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Scoreboard
Lacrosse Builds a Dynasty of Excellence
NYIT senior Joe Gabrysiak did more than just score the winning goal in a champion-ship game. On May 29, at 2:04 in overtime, he capped a brilliant college lacrosse career with a shot that will go down as one of the most memorable moments in NYIT’s 50-year history.
Playing in front of a crowd of 21,000 people at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles, the NYIT Bears defeated Limestone College 14-13 to capture their third NCAA Division II lacrosse national championship. The game marked an unprecedented run for six NYIT seniors through NCAA Division II as well as New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) lacrosse as they finished their college careers with championship trophies in both leagues this season. |
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And the scoreboard of accomplishments continues to put up big numbers. In addition to the two championships in 2005, the Bears have earned four consecutive NCAA championship appearances, won four consecutive NYCAC championships, and achieved a record of 49-5 over the past four years.
In fact, this season marked the first time in five years that the lacrosse team actually lost more than one regular season game. But with several teams vying for top spots in the NCAA playoffs, the Bears knew they had their work cut out for them if they wanted to continue their impressive championship run.
“We had to take it one game at a time,” says senior Tom Zummo, “and it all started with our seniors. We had the experience of getting to the NCAA championship, and we knew it would be up to all of us to make it happen.”
The Bears did just that, winning their last three games in dominating fashion to secure the third seed in the NCAA tournament. NYIT traveled to neighboring C.W. Post University for the NCAA semi-finals, where they defeated the Pioneers by a score of 21-9 to advance to the finals.
And on a sunny day in Philadelphia, the Bears found themselves in a champ-ionship battle against second-seeded Limestone College as neither team led by more than two goals throughout the entire game. In the end, it would be the Bears’ captains who made the difference in the exhilarating 14-13 overtime victory. Senior midfielder Gabrysiak scored the game winner in overtime and, with three other goals and four assists, was named Most Outstanding Player; Zummo scored a game-high five goals; and defenseman Chris Vitucci held the nation’s top scorer, Roger Vyse of Limestone College, to just two goals.
“It was my last game as a senior,” Gabrysiak says, “and I wanted to make sure none of us left NYIT as losers. There is no better feeling than leaving at the top of your game.”
Head Coach Jack Kaley agrees. “Great players play great in big games, and there is no question that our three senior captains did just that. All of our players have worked so hard and I couldn’t be prouder of this group. They have paved the way for the younger players on the team to continue the winning tradition of NYIT lacrosse.”
| NYIT Post-Season Appearances |
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| NCAA Division I |
Men’s baseball
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1983 |
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| NCAA Division II |
Men’s and women’s track and field
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1974 through 2004* |
| Men’s baseball |
1978, 1980 |
| Men’s basketball |
1978, 1980, 2004 |
| Men’s soccer |
1984, 2003 |
| Men’s lacrosse |
1994, 1997**, 2002, 2003**, 2004, 2005** |
| Women’s volleyball |
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
* Collectively won 28 NCAA individual championships between 1985 and 2004. |
** NCAA team champions |
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| NYCAC |
Women’s volleyball
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1989-90*, 2001-02 |
| Men’s lacrosse |
2001-02*, 2002-03*, 2003-04*, 2004-05* |
| Men’s track and field |
2002-03* (indoor and outdoor) |
| Women’s track and field |
2002-03* (outdoor) |
| Men’s basketball |
2002-03 |
| Men’s soccer |
2003-04* |
| Women’s basketball |
2003-04 |
* NYCAC champions |
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