NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — To say Merrimack made a statement would be an understatement.
With a 24-6 win over NYIT on Saturday, the top-seeded Warriors continued their mission to return to their third straight NCAA Division II men's lacrosse championship weekend with their highest offensive output of the season.
Merrimack will advance to play Seton Hill for the rights to go to the Division II title game. With Lenoir-Rhyne meeting Saint Leo in the other semifinal, a first-time national champion is guaranteed.
It was the largest offensive output of the season for the Warriors, and their most goals in more than a year, thanks in part to freshman Christian Thomas.
“At the beginning of the year, the seniors reached out to us and made us feel like a part of the team,” Thomas said. “When we're out there it doesn't feel like upper- or under-classmen, it's just everyone.”
After winning their first Northeast 10 title in eight years, the Warriors' next step is that elusive national title. Their dominant showing at home to kick off the postseason was a lot of pent-up emotion, and the Bears were the recipient of that.
Thomas scored a career-high six goals, and totaled 10 points. For a young offense, led by freshman Sean Black and sophomore Charlie Bertrand, the Warriors play like a unit that’s been together their entire lives.
“We have a lot of guys who were so good last year to help us get to the final and a lot of them are back,” Merrimack coach Mike Morgan said. “Then you inject the young guys and the talent is there. You just hope they mesh, and they did pretty quickly.”
Thomas scored the first four goals of the game, including two within a span of 10 seconds in the first quarter.
It was a tone-setter that didn’t let up. Merrimack poured in 14 goals in the second quarter while blanking the Bears in the frame.
“I talked to coach earlier and he said play loose,” Thomas said. “Shots were falling, and we have to keep going. Can't stop now.”
Even with all their weapons on offense, the team had a focus on finding Thomas.
“A big part of the game plan was trying to find him inside and we did,” he said. “He looked great, especially as a freshman, he's in a tough game and having success that early sets a tone.”
Faceoff specialist Blake Boudreau won all 20 faceoffs he took in the second half. He was taken out with the big lead, but it was still the best performance of the senior’s career.
“We stuck to our game plan,” he said. “I tried to win the faceoffs to give our attack the ball as much as I could. I think we have the best attack in the country so just want to give them possessions.”
Merrimack needs to win one more game to get back to Gillette Stadium just a little over an hour away from campus.
Even though it’s certainly on the Warriors' mind, it’s still just one game, and one goal, at a time.
“When you go to Gillette and experience what goes in it, a lot of us grew up watching games there,” defenseman Eric Coburn said. “You aspire to getting on that stage. Once you get there, you can't imagine anything but getting back. You have to squeeze every ounce out of that rock to get back there.”