St. Catharines university wins men’s national lacrosse championship

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Published November 8, 2021 at 4:13 pm

That was a pretty successful first year for Brock Badger men’s lacrosse team coach Vince Longboat as he watched his team win its first Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) championship in 12 years.

However, it wasn’t an easy win as the Badgers needed a tense overtime to beat the Guelph Gryphons 10-9 during the championship game at Nipissing University in North Bay to collect the Baggataway Cup yesterday (November 7).

“It’s surreal. I knew my guys had worked hard all year from the first tryouts to the last shot of the year,” Longboat told the Brock News. “I believed in these men from the beginning. It’s the culmination of a goal we set from Day One, and the goal was accomplished today.”

He credited the Athletic Department with letting him to steer his own ship.

“Our Athletic Director Melissa Krist allowed me to come in and select my coaches, who were amazing,” he said. “This was a total team effort from the student-athletes to the assistant coaches, the athletic therapy staff and to the staff in the equipment cage.”

The Badgers have reached the final 26 times but haven’t hoisted the Baggataway Cup since 2009. Aidan Buis played the hero netting the game-winning goal in overtime.

“As a team, I can’t even put into words what the men on this team are feeling. This is hands down the hardest working group I have ever been a part of,” said senior goalie Simon Bellamy, who was named the tournament’s top goalie.

“We never give up. That’s what it takes to win a championship. These men captured greatness today.”

(Photo from Brock University)

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