OCC Men's Lacrosse Captures Seventh Straight NJCAA National Championship with win Over CCBC-Essex

The Onondaga Community College men's lacrosse started and ended the 2015 season on top after defeating CCBC-Essex, 16-8, to capture their seventh straight National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship on Sunday in Baltimore, Md.

The win marks caps a decade of dominance for Onondaga, which has won the national title nine times in the last 10 years. The 2015 campaign has been a year of streaks for the Lazers. Aside from their seventh consecutive title, Onondaga won its 11th straight Region III Championship along with its 15th straight Mid-State Athletic Conference title. Sunday's win moved Onondaga to 18-0 and extended its own NJCAA all-time mark for consecutive wins across all sports and divisions with its 105 straight victories.

"This was a memorable season to say the least," stated Onondaga head coach and the NJCAA's Coach of the Tournament, Chuck Wilbur. "We set out back in the summer with one goal in mind, and to have been able to accomplish it is such a great feeling. Every guy on this team played a big role in our success – every single guy. To say I'm proud of what we've done is an understatement."

Matt Bennett was named the Championships Most Valuable Offensive Player while Onondaga's goalie, Holden McDonald, was selected as the Most Valuable Defensive Player. Nick Sawyer, Tyson Bell, Brine Rice and Sean Lattimore were each named to the All-Tournament Team for their contributions in the Lazers' two wins over the weekend.

Onondaga found itself in a 1-0 hole to begin the game and wouldn't notch the equalizer until nearly nine minutes in when Sawyer scored a man-up opportunity that would spark a four-goal run that lasted into the second quarter.

The Knights would cut the deficit in half with a man-up tally of their own at the 10:30 mark of the second frame, but the Lazers responded with goals from Sean Ohlhaver and Lattimore to take a 6-2 lead.

Essex would score the final goal of the first half with 41 seconds showing and scored again just 27 ticks into the third quarter to climb to within two goals, 6-4, but that was as close as they would get as the Lazers would score four of the next five goals to claim a 10-5 advantage heading into the final quarter.

After exchanging tallies to begin the fourth, Onondaga ripped off four unanswered goals including a pair from Rice to take a commanding nine-goal lead.

Essex tried to put together a late comeback, scoring two goals in the final seven minutes, but Lattimore would score the game's final goal to close the door on any Essex chances.

12 different players had their names etched into the scorebook for Onondaga led by Rice's six points on two goals and a game-high four assists. Bennett finished with three goals and an assist while Sean Lattimore netted a pair of goals to go along with two assists. Parrish Young and Sawyer each finished with two goals and Max Bosworth, Kyle Killen, Tom Koster along with Bell and Ohlhaver chipped in with one goal apiece.

McDonald played all 60 minutes in net and made 13 saves along the way. McDonald finishes his freshman season with an unblemished record, 16-0.

Sam Watts was 9-for-18 at X while Doug Jamieson won all but two chances after going 6-for-8.

The Lazers held a 59-35 shot advantage and picked up nearly 20 more groundballs than the Knights, 32-13.

The Lazers dominated in nearly every facet of the game this season after outscoring their competition 448-56. The Lazers held opponents to only 261 shots this season while peppering the competition with nearly 1043 shots of their own. Onondaga won nearly 80 percent of its face-offs this season and forced its opponents into 342 turnovers in all.

Postseason Praise Pours in for Men's Lacrosse - Nine Named NJCAA All-American

Nine members of the National Champion Onondaga Community College men's lacrosse team were named All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) following the Lazers' seventh consecutive win in the championship game this past weekend.

Tyson Bell, Oakley Thomas, Sean Ohlhaver, Matt Bennett, Holden McDonald, Chandler Allen and Adam Bomberry were each named First-Team All-American while Kyle Killen and Brine Rice were named to the Second-Team.

Thomas earned his second consecutive All-American nod this season after starting all 18 games for the Lazers defensive front.

Thomas was instrumental in keeping the ball out of Onondaga's net and ranked second on the team with 26 caused turnovers to go along with 31 groundballs.

Thomas, who was also named to the All-Conference and to the All-Region First-Team, was also able to contribute to the team's success on the offensive end of the field with two goals including one in the NJCAA Region III Men's Lacrosse Championship.

Bennett can add the title All-American to his resume as the freshman attacker was also named First-Team All-Region and the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Region III Championship and the NJCAA National Championship game.

Bennett led the Lazers and ranked third overall in the nation with 81 points. The Lafayette graduate posted 40 goals in 18 games this season and a team-high 41 helpers.

Bennett contributed 19 total points in the Lazers run to an 11th straight Region III title and would go on to add eight more points (six goals, two assists) in Onondaga's two game climb to its seventh consecutive national crown.

The freshman attacker posted three points or more in 14 games and posted a career-high eight points four times.

Bomberry was also named to the NJCAA All-American First-Team after scooping up 57 groundballs for Onondaga. The sophomore appeared in 15 games and registered 13 total points. He was named All-Conference and First-Team All-Region as well.

Rice was named Second-Team All-American after finishing with 64 total points being credited to his name during his freshman campaign. Also a First-Team All-Region and All-MSAC selection, Rice scored 33 goals and assisted on 31 others.

Rice appeared in all 18 games for Onondaga and tallied at least four points 10 times including six points on two goals and four helpers in the title game against Essex.

A combo player appearing at both attack and midfield, Rice filled the season box score, totaling 70 shots while also adding 21 groundballs and 14 caused turnovers.

2015 NJCAA All-Americans:

First-Team: Chandler Allen, Tyson Bell, Matt Bennett, Adam Bomberry, Holden McDonald, Sean Ohlhaver, Oakley Thomas

Second-Team: Kyle Killen, Brine Rice

2015 NJCAA All-Region III

First Team: Chandler Allen, Tyson Bell, Matt Bennett, Adam Bomberry, Kyle Killen, Holden McDonald, Sean Ohlhaver, Brine Rice, Oakley Thomas

Second-Team: Parrish Young

2015 All-Mid-State Athletic Conference (MSAC)

Chandler Allen, Tyson Bell, Adam Bomberry, Kyle Killen, Holden McDonald, Sean Ohlhaver, Brine Rice, Oakley Thomas

Player of the Year: Tyson Bell