CUFLA ANNOUNCES BANK OF AMERICA BAGGATAWAY CUP – CANADIAN UNIVERSITY LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 4, 2009 - Ottawa, Ont., Canada - The Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association ( "CUFLA"), in association with Bank of America, is pleased to announce the Baggataway Cup 'Final-Four' championship to be held November 7-8 in Ottawa at Carleton University.   This year marks the 25th annual Baggataway Cup, CUFLA's championship that features scholar-athletes from Canada's 12 premier university field lacrosse teams.  The schedule of games to be played on Carleton's Ravens’ Field follows:

November 7 – CUFLA Semifinals

12pm - Brock University (#1 West) versus McGill University (#2 East)

3pm  - Trent University (#1 East) versus McMaster University (#2 West)

November 8 - CUFLA Final

1pm - Bank of America Baggataway Cup National Championship Game 

The first semi-final features the undefeated (11-0) Brock Badgers against the McGill Redmen (8-3).  While Brock has won 16 out of 24 national championships since 1985, McGill finished as runner-up in 2008.  An underdog Redmen squad stunned the Badgers in the 2008 Baggataway semi-finals by defeating them 13-9, so Brock seeks to avenge last year’s upset.  Brock is ranked #1 by Laxpower in Canada while McGill is rated #2, so this is expected to be a close contest.

The second semi-final will showcase the Trent Excalibur (9-3), a team that finished the 2008 season at 10-0 but lost in the semi-finals to eventual champion Guelph, versus the McMaster Marauders (8-3), a team that earned a trip to the final four with an exciting, come-from-behind 10-8 win over defending national champion University of Guelph.  The last time McMaster earned a spot in the national final was in 1992, while Trent's semi-final appearance in 2008 occurred in the young program's second season.  While Trent, ranked 3rd in Canada by Laxpower, will be favoured, the surprising McMaster team, rated 7th in Canada, has momentum.

National Lacrosse League ( www.nll.com  ) players who are enrolled as full-time students can participate on their respective university teams. Over 50+ CUFLA graduates have played in the NLL, including these current CUFLA players:

Dustin Dunn, Buffalo Bandits, Brock University

Mike MacLeod, Rochester Knighthawks, Brock University

Jason Winder, Toronto Rock, Brock University

Dilan Graham, Boston Blazers, Brock University

Josh Wasson, Toronto Rock, Trent University

Mack O'Brien, drafted by Chicago in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft, Trent University

Jon Harnett, Boston Blazers, University of Guelph

Sean Thomson, Minnesota Swarm, University of Guelph

Derrick Gordon, drafted by Toronto in the 2008 NLL Entry Draft, Laurentian University

Coaches

Ed Comeau, Head Coach & GM of the Orlando Titans, Head Coach at McMaster University

Jeremy Tallevi, Assistant Coach of the Edmonton Rush, Head Coach at the University of Western Ontario

Mike Temple, former Rochester Knighthawks player, currently coach at Trent University

Tickets to the 2009 Bank of America Baggataway Cup are $5 per day.  For more information, please visit www.cufla.ca.