VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency grad Ben McKendry could not rekindle his Elite Eight magic for New Mexico’s Final Four fixture against Notre Dame,as the last 'Caps youth development product remaining in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament play saw his team eliminated from the national semis with a 2-0 loss last Friday.
McKendryscored the lone goal for the Lobos in the Elite Eight against Washington Huskies, helping them reach the Final Four for the second time in school history. The Whitecaps FC Residency graduate ended the season with five goals and one assist in 22 appearances, while also finishing second in minutes played with 1887.
However, the seventh-seeded New Mexico Lobos were ousted from the NCAA Division I Tournament by the eventual tournament champions after the third-seeded Fighting Irish were propelled by two goals from midfielder Patrick Hodan.
The Lobos fought hard all night, but were unable to find pay dirt at any point throughout the contest. The final statistics were nearly even as shots were 11-10 in favour of Notre Dame and shots on goal were tied at five apiece. New Mexico also amazingly conceded just their first goal of the tournament in the loss. Click here to view the complete NCAA Division I bracket.
McKendry did find some silver lining after the loss though, having been named to the 2013 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men’s All-Midwest Region Third Team. He was one of five Lobos to be selected to All-Midwest Region teams, as New Mexico was the only school to have five players chosen.
And so concludes another memorable year for our youn 'Caps at College. Back to the books for the Blue and White!
