship fund among the wards. He can distribute them to the most promising athletes equally or in different shares, or even give 90% of the total amount to the most star player in order to pay for his education as much as possible.
Those who play an important role in the team, such as a baseball or softball pitcher, are more likely to increase scholarships in equivalent sports. And in some cases, you can find the best offer in another division.
In some cases, the coach and the administration of the university may offer the student the option of additional assistance: a partial sports scholarship plus other support offered by the university, for example, as a student in need or for his academic merit.
How long is the sports scholarship?
Sports scholarships are most often issued only for a year, extremely rarely – for all 4 years of a bachelor’s degree. Every year, the coach evaluates his wards and makes a new decision on issuing a sports scholarship. He can either increase the size of the scholarship, reduce it, or even withdraw it altogether.
A student may lose his scholarship if he is injured, performs poorly in competitions, has a bad relationship with a coach, or because of poor academic performance or a bad reputation in a university or team.
At the same time, the coach may also revise the amount of assistance upwards if the athlete has shown good results, involvement, excitement, or has taken a more important role in the team.
Requirements for student athletes
Each association has its own requirements for athletes. The level of education and academic performance, the results of standardized tests (SAT) and foreign language tests (TOEFL) are assessed.
Associations have special selection centers – Eligibility Center. All athletes planning to participate in competitions from their university must be registered by the Association, which includes their university. Registration is required for all student athletes, not just those who want to receive a sports scholarship.
Associations charge a fee for consideration of the application and may well refuse if the package of documents is incomplete or the student does not meet all the requirements.
How to get a sports scholarship?
It is best to start preparing for admission to an American university two years before graduation. Then you will have enough time to find suitable options, create your sports resume, make friends with coaches, improve your knowledge of English and other subjects to the required level, successfully pass the required tests (TOEFL / IELTS, SAT / ACT) and complete all the necessary documentation.
Here are some important steps in preparing for admission to an American university with the help of an athletic scholarship.
Make a list of suitable universities.
At the first stage, study the websites of associations, look at the level of games and the results of sports competitions of universities in the sport of interest. Evaluate in advance which division you can apply for.
Association websites have a search for universities that you should consider for admission if you want to compete in student competitions and get a scholarship. When selecting, take into account not only the athletic achievements of student teams in your sport, but also other factors – location and suitable undergraduate programs.
List about 50 universities.
Check your eligibility for University Sports Associations.
Review all Association requirements, whether you qualify and what you need to do to meet them.
Associations set the number of core high school subjects student-athletes must take, the minimum GPA in those subjects, the minimum SAT/ACT and TOEFL/IELTS test scores for international students.
Due to Covid, both universities and the Association temporarily canceled the requirement to take SAT / ACT tests, but in the future they may return it.
Assess your athletic level
This is quite a challenge. So, American students specially attend sports camps in order to better determine their capabilities. But in another country, you can contact your coaches or other sports specialists.
Create a sports resume
Sports resume should include:
- Video highlights or skills;
- Sports statistics;
- Certificate of the current level of education and academic performance, knowledge of the language.
The good reputation of an athlete is of great importance. Coaches and members of the admissions committee will definitely look through the social networks of applicants. Check all your social media accounts to make sure you don’t have any inappropriate or questionable content.
Contact and keep in touch with university coaches
On the websites of universities you can find contacts of head coaches, assistant coaches and recruitment coordinators: phone numbers and e-mail.
NSCA recommends contacting coaches via email for the first time. Design your letter so that it stands out. In the subject, briefly indicate your graduation year, sports position, location, achievement. In the letter, provide links to the video and give all possible data so that the trainer can conduct an initial assessment.
Do not send mass mailing to coaches, send each letter separately. It will be a plus to indicate why you are interested in the team of this university. Do not write during the competition. If you receive letters with clarifying questions in response, try to answer as quickly as possible.
In any case, experts advise in about two weeks to contact in person, by phone, with the coaches to whom you sent your resume and clarify whether they are interested. They receive hundreds of emails every week and may well miss yours. When calling, be sure to consider time zones.
The selection process is quite lengthy. In the process of communicating with coaches, you will understand who is interested and who is not and shorten the list of promising universities.
Not all trainers’ offers are accompanied by a scholarship. A coach may offer you Preferred Walk-On status – a guaranteed place on the team, but not an athletic scholarship.
But even a verbal offer of a scholarship by trainers is also not a guarantee of a scholarship. The decisive document is the National Letter of Intent (NLI, National Letter of Intent. Each of the Associations has its own versions of such a letter.
Prepare documents
Collect and prepare all documents for the university and associations. The package of documents may differ depending on the requirements of a particular institution.
Academic performance is confirmed by a transcript of a certificate of secondary education or completion of the previous academic level (translated and certified). This document includes a list of subjects studied, indicating the number of hours and grades for each quarter (semester or half year). NAIA and NJCAA require foreign applicants to confirm their level of education through the InCred service.
This service costs 95 USD for those who have just finished school, or 190 USD for those who have already studied at the university. You may also need test scores, family financial documents, an essay, recommendations from teachers and coaches, etc.
Evaluate/Compare Offers
If you received sports scholarship offers from different universities, compare packages. Perhaps if the university does not have the opportunity to give a full scholarship, they can make up the difference with the help of other forms of support.
International students have good chances in sports such as tennis, athletics, ice hockey, golf, field hockey, football, water polo and basketball. There are over 20,000 international students registered with the NCAA alone. So you can become one of them in the future.
Russian Championship. 3rd division. “Tyumen-double” – “Tobol” (Kurgan)
Football – First League
July 17, 19:00
Tyumen
Khimki
Football.
First League. FC Tyumen – FC Khimki
Football – Friendly match
June 24
Tyumen
2
Uralets-TS
90 002
1
Football. Friendly match. FC Tyumen – Uralets-TS
Football – FNL-2. Group 4
June 4
Novosibirsk
Tyumen
2
Football. FNL-2. Group “4”. FC Novosibirsk – FC Tyumen
Football – FNL-2. Group 4
May 28
Tyumen
7
Chelyabinsk
Football. FNL-2. Group “4”. FC Tyumen – FC Chelyabinsk
Football – FNL-2. Group 4
May 21
Amkar-Perm
Tyumen
2
Football. FNL-2. Group “4”. FC “Amkar-Perm” – FC “Tyumen”
Volleyball – Transitional matches
17 May
“Stroitel”
1
“Tyumen” Transition matches. VC “Stroitel” – VC “Tyumen”
Volleyball – Transitional matches
May 16
“Stroitel”
1
“Tyumen”
3
Volleyball.
