SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 1-ranked Salisbury University men's lacrosse team is just 60 minutes of play away from capturing the program's 16th consecutive Capital Athletic Conference championship. The Sea Gulls hosted the University of Mary Washington on Wednesday afternoon in a CAC tournament semifinal match, defeating the Eagles 18-7. Salisbury, the top seed in the tournament, will now host No. 3-ranked Stevenson University, the second-seed, on Saturday in the CAC championship game. 

Mary Washington, the fifth-seed in the tournament, came out swinging but excellent defense in the cage by junior goalkeeper Johnny Rodriguez (Gambrills, Md.) prevented all but two of the Eagles' 12 first-half shots on goal from reaching the back of the net. Sophomore attack Matt Cannone (Bayport, N.Y.) led scoring for the maroon and gold in the first half, netting three of Salisbury's 11 first-half goals; sophomore midfielder Sam Bradman (Canton, N.Y.) also netted three goals in the first half, bringing his season scoring total to an impressive 50 goals. Senior midfielder Ryan Finch (Finksburg, Md.) was 10-for-11 from the face-off “X” in the first 30 minutes of play.

The Sea Gulls (17-0) wasted no time charging the goal in the third period as senior midfielder Mike Von Kamecke (Winter Park, Fla.) ripped a shot past Eagle (8-9) goalkeeper Ryan Montgomery (four saves) just 1:35 into the quarter to give Salisbury a 10-goal advantage. Salisbury never looked back, netting seven goals in the third and fourth quarter combined to seal the deal. Nine different Sea Gulls scored in the lopsided victory. Rodriguez finished with 14 saves, just three shy of his career-high. Cannone finished with a game-high four goals.

The championship game time is to be determined, but will be played at Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday, April 24. Salisbury has never lost a CAC championship since joining the conference in 1995. This will be the second time this season that the Gulls have squared off against the Mustangs (15-1); Salisbury handed Stevenson its only loss of the season, a 16-10 decision, back on April 3.