Makay Hansen and Declan Maguire each scored a game-high four goals to lead the Colorado College men's lacrosse team to a 23-7 victory over Southwestern University in Sunday's championship game of the 2023 Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference tournament.
 
CC, which defended its 2022 HCLC title, earned an automatic berth for the 2023 NCAA Division III Men's Lacrosse Championship. The Division III men's lacrosse selection show is on Sunday, May 7, at 7 p.m. (MT).
 
The Tigers, who held a 4-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, put the game away by outscoring Southwestern, 12-1, during the second and third periods. Six different Tigers scored to push the lead to 10-3 before the Pirates stopped the run with 2:40 left in the first half.

"This was a disciplined performance from end line to end line," coach Mike Horowitz said. "Our face-off unit allowed us to stay in rhythm for four quarters. The best part of this win is that it gives this tight knit group two more weeks together."
 
If the game wasn't quite in question at halftime with CC leading 10-4, it certainly was at the end of the third quarter after the Tigers scored all six goals. Hansen scored half of his goals in the third quarter, helping his team to a 16-4 lead heading to the final period. Will Hanson scored both his goals for the Tigers in the final 15 minutes.
 
Makay Hansen added three assists to collect a game-high seven points. Maguire finished with five points (4g, 1a), while Charlie Faldi chipped in with four points (3g, 1a).
 
Colorado College won 26 of 32 faceoffs and had a 65-28 edge in total shots and 43-16 in shots on goal.
 
Ben Anastos made seven saves for the Tigers and improved to 5-3 in goal, while Will Walsh made 19 saves for Southwestern.
 
Nate Duncan and Tyler Johnson led the Pirates with two goals apiece, while Johnson added an assist for a team-best three points.
 
The Tigers now have claimed seven of eight conference tournament crowns, the first five coming as a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Colorado College improved to 11-1 in conference tournament games, 7-0 against Southwestern.