Howard University defeats Morgan State for 2014 HBCU Lacrosse title
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By RICK PERRY
ATLANTA – The 2014 HBCU Lacrosse National Tournament was held April 6 at Morehouse College. The four-game tournament was for this year’s bragging rights among the nation’s four Historically Black Colleges & Universities that field men’s club lacrosse programs.
In the championship match, Howard University rallied to defeat Morgan State University, 6-5. The Bison trailed, 4-2, at halftime but tightened their defense after the break. The second half featured rain and a field with scattered puddles full of pollen, which made for challenging, yet exciting, lacrosse.
The Bears fought hard and won most of the ground balls due to the Bison’s multiple passes that were missed or dropped. But Howard was relentless in its position defense and played with confidence in its offensive sets, producing four second-goals to dethrone the 2013 HBCU national champions.
The rivalries at B.T. Harvey Stadium was so thick and the competition so fierce, fans might have thought teams wouldn’t shake hands afterward. But the handshakes took place, as did the traditional photo featuring the teams that had just battled.
The tournament began with Howard taking on Morehouse. Hard hitting resulted in several game stoppages due to injury and a bench-clearing “almost brawl.” With high energy brewed from early-season trash talk and tempers flaring throughout the contest, offensive technical prowess was at a minimum, but the physicality of lacrosse was pushed to the limit.
There were several ties until Bison captain Chris Ard ripped a bounce shot with about 90 seconds remaining to give Howard a 7-6 victory.
In the other semifinal, Morgan State jumped to an early lead against Hampton University and cruised to a 12-4 win.
Hampton beat Morehouse in the third-place game, 8-6.
