BEST adj.
/best/
superlative of GOOD

1: excelling all others

2: most productive of good: offering or producing the greatest advantage, utility, or satisfaction

3: most, largest

(Source: Merriam-Webster)

Best of Lacrosse 2018 Finalists
Men’s Player | Women’s Player
Men’s Coach | Women’s Coach
Men’s Breakthrough | Women’s Breakthrough
Men’s Performance | Women’s Performance
Game | Moment

As the lacrosse calendar turns from 2018 to 2019 and we reflect on one of the most riveting years in recent memory, US Lacrosse Magazine is taking to Twitter for the fans’ perspective on what made it so. We’ve identified four finalists each in 10 categories in preparation for our annual “Best of Lacrosse” edition.

Below, we present the finalists for Best Moment.

Our #BestOfLax finalists for Best Moment of 2018:

* @RiverHawkWLax's Noelle Lambert scores
* @UMBCAthletics shocks @UAlbanyMLax
* @TomSchreiber26 wins it for @USAMLax
* @ndp_lacrosse1 ends @McDonoghSchool's streak

READ  https://t.co/6ohXMOKIKC
VOTE 

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) October 26, 2018

Noelle Lambert scores
UMass Lowell vs. Hartford - April 7

Noelle Lambert had been eager to get on the field, and rightfully so. The UMass-Lowell junior hadn’t played in a game since 2016 — the year she had part of her left leg amputated after a moped accident. After extensive rehab with her new prosthetic left leg, Lambert was cleared to participate in an NCAA game once again. On April 7, she got her chance. With UMass-Lowell leading Hartford, Lambert checked into the game to a round of applause. Moments later, lacrosse fans saw one of the moments of the year. Lambert got a pass from x and delivered it into the cage for the goal. Her teammates mobbed her after her first goal in almost two years.

U Must Be Cinderella
UMBC downs Albany - April 6

Albany headed to UMBC stadium on a roll — winning its first 10 games of 2018 and vaulting into the nation’s top ranking for the first time. Connor Fields, the star attackman that quarterbacked the Great Danes offense, was injured, but a 2-7 Retrievers team should have been a routine conference victory. But it wasn’t. UMBC used a big second quarter to lead 8-3 at halftime, and cruised to an 11-7 victory in front of a shocked crowd. The nation’s top team fell in one of the most unlikely upsets in recent men’s lacrosse memory.

Schreiber buzzer-beater to win gold
FIL World Championship Final - July 21

Tom Schreiber etched his name into U.S. national team lore in Netanya, Israel. The U.S. and Canada were knotted at eight goals apiece in waning seconds of the FIL World Championship final. Schreiber, who had just missed a potential game-winner, came off a screen, received a pass from Rob Pannell and scored with 0.2 seconds left to secure the gold medal for the U.S. men’s national team. Schreiber’s goal set the U.S. contingent into pandemonium that lasted throughout the day and will be remembered for years to come.

NDP ends McDonogh streak
Notre Dame vs. McDonogh - May 11

The longest winning streak in girls’ high school lacrosse history ended at US Lacrosse Headquarters on May 11. That’s when McDonogh (Md.) and Notre Dame Prep (Md.) faced off in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship game. The Blazers had lost to McDonogh in overtime earlier in the season, but made the next meeting count, taking down the might Eagles 10-8 in front of a standing-room-only crowd. It was McDonogh’s first loss since April 11, 2009.