La Jolla, CA – In a spirited and entertaining game, the #2 Colorado State Rams led 12-9 at the end of the third quarter and had to endure a furious fourth quarter comeback from the #20 Loyola Marymount Lions, holding on to win 12-11 on Sunday afternoon on the campus of UC-San Diego.  LMU controlled the ball for much of the fourth quarter, but the Lions could not get over the hump in what became a game of runs.  Both teams scored in spurts throughout as the Rams kept their composure down the stretch and defeated a hard working and talented Loyola Marymount squad that was hungry for an upset.

The Rams scored three goals in the first minute of the game as Paul Larson (Heritage HS; CO) and Ryan MacDonald (Smoky Hill HS; CO) took advantage of some unsettled play and jumped out to an early lead.  LMU battled back with four goals over the last 7:13 of the quarter to tie the game at 5-5.  The Lions’ Brian Minkler had all of his 3 goals in the first quarter before CSU adjusted and kept the talented attackman from scoring for the rest of the contest.

Colorado State responded with their own second quarter run, outscoring LMU 4-1 in the period to take a 9-6 lead into halftime.  Four different players scored as CSU controlled the action in the period.  The Rams won the majority of face-offs in the half, but LMU had success in the second half, including 3 of 4 in the fourth quarter as they staged their comeback.

After the Rams made it 9-6 after three quarters, Loyola Marymount put pressure on the CSU goal for much of the fourth quarter, but could not find the equalizer as time was winding down.  While LMU had the ball for much of the fourth, they never had a great look at getting the game tied and CSU held on for a well-earned victory.

The Rams got three goals each from Larson and Kevin Wolff (Don Bosco Prep; NJ) in addition to 3 points each from Ryan MacDonald (Smoky Hill HS; CO) and Cooper Kehoe (Robert Louis Stevenson HS; CO) in the win.  LMU was led by Minkler, who added 2 assists to his 3 first quarter goals in a very good effort, and Thomas Anderson and James Hinkamp, who both contributed with 3 points apiece.  Garrett Fitzgerald (Regis Jesuit; CO) made 13 saves in the win while LMU’s Tom McClintock had 9 saves in the losing effort.

Colorado State (6-2) finishes the challenging California road-swing 2-1 and will go on Spring Break before hosting #5 Oregon, a team that has jumped out to an 8-0 record on the season.  The Rams dropped an exciting overtime decision to Oregon in last year’s MCLA semifinals and the Ducks have jumped into the league’s elite over the past 5 years.  CSU will also have home games that week against #13 Cal Poly and #25 Utah that week as the schedule heads down the homestretch over the last month and a half of the season.

                           Lacrosse Box Score (Final)
                      The Automated ScoreBook For Lacrosse
#2 Colorado State Univ. vs #20 Loyola Marymount (Mar 16, 2008 at San Diego, CA)

Colorado State Univ. (6-2) vs.                    
Loyola Marymount (6-3)                            
Date: Mar 16, 2008  Attendance: 200               
Weather: Sunny and breezy                         

SCORE BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ.  5  4  3  0 - 12
Loyola Marymount....  5  1  2  3 - 11

Colorado State Univ. SCORING: GOALS: Wolff,Kevin 3; Larson,Paul 3; Kehoe,Cooper
2; Macdonald,Ryan 1; Wallace,Ben 1; Miller,Luke 1; Hamerstadt,Ryan 1.
ASSISTS: Macdonald,Ryan 2; Kehoe,Cooper 1; Morrison,Spencer 1; Torres,Will 1.

Loyola Marymount SCORING: GOALS: Minkler, Brian 3; Hinkamp, James 2; Perkins,
Joseph 2; Cavalier, Ryan 2; Anderson, Thomas 1; Ury, Tim 1.
ASSISTS: Anderson, Thomas 2; Minkler, Brian 2; Hinkamp, James 1.

GOALTENDER SUMMARY
Colorado State Univ.      Minutes   GA   W/L Saves
--------------------------------------------------
8  Fitzgerald,Garrett..     60:00   11    W     13

Loyola Marymount          Minutes   GA   W/L Saves
--------------------------------------------------
16 McClintock, Tom.....     60:00   12    L      9

SHOTS BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ. 13  9  9  5 - 36
Loyola Marymount....  6  8  8  9 - 31

GROUND BALLS BY PRD   1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ. 10 13 14  9 - 46
Loyola Marymount....  6  8  8  8 - 30

FACE-OFFS BY PRD       1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ.  7-11  3-6   4-6   1-4  - 15-27
Loyola Marymount....  4-11  3-6   2-6   3-4  - 12-27

CLEARS BY PERIOD       1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ.  5-6   5-7   6-7   5-5  - 21-25
Loyola Marymount....  3-6   3-8   6-8   6-9  - 18-31

EXTRA-MAN OPPS         1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ.  1-2   0-0   0-2   0-1  -  1-5
Loyola Marymount....  1-2   0-0   0-2   0-1  -  1-5

SAVES BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ.  1  3  4  5 - 13
Loyola Marymount....  3  1  4  1 -  9

TURNOVERS BY PRD      1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Colorado State Univ.  4  5  4  5 - 18
Loyola Marymount....  3  2  3  5 - 13

PENALTIES - Colorado State Univ. 5/3:30; Loyola Marymount 5/4:00.
Officials: Tim McGarry; Ron Sanchez; Paul Miynone. Scorer: Tiana and Melissa.