May 27, 2007

by Paul Ohanian, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

BALTIMORE - Through 18 of 22 undefeated games this season, Salisbury had followed a predictable script. Jump to an early lead and ride the momentum through the rest of the game.

The Gulls had trailed at the end of the first quarter just twice all year. In two other games, they were tied after the first 15 minutes.

In each of those games, the Gulls had rebounded with a strong second quarter to claim control. Those second quarters included runs of 3-1, 6-0, 5-0 and 5-0.

Because of that history - and the confidence it breeds - the Gulls may not have been unsettled by a 4-1 first-quarter deficit against Cortland in Sunday's NCAA Division III national championship game. They had comeback history on their side.

"The basic idea is to never panic, no matter what the score is," said senior attackman Eric Bishop. "We know we're going to score goals."

True to form, the nation's top-scoring team responded again. Bishop ignited the comeback with his first of four goals at 2:43 of the first quarter to cut the deficit to two goals by the end of the opening quarter.

Five consecutive Salisbury goals - including back-to-back-strikes from junior Matt Hickman - through the first seven eight minutes of the second quarter pushed SU's advantage to 7-4. Deficit erased.

Following a couple of halftime adjustments, the Gulls added another run in the third quarter. After spotting Cortland the first goal of the half, Salisbury scored another five straight and outscored the Red Dragons 6-2 in the quarter. Bishop assisted on three of the goals in the quarter.

"I take it on my shoulders to lead the offense, but it doesn't have to be by scoring a goal," he said. "I don't feel a need to score goals."

Despite that feeling, Bishop finished with four goals and a game-high seven points to finish his senior season with 102 points. He finished as one of three members of SU's 2007 attack unit - along with Hickman and junior Greg Titus - to each eclipse the 90-point mark. The Gulls set new NCAA Division III records with 417 goals, 271 assists, and 688 points this season.

"It's definitely a story-book ending for us," Bishop said. "We had a great senior class. We couldn't have scripted it better."