Southern Oregon Wins PNCLL-II Crown

BOISE – Senior goalie Connor Kelley was superb in net and junior middie Ari Feldman posted a hat trick, helping Southern Oregon win its first-ever Division II Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL) title, 10-6, over Gonzaga on Sunday afternoon at Boise State.

With the win, Southern Oregon (13-2) earns an automatic qualifying bid to the 2016 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which run from May 9-14 in Orange County, Calif. It’s the Raiders first trip to nationals and they will find out their seed and matchup this evening.

Gonzaga (7-6) had the better of play early on, taking a 2-1 lead into the second quarter. Feldman deposited his three goals in the first half, however, helping Southern Oregon go on a 5-0 run in the second frame for a 6-2 lead. The Zags would score with seven ticks left in the half to narrow the margin to 6-3.

Senior middies Scott Comer and Ian Wilborn opened the second half with markers to balloon the margin to 8-3. Gonzaga countered with a three-goal binge to close the third quarter, narrowing the margin to 8-6. Kelly closed the door in the fourth, making several point-blank stops as the Raiders tacked on a pair of insurance goals.

2016 PNCLL Division II Tournament Results

First Round
#2S Western Oregon d. #3N Central Washington, 14-13 (2ot)
#2N Western Washington d. #3S College of Idaho, 10-9 (ot)

Semifinals
#1N Gonzaga d. #2S Western Oregon, 21-10
#1S Southern Oregon d. #2N Western Washington, 10-9 (ot)

Finals
#1S Southern Oregon d. #1N Gonzaga, 10-6