NCAA BOUND - Springfield To Host Mount Ida In First Round Contest

Springfield, Mass. - May 3, 2009 - The Springfield College men's lacrosse team will host the Mount Ida Mustangs in an opening round game of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Tournament on Wednesday. Game time has yet to be determined for the contest.

The winner of the game will then travel to square off against last season's national runner up, Cortland State, on Saturday.

Springfield earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Pilgrim Lacrosse League for the second-straight year by defeating Wheaton, 12-7, on Saturday.

The Mustangs won their sixth consecutive North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship by toppling Castleton State, 25-9, on Saturday afternoon. Mount Ida will head into the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row and stands at 13-6 on the year.

The two teams have a pair of common opponents. The Mustangs defeated Babson 8-7, while the Pride defeated Babson twice, 22-6 in the regular season and 24-4 in the Pilgrim League Tournament semifinals. Springfield and Mount Ida both lost to Amherst during the season, with the Mustangs falling 17-5 and the Pride dropping a 5-6 decision to the Lord Jeffs.