Thirty years ago today, the Hobart lacrosse team defeated Salisbury State 22-12 to open the 1980 season. Ten weeks later, the Statesmen hoisted the inaugural NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship trophy. Hobart went on to capture 12 consecutive titles (1980-1991).

On May 1, 2010, the Statesmen Athletic Association will bestow the title of Hobart Team of Distinction on the 1980 lacrosse team. They will be recognized prior to the start of the Hobart-Air Force lacrosse game at 7:00 p.m.

The 1980 squad opened the campaign with seven straight wins by an average margin of victory of 10.9 goals. The season opening run included an 11-8 victory over archrival Cornell. The Statesmen went 1-2 over their next three games, falling to Syracuse and UMBC, but rebounded with a 6-4 win at Cortland to post a 9-2 regular season record.

Hobart drew a grossly overmatched MIT team in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Statesmen dominated the Engineers, setting NCAA Tournament records for most goals in a game (37), fewest goals allowed (1), most combined goals in a game (38), most assists in a game (24), and most shots in a game (106).

In the semifinals, Hobart dispatched the Sea Gulls for a second time by the tighter-by-comparison-score of 21-5 to set up a championship showdown with the Red Dragons. The Statesmen rallied from a 5-4 halftime deficit to win the national championship 11-8.

The team boasted five All-Americans that season, midfielders Mark Darcangelo '82, Jon Feinstein '80, and Larry Grimaldi '82, and attackmen Roy McAdam '80 and Scott Petosa '80, while McAdam was named the National Attackman and National Player of the Year and Darcangelo was tabbed the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Four members of the team have been inducted into the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame, Assistant Coach Terry Corcoran '78 (HOF Class of 1992), Darcangelo (2003), Head Coach Dave Urick (1990), and goalie Guy Van Arsdale '83 (2001).

The Team of Distinction award was created in 2006 by the SAA Board of Directors to honor selected teams for their outstanding athletic achievements and for their contributions to the tradition of Hobart Athletics. The first Statesmen teams to receive this honor were the undefeated lacrosse teams of 1938 and 1940, and the undefeated football teams of 1954 and 1957.

Teams are eligible for the Team of Distinction award 10 years after the completion of their season. Recognized teams usually have won a conference, regional, or national championship, have recorded an undefeated season, have overcome exceptional challenges during their season, or were considered to be one of the "very best Hobart teams ever" in their respective sport.

The 1980 lacrosse team will be the ninth Hobart team to be named a Team of Distinction.

2010-03-12