COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- No. 18 Colorado College broke open a close game, outscoring Southwestern 20-3 over the second and third quarters, to earn a 31-11 victory in Sunday's title game of the 2021 SCAC Men's Lacrosse Championship played at CC's Washburn Field. Official Championships Website | Postgame Interview (Anders Erickson & Billy Hutchison) | Postgame Interview (Sean Woods) | Photo Gallery
The Tigers' Anders Erickson, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Offensive Player, had five goals and six assists - both single-game championship records - to lead CC to the program's fourth consecutive SCAC men's lacrosse title and sixth overall. Elliot Nelson also had six assists. Billy Hutchison, who had four ground balls, a caused turnover and one assist, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Defensive Player.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After falling behind 5-1, Southwestern battled back to score three of the next six goals to cut CC's lead to 8-4 after one quarter.
- CC dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Pirates' 8-1
- The Tigers put the game away in the third, putting 12 in the net to Southwestern's two to take a 28-7 lead into the final period.
- There was a lightning delay with 5:14 remaining in the third period that sent both teams indoors. Play resumed an hour and a half later.
- Colorado outshot Southwestern, 71-37, and won 30 of 46 faceoffs against the Pirates.
COLORADO COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Anders Erickson: 5 goals, 6 assists
- Elliot Nelson: 6 assists
- Dylan Wells: 2 goals, 2 assists
- Declan Maguire: 4 goals
- Makay Hansen: 4 goals
- Jack Haims: 1 goal, 3 assists
- Ben Anastos: 39:46 minutes in net, 5 goals allowed, 6 saves
SOUTHWESTERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Zac Asbury: 2 goals, 1 assist
- Brady Middleton: 3 goals
- Tyler Johnson: 2 goals
- Drew Alvarado: 60:00 minutes in net, 15 saves
NOTABLES
- Sixteen different Tigers scored at least one goal in Sunday's championship match.
- The last four SCAC championship games have featured Southwestern and Colorado College, with the Tigers prevailing each time.
- The 31 goals scored by Colorado College are the most by any team in SCAC tournament play. The previous mark of 28 had just been set by Southwestern in Friday's semifinal win (28-4) over Centenary. It also equals the mark for the most goals scored by a conference team in any contest - equalling the 31 scored by CC in a regular season game against Centenary in 2013 (31-2).
- Erickson's five goals gave him the league lead in goals scored with 34. His 33 assists are second behind Southwestern's Asbury, who picked up his 34th assist of the season late in the third period. Erickson's 67 points this season are the eighth-most in a single season in league history and his 5.15 points per game in 2021 is good for the third-best single-season average in league history.
- Asbury finishes his career with 78 goals (tied for ninth all-time in the SCAC) and a league-record 106 assists. His 184 career points is also the new league standard.
UP NEXT
Southwestern finishes the season with a 7-5 mark. Colorado College sits at 11-3 and awaits word of a NCAA tournament at-large berth. CC, which is ranked No. 18 in the USILA/Dynamic Coaches Division III Poll and No. 14 by US Lacrosse Magazine, will find out its fate a week from Monday.
