OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Gettysburg goalie Zach Furshman, brother of Stevenson University men's lacrosse senior Greg Furshman (Miami, Fla./Towson), totaled 15 saves, including 13 in the second half, to help lead the fifth-ranked Bullets to a 12-7 win over the No. 1-ranked Mustangs Sunday in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship. The win was the 14th straight for Gettysburg (16-3) and sends the team back to the national championship game for the third time in school history and the first since 2002.

Meanwhile, the loss ends the best season in school history for Stevenson (17-2) who suffered only its second loss in 13 home games this season. Over the last years, the team has compiled a record of 20-3 at Caves Athletics Complex. The Mustangs totaled a school record 17 wins, achieved the school's first-ever No. 1 ranking in anty sport and advanced farther in the NCAA championship than any team in school history.

With the game tied at 3-3 after the first quarter, Gettysburg scored nine of the game's final 13 goals, leading by as many as six with 8:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. Junior Nic Bevacqua (Boonton Township. N.J./Mountain Lakes) pulled the Mustangs within three following his 30th goal of the season with 12:58 left, but the Bullets responded with three goals in less than three minutes, including McGrath's third, to push the lead to 12-6.

Stevenson held a 41-36 margin in shots, including 25-18 in the second half, and won 14 of 21 faceoffs, but was limited by 22 turnovers and an inability to score with a man advantage. The Mustangs scored just once on six extra-man opportunities and were 0-4 in the second and 0-3 in the third quarter.

Kyle McGrath and Danno Lynch each had three goals to lead the Bullets offensively while McGrath added two assists and finished with five points. Seven different players scored at least one goal for the Bullets, including two from Zach Pucci. Josh Reichert also had a goal and an assist.

Bevacqua and senior Chris Baldwin (Baltimore/Calvert Hall) each had two goals for Stevenson while junior Steve Kazimer (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) finished with three points on a goal and two assists. Junior Geoff Hebert (Lutherville/Dulaney) had 13 saves and totaled 42 in three NCAA championship games.

Gettysburg will play Cortland State in the national championship game next Sunday, May 24 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro after the Red Dragons defeated Middlebury 16-8 in Sunday's other semifinal.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Junior Kyle McGrath (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) scored three goals and handed out two assists and senior Zach Furshman (Miami, Fla./Kent School [Conn.]) made 13 of his season-high 15 saves in the second half as No. 5 Gettysburg defeated No. 1 Stevenson University 12-7 in the NCAA Division III semifinals Sunday afternoon at a windy, chilly Caves Athletic Complex.

With the win, the Bullets (16-3) advance to the Division III national championship game for the third time in program history and will take on No. 7 SUNY Cortland, a 16-8 winner over No. 2 Middlebury in the other semifinal. Gettysburg and Cortland will meet on Sunday, May 24 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. in a game that will televised by CBS College Sports Network.

Gettysburg, which played in the national championship game in 2001 and 2002, also tied the school record for consecutive victories with its 14th straight win.

The Bullets never trailed but led just 8-5 heading into the fourth quarter. But a 4-1 run over the first seven minutes of the final period broke it open.

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2009-05-17