Second Second Chance for Saints
May 26, 2005

Courtesy Limestone College Sports Information Office

GAFFNEY, SC: The Limestone College men’s lacrosse team has talked all year about redemption. Last Saturday they got a second chance to take on a LeMoyne team that delivered a devastating 11-10 double overtime loss in the 2004 title game.

Limestone washed out the bitter taste of that defeat with a 9-8 win over the #1 Dolphins to advance to this year’s final where they will face the New York Institute of Technology. That game will mark yet another second chance for the Saints. In their last meeting with the Bears, NYIT took a 9-4 win in the 2003 final which spoiled Limestone’s bid at back-to-back titles and marked their worst loss in a championship game.

By defeating #1 and defending champion LeMoyne last weekend, Limestone advanced to the Division II national championship for a record 6th consecutive year. Prior to the 2000 season, Limestone’s Men’s Lacrosse Program held a mediocre all-time record of 61-53. In that magical 2000 campaign, the Saints went 14-2 and defeated C.W. Post to take their first national championship. That remarkable season sparked a record setting period of excellence. Since 2000, Limestone holds a record of 83-13 (.865).

The 2005 Saints have tied the school record for wins in a season and are just one shy of the Division II record at 15. They have also broken the school and Division II records for goals and points in a season with 326 goals and 502 points. If the season ended today, their 20.31 goals per game and average margin of victory of 13.63 would also shatter the Division II records of 19.63 (Limestone, 2000) and 13.13 (Limestone, 2000). Limestone also holds the Division II record for consecutive conference wins at 61 and counting, and their 9 consecutive winning seasons rank 3rd in Division II history.

On Sunday, two storied lacrosse programs will face-off. The Bears lead the all-time series with the Saints 3-1. Their last two meetings also came in national title games. Limestone edged out NYIT 11-10 for the 2002 title, but the Bears took the 2003 title game 9-4.

Sunday’s game is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The game will be broadcast live on College Sports Television which is available on DirecTV (channel 610) and selected cable systems. Limestone fans can also call the Saints Hot Line (864-488-8225) for continuous in-game updates.