Kennesaw State Wins SELC-II Crown
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – After scoring once in the first 45 minutes, Kennesaw State tallied five goals in the fourth quarter to cap a comeback and secure a 6-5 win over Florida Gulf Coast in the championship game of the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) Division II Tournament.
With the victory, the Owls (8-4) receive an automatic qualifying berth to the 2018 MCLA National Championships powered Under Armour, which will take place in Salt Lake City form May 7-12.
This will be Kennesaw State's third appearance at nationals and the first since 2016. Florida Gulf Coast will see if it gets an at-large bid when the brackets are announced next Sunday.
After a scoreless first quarter, Florida Gulf Coast (11-4) struck for a pair of goals in the second that sent the Eagles into halftime with the shutout.
Kennesaw finally broke through for a goal in the third, but was still trailing, 3-1, setting up the dramatic fourth quarter.
Kennesaw attackman Vinny Magro was named the SELC Tournament Offensive MVP while sophomore goalie Jay Molander took Defensive MVP honors.
2018 SELC Division II Tournament
First Round – Johns Creek, Ga. – April 20
No. 2N Wake Forest d. No. 3S Florida Atlantic, 14-8
No. 3N Appalachian State d. No. 2S North Florida, 10-9
Semifinals – Northview (Ga.) H.S. – April 21
No. 1S Florida Gulf Coast d. No. 2N Wake Forest, 14-11
No. 1N Kennesaw State d. No. 3N Appalachian State, 14-11
Finals – Northview (Ga.) H.S. – April 22
No. 1N Kennesaw State d. No. 1S Florida Gulf Coast, 6-5