The Air Force and University of Denver men’s lacrosse teams are two of five teams that will join the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Lacrosse League for the 2009-10 season as part of a nationwide shuffling of teams and conferences.
Making the move with the Falcons and Pioneers are fellow Great Western Lacrosse League members Ohio State, Quinnipiac and Bellarmine. The sixth member of the GWLL, Notre Dame, is going to the Big East Conference.
The ECAC will lose Georgetown, Rutgers and St. John’s to the Big East, and Massachusetts and Penn State to the Colonial Athletic Association. The remaining ECAC members welcoming the new schools are Fairfield (Conn.), Hobart (N.Y.) and Loyola (Md.). Three of the eight teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season — DU, Ohio State and Loyola.
“We are excited to join the ECAC men’s lacrosse league,” DU coach Jamie Munro said. “This conference will provide tremendous competition that will help us prepare for the NCAA Tournament year in and year out.”
Quarterfinals set at Match Play.
Zen Brown of Indian Tree Golf Course is on track to defend his title at the Colorado Golf Association’s Match Play Championship at Plum Creek Golf and Country Club in Castle Rock, winning two matches Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals. Brown defeated Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree G.C. in the morning round of 32 and Dan Kleckner of Pinehurst C.C. in the afternoon round of 16, both by 1-up scores.
Brown, who plays for Colorado State, will face University of Colorado player and CGA Public Links champion Derek Tolan of South Suburban, who defeated Matthew Brunk of Collindale G.C. 1-up in the round of 16.
Also making the quarterfinals were Tolan’s CU teammates, Patrick Grady of Omni Interlocken and Luke Symons of Valley C.C., Matt Riggs of Cherry Hills C.C., 2004 champion Steve Irwin of Lakewood C.C., James Kurtenbach of South Suburban, and Robert Polk of Colorado G.C. In a “battle of the ages,” Polk, the 2007 CGA senior player of the year, beat the 2007 junior player of the year, Mark Hubbard of Pinehurst C.C., on the 20th hole.
Huffer strafes Buffalo Run.
Becca Huffer of Overland Golf Course fired eight birdies on her way to a second-round 3-under-par 69 and a three-stroke lead at the Colorado Women’s Golf Association Stroke Play Championship at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City.
Ashley Tait of Raccoon Creek shot a 67 to close the gap on Huffer, who’s at 7-under 137. Tait and Kasey Claussen (69) of Collindale G.C. are three shots behind at 140.
AFA signs women’s hoops assistant.
Kirk Crawford, an assistant basketball coach at Southern Mississippi the past four seasons, is returning to Colorado to be an assistant for the Air Force women’s team.
Crawford was born in Denver and got his coaching career started at Springfield High School in 1978. He also coached at Littleton High School for one season.
Broomfield boy makes good.
Broomfield native Mike Wilpolt was named the Arena Football League coach of the year after leading the Cleveland Gladiators to a 9-7 record and a playoff berth after the team went 2-14 in 2007.
