Posted: May 06, 2016
For the first time in America East men's lacrosse history, the No. 3 and 4 seeds will meet for the league's men's lacrosse title as third-seeded Vermont and fourth-seeded Hartford both won their semifinal contests Thursday at Albany's Casey Stadium.
Hartford enters the game led by head coach and Roanoke Hall of Famer Peter Lawrence '98 and on the other sideline will be former Maroons standout Pat March '11 who is an assistant coach with the Catamounts.
Lawrence, who is in his 11th year at the helm of the Hartford program, was a standout player at Roanoke College and a member of to its 2008 Hall of Fame class. Lawrence led the Maroons to three straight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. He was a three-time all-conference selection and a two time All-American selection, and in 1998 he was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He also played in the North-South All-Star Game that same year. After graduating from Roanoke College in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education, Lawrence was drafted by the MLL's Bridgeport Barrage in the league's inaugural season (2001).
March was a two-time honorable mention All-American at Roanoke and scored 44 goals and 26 assists for 70 points as a senior. He was an All-ODAC First Team selection as a junior and senior and was a three-time all-conference selection, earning second team honors in 2008. March, who was also the ODAC Rookie of the Year in 2007, finished his career with 152 goals (2nd all-time at Roanoke), 91 assists (8th all-time) and 243 points (4th all-time).
Hartford and Vermont will square off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday with an automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament on the line. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and streamed online via AmericaEast.tv.
