1971 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship

The 1971 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the first Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament.[1] Prior to this the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) had voted for the national champion and, subsequently, awarded the Wingate Memorial Trophy for the NCAA title based on regular season records. Eight NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament. The tournament culminated with the finals, held at Hofstra University in front of 5,458 fans. For this tournament as well as the 1972 tournament, the Wingate Memorial Trophy was presented to the winner.

Contents

Tournament overview

The Cornell Big Red, who posted a 13–1 record during the season, led by coach Richard M. Moran and star players Bob Rule, John Burnap, Bob Shaw, and Alan Rimmer defeated the Maryland Terrapins 12–6. Cornell won 13 straight game en route to the title, losing only their opening game by one goal to Virginia. Canadian-born Al Rimmer scored six goals in the finals to lead Cornell. [2] Rimmer, from Toronto, led Cornell with 43 goals and 31 assists for 74 points for the season. He ended his career as the all-time Cornell record-holder in career points with 80 goals and 82 assists for 162 points. [3]

This was Cornell's first lacrosse title since winning the USILA championship in 1907. Cornell was 1-4-1 against Maryland, up to this point, in a series that began with Cornell's 2-1 win in 1921. The teams played a 2-2 tie in 1922, and Maryland won by 11-1 in 1929, 14-2 in 1951, 17-10 in 1963 and 13-6 in 1965. [3] Frank Davis' four goals against Army in the semi-finals ensured Cornell's place in the national championship.

Tournament bracket

  First Round Semi-Finals Finals

June 5, 1971
                           
  1  Cornell 10  
8  Brown 8  
  1  Cornell 17  
  4  Army 16  
4  Army 19
  5  Hofstra 3  
    1  Cornell 12
  3  Maryland 6
  2  Navy 9  
7  Virginia 6  
  2  Navy 7
  3  Maryland 10  
3  Maryland 10
  6  Air Force 1  

All-Tournament

See also

References

  1. ^ "Division I Men's Lacrosse History". NCAA.com. http://www.ncaa.com/history/default.aspx?id=88000. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
  2. ^ Carry, Peter (June 14, 1971). "Big Red Votes Itself No. 1". SportsIllustrated.com. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084971/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
  3. ^ a b Associated Press. Cornell Eyes NCAA Stick Title. SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD. June 3, 1971. pg. 18
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