Lacrosse Classic In the Books

OCEAN CITY- The 17^th Annual Ocean City Lacrosse
Classic, held at several venues in the resort area over four days last weekend,
was one for the record books with over 100 teams competing in four divisions
and a memorable final in the men's Elite Division.

The event has grown by leaps and bounds since its
inception in 1993 when a handful of teams competed on a hardscrabble field
behind Ocean City Elementary. From those modest beginnings, the Ocean City
Lacrosse Classic has grown to become one of the highlights on the summer
lacrosse calendar and now rivals older and more established tournaments in Vail
and Lake Placid in terms of size and stature.

This year, the tournament grew again from an even 100 last
year to 105. Most of the action, including the final rounds and championship
games in each of the four divisions, was centered at Northside Park in Ocean
City, but games were also played over the weekend at the Northern Worcester
Athletic Complex in Berlin, Most Blessed Sacrament School and the town's fields
at 4^th Street.

Highlighting the event each year is the men's Elite
Division, which features some of the top collegiate and professional players in
the country. This year, the Jack Lingo team won the elite division championship,
beating Marksman, 8-7, with a dramatic finish in the title game. Marksman led
6-3 in the second half before Jack Lingo rallied late. Lingo's Joe Walters tied
the game at 7-7 with 51 seconds left and then won the game with a diving goal
as time expired.

In the women's Elite Division, Pickle's Pub beat
Laxtastic, 11-6, in the semifinals, while Ocean Pride beat Hero's, 14-2, in the
other semifinal. In the title game on Sunday, Pickle's Pub beat Ocean Pride,
9-6, for the championship.

The action was a little slower but no less exciting in the
Masters and Grand Masters divisions, which featured some of the top college and
pro players from years gone by. For the record, Kooper's beat Smartlink, 6-5,
to win the Masters division championship after beating the Crab Cake Factory,
5-4, in overtime in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Smartlink beat the
Greene Turtle, 9-5. In the Grand Masters division, Harley Davidson beat
Interlock, 7-0, in the championship game.