Lords head to Denison for NCAC final

NCAC CHAMPIONSHIP SITE

GAMBIER, Ohio -- For the second time in as many seasons, the Kenyon College Lords lacrosse team will face Denison University in the North Coast Athletic Conference championship game. The conference finale will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Denison's Piper Stadium.

Kenyon, the conference tournament's No. 2 seed, enters the championship game with a 14-3 record following a 12-6 win over No. 3-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University in Wednesday's semifinal contest. Denison, the tournament's top seed, carries a 14-4 record after finishing off Oberlin College, 19-9, in the tournament's other semifinal game.

Kenyon's total of 14 wins is a program record and the Lords are currently on an eight-game win streak. The team's last loss was dealt by Denison on April 2. The Big Red, ranked No. 20 in the nation at that time, defeated Kenyon 16-7.

That home win against Kenyon in the regular season ignited a nine-game win streak for Denison, which has won the past five NCAC tournament titles. Last season, the Big Red squeaked by the Lords, 12-10, in the NCAC final.

This year's title game will feature Kenyon's defense, the best in the conference, against Denison's offense, which is also tops in the conference. The Lords have yielded just 115 goals this season, for an average of 6.76 goals allowed per game. That average not only ranks first in the NCAC, but also ranks second among all NCAA Division III teams.

The Denison offense has scored 293 goals this season, for an average of 16.28 goals per game. That average is best in the conference and ranks 28th in the nation.

The winner of Saturday's championship earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which starts on May 11. The NCAA will announce the remainder of the Division III field on Sunday with its online selection show starting at 9 p.m.

As mandated by the league office, tickets for Saturday's game are $7 for adults and $3 for children (18 and under). NCAC students with a valid institution ID will be admitted free of charge.

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