SELC Set to Crown Champions
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two teams will punch their tickets to Texas as the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) holds its semifinals and finals this weekend, April 22-23, in Jacksonville at the Bolles School.
The SELC winners in both divisions will receive an automatic qualifying bid to the 2023 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance, which takes place at the Round Rock (Texas) Multipurpose Complex from May 8-13.
BRACKETS: DIVISION I | DIVISION II
In D-I, the semifinals will open on Saturday with defending SELC and two-time defending national champion South Carolina (7-8) taking on the top seed out of the North subdivision, Georgia (12-1), at 4:30 p.m.
The two teams met on April 7 in Athens with the Bulldogs taking the 11-7 decision, bolstered by a trio of hat tricks and 23 saves from Reed McCall.
In the other semifinal, South top seed Florida (12-1) will square off with North second seed Georgia Tech (12-3) at 7 p.m. The two teams did not meet this year, with the last matchup coming last March with the Gators taking a 10-9 win in Atlanta.
On the Division II side of the ledger, action will open at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with South top seed Florida Gulf Coast (9-0) running up against Georgia Southern (4-5).
The two teams met on April 2 in Statesboro with the Eagles rolling to a 16-7 victory thanks to three goals and two assists from Jayson Andino and 15 saves from Grant Shafer.
On the other side of the D-II bracket, defending SELC champion and North top seed Kennesaw State (8-3) tangles with South No. 2 Florida Atlantic (5-5) at 1 p.m. The teams did not meet this year, but did meet in the semifinals of last year’s SELC tourney, which saw Kennesaw post the 15-12 victory.
"The SELC has sent numerous teams to the national tournament before, but, on the D-I side, I can't remember any conference sending three to four with a real chance to take home a title since the RMLC's run in the late 90s and early 2000s," said SELC director Michael Dubbelde. "Needless to say, this year's SELC championships will be quite a show."
A weekend pass can be purchased for the tournament for $15 or day passes are available for $10. Children under six are free. Players from youth to the high school level who wear their jerseys get in free.
Streaming options will be released at a later date.
SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference (SELC) Tournament
Bolles School – Jacksonville, Fla. – April 22-23
Division I
First Round – LaGrange, Ga. – Saturday, April 15
#3N South Carolina d. #2S Auburn, 19-9
#2N Georgia Tech d. #3S Florida State, 11-7
Semifinals – Jacksonville, Fla. – Saturday, April 22
#3N South Carolina vs. #1N Georgia, 4:30 p.m.
#2N Georgia Tech vs. #1S Florida, 7 p.m.
Finals – Jacksonville, Fla. – Sunday, April 23
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.
Division II
Semifinals – Jacksonville, Fla. – Saturday, April 22
#2N Georgia Southern vs. #1S Florida Gulf Coast, 10:30 a.m.
#2S Florida Atlantic vs. #1N Kennesaw State, 1 p.m.
Finals – Jacksonville, Fla. – Sunday, April 23
Semifinal winners, 11 a.m.