BYU Snags RMLC-I Championship

SALT LAKE CITY – Brigham Young entered the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC) Division I tournament as a three seed but left as the champions after upsetting top-seeded Colorado, 12-8, on Saturday afternoon at the University of Utah.

The victory gives the Cougars an automatic berth in the 2016 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will occur from May 9-14 in Orange County, Calif. BYU (12-4) remains the only team in Division I to attend all 20 championships in MCLA history. They will find out the seeding and matchups tomorrow evening, Sunday, May 1.

Colorado (10-5) looked in control early, using two late goals to take a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes of action. Thanks to a first-half hat trick from freshman attackman Winston Farley and solid goalie play from senior Matt Brandenburg, BYU knotted the game at fives at halftime.

BYU made an effort to pull away from the Buffs with consecutive goals by sophomore Tanner Johnson, freshman Chris Severson and sophomore Jack Fabrizio for an 8-5 lead, but Colorado quickly countered with a run of its own to tie the game at eight with just under seven minutes left in the game.

With 5:50 left in the contest, Farley netted his fourth and it proved to be the game-winner. The Cougars tacked on three more before the final whistle.

2016 RMLC Division I Tournament Results

Semifinals
#3 Brigham Young d. #2 Colorado State, 10-4
#1 Colorado d. #4 Utah Valley, 17-8

Finals
#3 Brigham Young d. #1 Colorado, 12-8