Laxcats squeak past Sun Devils

In a physical battle between two determined squads, freshman attackman Matt Green and senior attackman Dan Price led Arizona's offense, combining for six goals and four assists.

The game got off to a slow start with each team scoring four goals apiece in the first half.

In the third quarter, the Laxcats came out fired up, scoring five unanswered goals including four goals in the first three and a half minutes. The third quarter ended with Arizona leading 9-5.

Sophomore midfielder Matt Wilkens scored the first goal of the fourth quarter for the Laxcats giving UA a 10-5 advantage. But ASU roared back behind three goals by attackman Tony Christofellis to make the score 11-10 with just over one minute remaining.

Felton said he called a timeout and told his team to shut down Christofellis. ASU was in possession after the timeout and the ball started in Christofellis' hands. As he attempted to get the ball across the blue line he was drilled by senior midfielder Dan McCarthy. McCarthy then led an Arizona fast break that resulted in a goal by Green.

"That was the play of the game," Felton said. "It was just phenomenal."

Felton said after the timeout, McCarthy approached him and told him not to worry about anything.

The Laxcats added another goal with under 30 seconds left to secure the victory.

Arizona was able to play almost at full strength defensively for the first time all season. Senior defenseman Phil Guiliano returned from an injury to help a defensive unit that got quality play from sophomores Jeff Cady, Laurance Bass and Tom Christian.

"It is great to get everyone healthy," Guiliano said. "We are learning to play together and we are really coming together as a defensive unit."

Felton said being able to rotate six to seven guys in on defense was a key part of the victory.

Felton's 250th win came without much recognition or fanfare.

"He deserves to be congratulated," former Laxcat and current assistant coach Chris Stinson said. "Words cannot describe what he has done for lacrosse not only at Arizona, but throughout the entire West Coast."

Former All-American lacrosse player at Massachusetts and former UA football player Matt Rhodes praised what Felton was accomplishing for the national popularity of Lacrosse.

"He (Felton) brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to a sport that gets little recognition on the West Coast," Rhodes said.

The Laxcats play Sunday against UC-San Diego at Wildcat Field. With a win, the Laxcats will find themselves hosting the quarterfinals of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League playoffs April 10.

Volleyball closes out regular season

The No. 1-ranked UA men's club volleyball team takes on Arizona State and Air Force this weekend at home as they attempt to go undefeated for the season in club play.

Neither match was slated on the schedule, but both were added last week due to changing circumstances.

The Wildcats (22-4 overall, 20-0 club) were supposed to be hosting the conference tournament this weekend, but the governing body canceled it last weekend, leaving Air Force high and dry. The Wildcat coaching staff, together with ASU, organized some last minute matches so as not to waste the Falcons' trip.

ASU and UA will play each other in Tempe tomorrow night, with Air Force arriving Saturday to play the Wildcats at the UA Student Recreation Center at noon.

Air Force will then travel to Tempe Sunday and play the Sun Devils that night. The matches will end the regular season for the Wildcats, as they travel the national club tournament Tuesday afternoon. The Wildcats are a virtual lock for a number one seed in the tournament, said UA assistant coach Skip Greenberg.

"Barring some freak occurrence this weekend, we will be number one," he said.

The Wildcats may be competing in the tournament without last year's national tournament MVP Mike Stowell, who is expected to miss this weekend with a shoulder injury.

However, the Wildcats will still be ready to play, Greenberg said.

"Missing Mike will be a major blow," he said. "But I know someone else will step up and play hard."- Joshua McClain